A hotel general manager is responsible for organising all the work which goes on in a hotel: reception, food service, bar service, room service, booking, budgeting, marketing and staff.
The Work
You could be:
making sure all guests receive a high quality of service
planning marketing campaigns
planning budgets, setting sales targets and managing accounts
analysing sales figures and producing reports
recruiting, training and supervising staff
meeting and greeting guests
dealing with customers’ complaints and other problems
organising building maintenance
making sure that the hotel meets health, safety and security regulations and licensing laws.
In a small hotel you would look after the following areas yourself:
housekeeping
food and drink
restaurant
front office
conferences and banqueting.
In a large hotel you would have departmental managers for these different functions.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of company or organisation you work for
the demand for the job.
Most applicants for the post of hotel general manager have several years of experience already. Pay can vary over a wide range from £23,000 to £70,000 a year or more. Some managers may earn more depending on the size of the hotel and the quality rating.
Some jobs may also come with accommodation.
Conditions
It is a demanding job, both physically and mentally.
You will probably work shifts including evenings and weekends and hours can be long.
You may have to take your holidays at certain times, when it's off-peak.
You might be on call when off duty.
You might live in or near the hotel.
You might spend nights away from home.
Some hotels are in remote areas, such as parts of the Highlands and Islands.
A degree (SCQF Level 9-10) or HND (SCQF Level 8) in hospitality and tourism management, hospitality management or a business related subject. For a degree course you usually need 4-5 Highers for entry and for an HND 1-2 Highers usually including English.
A degree in an unrelated subject and then a postgraduate course in hospitality management.
Gaining experience in various fields of hotel work and then getting promotion to management.
Some hotel chains run trainee management programmes for graduates in a relevant subject.
You may be able to enter through a Modern Apprenticeship in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership at SCQF Level 7 or Hospitality Management Skills at SCQF Level 8.
Foreign languages are useful and a driving licence may be essential.
Hotels and guest houses are in virtually every Scottish town and city as well as in rural areas. There are luxury hotels which are part of an international chain and have restaurants and leisure facilities.
What Does it Take?
You need to have:
excellent organisational skills
excellent communication skills
initiative and good problem solving skills
business skills and an ability to work with a budget
a polite and diplomatic manner
assertiveness and negotiating skills
sales skills
resilience.
You need to be able to:
manage and motivate others
cope with stress and emergencies.
Training
Training is mainly on the job.
If completing a Modern Apprenticeship, you would study for the SVQ Hospitality Supervision and Leadership at SCQF Level 7 or the SVQ Hospitality Management Skills at SCQF Level 8.
You could study part time for qualifications offered by the Institute of Hospitality, such as the Level 3 Diploma and Level 4 Advanced Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management.
The Institute of Hospitality also offers continuing professional education (CPD) short courses.
Getting On
Tourism is a growth sector in Scotland.
There are good promotional prospects within hotel work although you might have to move to different locations.
In larger hotels and chains you might specialise in training or marketing.
You could consider self-employment.
There are also chances to work abroad, particularly if you have foreign languages.
Outside hotels, you could consider other forms of management, such as corporate or retail management.
