How to Become a Hotel Manager

Hotel Manager Key Stats
Education	4+ Years
Job Outlook	1%

Hotel Managers are individuals who work in the hospitality industry and are responsible for managing the overall service provided by a hotel.

This includes assuring that the hotel is being run in an efficient manner.

For larger full service hotels, this includes managing several departments such as client registration and the services provided by a restaurant.

Individuals who want to become a Hotel Manager will have a passion for working in the hospitality industry assisting clients and guests.

This profession also works in a fast paced environment.

Individuals will need to be detail oriented even in a fast paced environment and be able to greet and assist guests in a friendly manner.

Education Requirements to Become a Hotel Manager

The level of education an individual needs in order to become a Hotel Manager will heavily depend on the size of the establishment or whether a facility is a full service hotel.

Smaller hotels providing fewer services typically seek individuals who have a minimum of a high school diploma while larger, full scale hotels and establishments seek professionals with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.

Individuals seeking to become a Hotel Manager at a smaller facility can seek a job in this profession by having a minimum of a high school diploma, having some work experience in the hotel industry and showing some innate personal characteristics such as being organized, having strong customer service skills and problem skills and being able to listen well.

Individuals pursuing a career at a full service hotel and establishment will need to pursue a bachelor’s degree in order to become a Hotel Manager.

Many large hotel companies hire individuals with a bachelor’s degree in hotel management or hospitality.

Hotel management degrees typically include a variety of educational courses geared to prepare individuals to take on the tasks of a Hotel Manager.

Some programs may include the following courses:

• Hotel maintenance and engineering
• Food service management
• Housekeeping
• Marketing
• Accounting
• Hotel administration

In addition, these programs will also have a heavy focus on computers because of the complex computer systems typically used by large hotels.

Some hotels may use computer software specific to the hospitality industry that manages billing, reservations and the management of housekeeping.

Individuals who want to become a Hotel Manager and don’t want to pursue a postsecondary degree, have the option to apply for a two year program to attain a certification.

This program is called the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program.

You may learn more information at HTMP.

This program is currently being offered in 26 states as well as the District of Columbia (Washington DC).

Hotel Manager Job Description

Hotel Managers are responsible for assuring their guests and clients receive the best accommodations and service at their establishment.

Guests can be staying for a variety of reasons including business trips or vacations.

Hotel Managers are responsible for greeting guests and assuring their reservations have been recorded correctly.

They may answer questions on the hotel policies and specific accommodations provided by the hotel.

They will also make sure the hotel is up to standard in its cleanliness and complete inspections to assure this has been completed.

Hotel Managers are also responsible for making sure the hotel is bringing in business and monitoring the amount of money the hotel makes.

Hotel Manager Salary and Career Path

In 2012, the median annual wage for Lodging Mangers, which includes Hotel Managers, was approximately $46,810.

Exact wages will depend on the type of lodging, for example, Hotel Managers working in traveling accommodation can expect to earn approximately $46,260 per year.

Exact wages will depend on the level of experience and the size of the lodging facility being managed.

The job outlook for Hotel Managers is expected to stay the same through the year 2022.

Although the tourism and travel industry are expected to grow in the coming years, there is no expected job growth for this profession and this lack of growth is attributed to streamlining process some major hotels are undergoing.

This scaling back is primarily being done to cut back on expenses.

The below information is based on the 2023 BLS national averages.

• Annually
• Monthly
• Hourly

* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for General and Operations Managers, OCC Code 11-1021, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a hotel manager do?

A hotel manager is someone who is responsible for marketing, planning, administering, and coordinating hotel services, as well as managing employees.

The duties of a hotel manager will differ depending on the size of the establishment; the specialists that work for big hotels usually spend their day at the office, while the hotel managers that work in small hotels talk a lot to the staff and customers.

The typical responsibilities usually include managing budgets; recruiting and supervising staff; planning events, room bookings, and maintenance work; maintaining various records; marketing and promoting the business; dealing with customer complaints; ensuring compliance with different laws, and so on.

Hotel managers can work in residential clubs, resorts, inns, hotel chains, independent motels and hotels, etc.

How much do hotel managers make?

On average, a hotel manager can make a little less than $46.000 per year in the United States.

In case you decide to choose this career path, you can expect to earn anywhere between $35.000 and $67.000 annually.

The salary would certainly depend on a variety of factors – your education and experience level, the employer, the location, and so on.

The professionals that work in New York, Nevada, Delaware, and Massachusetts, for example, have the highest average salaries.

How much does it cost to become a hotel manager?

You would need to have at least an associate’s degree in hospitality, hotel management, business administration or a related field to be able to become a hotel manager in most of the cases.

To improve job prospects, you can consider getting a bachelor’s degree or taking some postgraduate courses.

A year in a university can cost you anywhere between $8.000 and $45.000 (and more); the cost depends on a variety of factors (bear in mind that the books, supplies, and accommodation expenses are not included).

You can consider entering the industry through a management training program; in such a case, you would typically need to have a degree (however, one in any field would do).

What is the demand for hotel managers?

Between 2018 and 2028, the business analyst job market is expected to grow by 1%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That’s a lot slower than the average for all occupations in the United States.

The candidates that possess a bachelor’s degree in hotel or hospitality management and plenty of experience will have better chances of getting the highest-paid job.

It is a highly competitive industry that won’t be able to provide great employment opportunities to all in the near future.

To have better job perspectives, you might consider applying directly to chain hotels.

How long does it take to become a hotel manager?

It will take you 4 years to obtain a bachelor’s degree and 2 years to get an associate’s degree.

You can consider seeking an internship during your last year in university to get that on-job experience as the majority of employers prefer the candidates to have at least a few years of experience.

It might sometimes be difficult to enter a manager’s position directly; a lot of aspiring hotel managers start from the bottom and make their way to the top in a few years.