Skills Required to Become a Hotel Manager With No Hospitality Experience

Managing a hotel is no easy feat. But, without an inch of doubt, it is one of the most fascinating jobs. 

In the hospitality industry, the general manager is the title that most hotel enthusiasts dream of because it has a unique status — the decision-maker.

However, there are many people who don’t have experience in hospitality and still, they aspire to become hotel general managers.

And this is exactly what I am going to talk about in this blog. I am going to walk you through the skills required for hotel management and to become a general manager in a hotel without having any hospitality background.

Role of a Hotel General Manager

Before we go on and talk about landing a job as a hotel general manager, I must explain the roles of this professional.

To be supremely honest, the roles and responsibilities of a hotel general manager vary. There is no hard and fast set of tasks.

A general manager in a hotel is like a brand ambassador. They can (literally) make or break a hotel. From managing day-to-day employee activities to looking after guest queries, they do everything.

But what sets them apart is their decision making, leadership approach, strategies to ease up the operations, making the work culture enjoyable for employees and ensuring a great guest experience.

Can Someone Become a Hotel GM Without Hotel Management Experience?

The answer to this is a little tricky. It is both ‘yes’ and ‘no’ as the hiring criteria varies from hotel to hotel.

While many hotels hire general managers based on their skills, many focus on past experience and relevant educational qualifications, and some are inclined towards promoting their existing staff.

I have personally met many hoteliers whose previous jobs were in a completely different domain. Despite that, they are doing great in hospitality because they have the zeal and skills to make it big.

And this brings me to the topic at hand where I am going to discuss all the skills needed to be a hotel manager.

Skills and Qualities Required to Become a Hotel General Manager

Of course, a dedicated hotel management course is an add-on when you’re applying for a hotel general manager role. However, that doesn’t mean someone would land this role right after undergraduate school.

Being a general manager in a hotel comes with immense responsibilities and requires someone who has on-the-job experience in various responsible positions.

So, let’s look at some of the common yet prominent hotel manager skills you must possess if you don’t have any hospitality experience.

1. Leadership

This goes without saying. Leadership is one of the most important hotel general manager skills.

When you are opting for a hotel general manager role, you need to have leadership qualities. When I am saying leader, I don’t mean that you become the king and everyone else must follow your order.

A leader is someone who works along and motivates everyone toward achieving a common goal. And when it comes to a hotel setting, this means directing workers and colleagues with the right strategy to meet the business’ needs.

Word to the wise: Even though I am talking about being a manager, there’s a difference between a leader and a manager. Actually, there’s a thin line. Leadership requires traits that go beyond management duties.

2. People’s person

Did you know the hotel industry is also known for its high employee turnover rate?

You heard it right.

Apart from everything else, a bad manager also contributes to this.

If you want to become a hotel general manager, you have to be a people’s person. You should be able to make the work environment fun and pleasant for the other staff members.

I am not making this up; but, I have seen it in many hotels how general managers mistreat other staff even for the tiniest mistakes.

So, if someone has this amazing quality and can show it, then s/he is one step closer to becoming a hotel GM.

3. Team building

The role of a general manager isn’t just about managing the day to day activities of a hotel. A hotel GM must also be good at building a motivated team environment. And undoubtedly, it is one of the key skills for hotel management.

There are times when employees get into conflicts that affect the guest experience.

A general manager in a hotel must be able to solve these conflicts with ease. And in a way that doesn’t affect any party.

4. Communication

Another skill required for hotel management is ‘communication’.

Like I said above, a general manager in a hotel is like a brand ambassador. Hence, s/he must present themselves with the professional tone

There are times when guests want to speak with someone senior. So, to make the conversation clear, the GM must speak with dignity, respect, and ensure the message is conveyed precisely.

Moreover, they need to be supremely clear while briefing the staff and must set high expectations for both service and performance.

5. Finance management

Next up is one of the most crucial hotel general manager skills.

If you are good at finance management, you already have a brownie point. You don’t have to jump straight into the core aspects, but it would be great if you can read financial reports, understand basic concepts and analyse data.

Many a time, the role of a hotel general manager also revolves around financial segments which is why it is one of the important skills hotel managers should have. If not all around, then at least, the base-level knowledge of money matters.

6. Material management

Hotel general managers need to be involved in every aspect of their property, and material management is one of those.

So, being able to manage the supply chains for the material requirements of the hotel is a cherry on the top skill.

What exactly is the work about? The answer is inventory management. Basically, it includes determining the amount of material required, replenishment planning, inventory creation etc.

Therefore, before you apply for a GM role in a hotel, make sure you do your research and gather the basic knowledge of this.

7. Detail oriented

Hotel general managers usually have a knack for detail. They ensure that there’s no stone unturned in providing a great experience to the guests.

For example, if a guest requested a bottle of wine to be placed in the room, the GM would ensure that it is done without any discrepancy. Further, s/he might also add some extra elements to make the guest feel more welcomed.

Be it a crease on the bedspread or a seamless frontdesk operation, a hotel general manager keeps an eye on everything.

8. Receptive to change

For the better functioning of a hotel, it is important for the general managers to be acceptable towards changes.

Let me explain this with an example.

For instance, your hotel has been operating on a legacy system for a long period of time. But, lately, you’re introduced to a cloud-based property management system. Of course, this is going to be a completely new thing for you. But if you’re a good manager and understand that these new technologies have the ability to benefit your hotel, you would go all out to accept it and learn about it.

Also Read: Why Should Hotels Move to Cloud PMS?

This also goes hand in hand with ‘learn and grow’. If you want to grow in the hotel industry, you have to keep the learning process going without any hesitation.