Hotel management is really about successfully overseeing every operation of the business to ensure consistent growth and development. This can involve the management of anything related to the hotel industry and requires knowledge of distribution strategy, finance and accounts, customer service, staff management, marketing, catering management, hotel administration and more. A nailed down definition of hotel management is that it’s: ‘A field of business and a study that tends itself to the operational aspects of a hotel as well as a wide range of affiliated topics such as: Accounting, administration, finance, information systems, human resource management, public relations, strategy, marketing, revenue management, sales, change management, leadership, gastronomy and more.’ In no way should any of these aspects be treated as ‘set and forget’. Hotel management is about constantly evaluating performance isin every facet of the business and making necessary adjustments. It can take time to get everything right and as we can see there’s a lot to be aware of. There are many skills you may already possess, others you learn along the way and in some cases, these functions may require specialists. If resources and budget allow, hire staff that can provide the knowledge for you, but even if you don’t have the luxury of hiring a full team of staff, it’s not impossible to run a successful small hotel business, as you’ll see in this guide.
The purpose of managing a hotel is to successfully establish a constant flow of travellers and guests to your property throughout the year, while also showcasing the wide variety of services and products. Through marketing strategies, you’re able to highlight how it benefits visiting guests and with innovative business strategies, you’re able to drive quality leads. Ultimately effective hotel management will not only ensure your hotel stays in business, but is able to profit and grow over time. Think of the hotel as an ecosystem that will get healthier the better you manage it.