How To Become A Hotel Manager In Australia?

Are you a born leader and like engaging in a hospitality role?

A hotel manager is responsible for monitoring and managing day-to-day operations and functions of a hotel, such as hospitality, reservations, room service, housekeeping activities, reception, catering services and security.

Employers generally look for candidates with a formal hotel or hospitality management qualification, such as a Bachelor of Business (Hotel Management) or a Bachelor of Hospitality Management.

Alternatively, consider completing a Diploma in Hotel Management, a Diploma in Hospitality Management, or an Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management.

In this article, you will learn about the role and the steps to pursue a career as a hotel manager, including how much salary they earn, qualifications, courses, degrees, responsibilities, and much more.

1. Who Is A Hotel Manager?

A hotel manager monitors and manages the daily hotel operations and staff to ensure their guests receive the best service.

Their services aim at providing a cozy room, good food, and courteous hotel staff who are always available to serve their guests.

Hotel managers are responsible for offering a timely and satisfactory resolution of service-related issues of the guests and making efforts to raise the productivity and efficiency of a business.

Based on the size of the establishment, there can be a single hotel manager dealing with all hotel operations or a team of managers dedicated to dealing with an individual department in the hotel, such as food and drinks, housekeeping, events and entertainment, reception, and customer services.

2. Pros And Cons Of Being A Hotel Manager

A hotel manager's profession involves a mix of business activities and customer service functions. While working in this industry, you get ample opportunities for travel, salary increments, bonuses, and career advancement.

Skilled and qualified hotel managers have job stability and scope of specialisation in this high-demand industry. However, all these perks and benefits come with a few considerations you must be aware of if you aspire to become a hotel manager.

Advantages

• Excellent earning potential makes the industry financially lucrative.

• The unemployment rate in the hotel management industry is very low, which indicates security and stability in the profession.

• Meeting and serving different people from all parts of the world daily make the job enjoyable.

• There are various hotel departments, so the profession offers endless specialisation and employment opportunities.

• Being a hotel manager allows you to work either in a hotel chain or an independent hotel. Hotels run everywhere, so that you can work in many locations, such as the city, coastal region, etc. 

• Another appealing feature of a hotel manager job is that you enjoy sponsored local, national, and even international travel as a part of your job. 

• Find happiness in serving people with the highest standards of customer service. This profession could help you gain emotional fulfilment. Positive feedback, reviews, and guest appreciation bring incredible joy and job contentment.

• A good lifestyle is another critical reason that compels youngsters to choose this profession. Hotel managers can stay on-site either for free or at a subsidised rate, saving their living and commutation expenses. Comfortable work conditions, work satisfaction, serving society, and job stability is a few other factors contributing to a good quality of life. 

• If you are looking for a profession where you can unleash your creativity and use it to your professional advantage, then you have found the right job.

The hotel management industry admires creativity. This sector is for those who like to develop fresh and creative inputs and implement them periodically through themed dining sessions, guided excursions, and more.

Disadvantages

• Managing a hotel can get stressful at times. You require a high degree of physical and psychological stamina to maintain it. 

• The hospitality sector is affected by several factors, such as weather, political situations, social issues, crises like the COVID pandemic, economic trends, and more.

• Though it is not a typical 9 to 5 job, it requires working irregular hours and in shifts, such as overtime, weekends, evenings, and public holidays.

3. Hotel Manager Responsibilities

Hotel Managers are in charge of performing the following day-to-day operations of a hotel:

• Ensure that the hotel is safe, clean, well-maintained, and fulfils meets specified standards

• Ensure booking and reservation processes are efficient. 

• Ensure to provide the best level of care, comfort, and satisfaction for guests and visitors

• Organise and manage activities related to a bar, restaurant, corporate conferences, and social functions 

• Provide local tourism information to guests and plan itineraries and transport systems for them.

• Recruit, induct and supervise kitchen and waiting staff. 

• Ensure prompt resolution of customer complaints and smooth execution of events.

• Specify, and manage budgets and financial plans

• Reduce expenditure, and maximise sales and income to achieve desired profit margins

• Supervise accounting, staff development, cleaning, gardening, kitchen service, sales and marketing, and guest services.

• Develop business and marketing strategies

• Manage hotel expenses incurred on maintenance, rents, utility, renovation, upgrade, and other operational activities. 

• Prepare reports of individual departments for review by senior management.

• Ensure the hotel's dining facilities and other functions, operations, and procedures comply with health, occupational safety, liquor, gaming, and licensing regulations.

• Perform sales and marketing activities for rooms, banquets, conferences, and conventions through pr activities in the local community

• Manage the safety and well-being of the guests, staff, and the hotel

• Consult with chefs to plan menus 

• Plan and organise special functions in the hotel

• Track financial transactions and stock levels 

• Get feedback from customers regarding meals and hotel service.

• Decide the right booking system and pos for the hotel.

4. Hotel Manager Skills

Most websites in Australia advertise hotel manager jobs with the following skills:

• Good understanding of the hotel industry

• Hospitality

• Polite, respectful, and honest

• Interested in working with people

• Organisation and leadership skills

• Supportive

• Persistent

• Supervising and managerial abilities

• Sound analytical and reasoning skills

• Time management

• Professionalism

• Interpersonal skills

• Team player

• An eye for detail

• Communication and listening skills

• Able to make quick decisions

• Problem-solving skills

• Able to work well under pressure

• Intuitive abilities to gauge customer satisfaction

• Able to build and maintain good relations 

• Likes to stay updated on issues, trends, developments, and possibilities

5. Qualifications To Become A Hotel Manager In Australia

• 18 or above,

• Passed Australian Year 12 or an equivalent in English,

• Complete a degree-level qualification in hotel or hospitality management such as a Bachelor of Business (Hotel Management), or Bachelor of Hospitality Management

• You need relevant work experience with the above qualification. Consider completing a Diploma of Hotel Management, Diploma of Hospitality Management (SIT50416) or an Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management (SIT60316).

6. Steps To Become A Hotel Manager In Australia

Though it is a high-demand industry with a low unemployment rate, you must have the desired qualifications, skills, and experience to stand out.

Follow the step-wise instructions to land a job in the hotel industry:

Step 1: Understand The Technology

Hotel Managers work with specific technology, tools, and systems to accomplish their day-to-day tasks and services. 

The first step to becoming a hotel manager without a degree is understanding the different types of technology, systems, and practices used in the hotel industry. 

Some of these are as follows:

• The guest booking and reservation system

• Staff scheduling and time-off approval platform

• Payroll processing system

• Payment processing systems

• Bookkeeping and budgeting software

• Systems that connect to parent or sister hotels

Step 2: Get Qualified

The next step is earning relevant academic qualifications to understand hospitality and hotel management thoroughly.

Recommended options for a degree-level course are:

• Hotel management

• Hospitality management

• Business studies

• Travel and tourism

The ideal way to qualify for a hotel manager position is by completing a Bachelor of Business (Hotel Management) or Bachelor of Hospitality Management. 

Suppose you have previous work experience in food hygiene, marketing, or any hospitality role. In that case, it will be an added advantage.

Certain employers also provide on-the-job hotel manager training to their employees that provide in-depth learning on health and safety. It is a crucial area for the hotel business, and preserving it is the manager's primary duty.

Step 3: Join Professional Bodies

Hotel management is like any other business whose success depends on building good relationships and word-of-mouth publicity to a great extent. 

These two factors help establish the reputation and loyalty of a business, which in turn leads to personal and professional growth.

Joining professional bodies or community organisations related to the hotel and hospitality segment will help you widen your professional network and spread the word about your talent and availability for a related job role.

• Australian Hotels Association

• The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Step 4: Apply For Jobs With An Impressive Resume

Once you finish your degree/diploma course from a reputed institute, it is time to update your resume with the qualification details. Mention job-specific skills and relevant work experience to enhance your chances of selection for the role.

Your well-crafted resume will explain to employers your competency and capability to handle the different hotel management departments. Once that is done, start applying for jobs online or personally visiting the companies.

7. Courses To Qualify For Hotel Manager Role In Australia

If you want to know how to become a hotel general manager or hotel manager in Australia, consider taking hotel management courses. 

They are a great way to get a proper understanding of various sectors. These include the hotel, tour and travel sector, based on the current trends to make a lucrative career ahead in your chosen field.

The courses comprise practical hands-on learning sessions to build skills that enhance your suitability for a managerial role in the hotel and hospitality management sector. After completing the relevant courses, you can lead a team in different hotel operations departments. 

These include staff management, food and beverage service, sales and marketing, purchase and store, HR department, accounts, engineering and maintenance, front office, security, and housekeeping.

Bachelor of Business (Hotel Management)

• Southern Cross University

• Torrens University

• Australia Study Educational Services

Bachelor of Hospitality Management

• CQU University

• Torrens University

• Edith Cowan University

• Murdoch University

• Griffith University

• Melbourne Polytechnic

Diploma of Hotel Management

• Edith Cowan College

• Griffith College

• The Hotel School

• Torrens University

Diploma of Hospitality Management

• TAFE SA

• TAFE NSW

• TAFE International WA

• North Metro TAFE

• South Metro TAFE

• TAFE QLD

• Victoria University

• Torrens University

8. Working Conditions For A Hotel Manager

Nature of Work

When they work in a small establishment or family-run business, the primary job of a hotel manager is to supervise operations or manage the entire company for business owners and provide them with periodic reports.

Larger businesses employ dedicated hotel managers for individual hotel departments, such as front desk operations, maintenance, catering, housekeeping, marketing, etc.

Work Hours

As hotels are a 24*7, 365 days business, Hotel managers usually work long, later hours than the usual 41 hours per week. It includes weekends, evenings, and public holidays per guests' demands.

Whether employed in a small motel or an international-level decent hotel, they are directly involved in executing hotel operations.

The job of a hotel manager requires one to be in close contact with people and sometimes handle demanding guests too.

Nature of Employment

Employment is primarily full-time, and most employed hotel managers work in the cafes, accommodations, and restaurant industries.

Workplace

A hotel manager can either be a self-employed business owner or employed by a small, mid and enterprise accommodation business. 

Besides hotels, they also qualify to work in various accommodation businesses. They include bed and breakfast establishments, hostels, inns, resorts, trailer parks, guesthouses, motels, school campsites, and more.

Age

The average age of the workforce employed in the hotel management industry is 45 years or older.

9. Career Opportunities For A Hotel Manager In Australia

The hospitality management industry in Australia looks for people skilled at managing a diverse range of fields. These include cooking, tours, travels, customer service, housekeeping, events management, etc.

Ample work opportunities are available in private organisations, including hotels, motels, clubs, restaurants, spas, airlines, cruise ships, and non-profit organisations such as aged care centres, hospitals, resorts, cruise ships, refugee centres, orphanages, and more.

You could get hired for the following roles in the hospitality industry:

• Public House Manager

• Hotel Manager

• Front office manager

• Restaurant Manager

• Fast food restaurant manager

• General manager

• Catering Manager

• Event Manager

• Resort Manager

• Accommodation Manager

• Assistant Manager

• Catering Manager

• Resident manager

• Executive housekeeper

• Convention services manager

With experience, hotel managers can advance to the position of guest services director or operations director.

10. Job Outlook Of Hotel Managers In Australia

Australia is the land of hospitality and a dream destination for several international tourists. The rising demand in the hospitality sector has led to a severe shortage of skilled professionals in the hotel and hospitality management segments.

It has also been the reason behind the 20 to 25% expansion in the hotel industry almost every year. The Australian hospitality industry is still in its budding stage, and there is ample scope for growth in the future.

The industry plans to integrate new technologies to appease the clients increasing demand. The Job Outlook website projects stable future growth of the hospitality industry over the coming five years.

11. How Much Does A Hotel Manager Earn In Australia?

The earning potential of a hotel manager is determined based on the following factors, such as:

• Experience

• Interpersonal skills 

• Qualifications

• Your position (sole manager or a part of the management team)

• The size of the hotel

• Its location

• Type of hotel (a small-scale, low-budget premise or a luxury accommodation)

The hotel manager's salary in Australia is 171,000 AUD (from 78,600 AUD to 272,000 AUD). 

The average monthly hotel manager salary is 14,200 AUD. Their average hourly wage is 82 AUD.

Based on Experience

• Less than two years of experience: 89,200 AUD per year.

• 2 to 5 years: 119,000 AUD per year (34% more than those with below two years of experience)

• 5 to 10 years: 176,000 AUD per year (48% more than those with 2 to 5 years of experience)

• 10 to 15 years: 215,000 AUD per year (22% more than those with 5 to 10 years of experience)

Based on Education

• High School graduate: 110,000 AUD per year.

• Certificate or Diploma holder: 129,000 AUD per year (18% more than those with a High School graduate)

• Bachelor's Degree holder: 187,000 AUD per year (45% more than those with a Certificate or Diploma holder)

• Master's Degree holder: 245,000 AUD per year (31% more than those with a bachelor's degree).

Based on Gender

• Male: 176,000 AUD

• Female: 165,000 AUD (6 per cent less than their male counterparts)

Salary Increment

Hotel Managers employed in Australia usually observe a salary hike of approx. 12% every 19 months. 

Bonuses

Hotel managers usually get bonuses from 5% to 9% of their yearly salary. This bonus depends on individual performance, company performance, or a holiday bonus.

City-Wise Average Earnings Of Hotel Managers In Australia

Sydney and Melbourne are the top-paying cities in Australia in hotel management. 

The average hotel manager's salary in Sydney is 182,000 AUD, and the average hotel manager's salary in Melbourne is 180,000 AUD.

The average yearly salary in the rest of the Australian states is as follows:

• Brisbane: 178,000 AUD

• Perth: 175,000 AUD

• Adelaide: 173,000 AUD

• Gold Coast: 170,000 AUD

• Canberra: 168,000 AUD

• Newcastle: 164,000 AUD

• Wollongong: 159,000 AUD

• Gosford: 157,000 AUD

12. Conclusion

The hospitality industry is a booming sector throughout the globe, especially in Australia. 

Though accomplishing relevant courses will help you get a start in hotel management, your loyalty, commitment, and persistence will help you progress to a well-paying position in just a few years.

Useful Links to Explore:

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• A Complete Guide to Study in Australia
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