Being a hotel manager is no easy task. There are many things to consider when it comes to running a successful hotel business.  From marketing and customer service to operations and finance, there are a lot of different areas that you need to be knowledgeable in. In this blog post we discuss 7 key hotel management tips that will help improve as a hotel manager and enable you to cultivate a strong team.

Build and develop a strong team

As a hotelier, one of your most important jobs is to foster and grow a great team of employees. It’s your job as a manager to ensure the people you surround yourself with are passionate about their work and provide excellent customer service. Without a strong team, your hotel will not be able to function at its best after all.

There are a few things that you can do to help foster and grow a great team of employees:

• Encourage teamwork: Make it clear to your employees that you value teamwork and that working together is essential for the success of the hotel.
• Promote a positive work environment: Creating a positive work environment is key to retaining good employees. Make sure that your hotel is a place where employees feel comfortable and valued.
• Invest in employee development: Show your employees that you are invested in their development by providing opportunities for training and growth. This will help them feel more motivated and engaged in their work.

Continue to learn and grow your skillset as a manager

As a hotel manager, it is important to continuously learn and improve your own skills. There are always new things to learn about the industry and ways that you can improve your management style. One of the best ways to learn and improve your skills is to get feedback from your employees. Ask them what they think you could do better and what they would like to see more of from you.

Another way you can learn and improve your own skills is to seek out training and development opportunities. There are many different types of training programs available, so it’s important to find one that is relevant to your specific needs. If you’re short on time, there are also many online resources that can be helpful in learning more about hotel management.

If you haven’t already, try networking with other hoteliers. This can be a great way to learn new skills and share knowledge. Like you, they’ll be thrown into many different management situations and they’ll be able to provide you with tips and tricks from their own hotel experience.

Finally, always remember that learning is a lifelong process, so never stop striving to improve your skills as a hotel manager. By continuously learning and improving your skills, you will be able to provide the best possible experience for your guests.

Be present in your hotel

As a hotel manager, one of the most important things you can do is be present in your hotel. This means being visible and accessible to employees and guests alike. There are a few things that you can do to make sure that you are always present in your hotel:

• Make yourself available: Make sure that employees know that they can come to you with any questions or concerns. This will help them feel comfortable coming to you with issues and also let them know that you are approachable.
• Be visible: Take the time to walk around the hotel and interact with employees and guests. This will show that you are invested in the running of the hotel and also help you get a better understanding of what is going on.
• Be responsive: When issues do arise, make sure that you are quick to respond and resolve them. This will show employees and guests that you are committed to providing the best possible experience for everyone involved.

PRENO TIP

Use a cloud-based PMS system for your hotel, like Preno, so that you can manage your hotel bookings and admin on the go from any device. This will allow you to spend more time on the floor training staff and helping customers, rather than having to be tied to your desk.

Keep up to date with trends and hospitality news

As a hotel manager, it is important to keep up with trends in the industry. This helps you ensure that your hotel is offering the latest and greatest amenities and services to guests. It also allows you to identify any potential problems that could arise and take steps to prevent them. Keeping up with trends in the industry can help you better understand the needs of your guests and how to best serve them.

Learning and implementing this knowledge can help you to position your hotel as a leader in the industry, which in turn, can help attract more business. Ultimately, the knowledge you gain from it will become useful in many different areas of management – from crisis control to marketing.

There are a few different ways that you can keep up with trends in the industry:

• One way to keep up with trends in the industry is to attend trade shows and conferences. There, you’ll be able to learn about new products and services that are being offered and also to network with other hoteliers.
• Another way to keep up with trends in the industry is to read trade publications. This is a great way to stay up-to-date on what is happening in the industry and to learn about new marketing strategies, emerging trends and general hospitality news.
• Finally, you can also talk to your employees. They will be able to tell you what guest’s are asking for at the hotel, and may even have some great ideas of their own.

Utilise social media

As a hotel manager, it is important to utilise social media in order to attract guests and promote your hotel. Social media provides a great way to connect with potential guests on a more personal level and give them a glimpse of what your hotel has to offer. In addition, social media can also be used to resolve any issues that guests may have.

There are a few things that you can do to utilise social media in your hotel:

• Make sure that you have a presence on all of the major social media platforms. This will allow you to reach the widest possible audience and ensure you’re bringing in new guests.
• Be active on social media. Post regularly and interact with potential guests. This will help create a deeper connection with potential guests and make them more likely to book a stay at your hotel.
• Monitor social media for any issues that guests may be having. This will allow you to resolve any problems quickly and efficiently. By doing so, you can also showcase your brilliant customer service publicly for potential guests to see and appreciate.

Offer staff incentives 

As a hotel manager, it is important to have incentives for your staff in order to keep them motivated and encourage them to provide the best possible service to guests. There are a few different ways that you can go about doing this:

• One way to incentivise your staff is to offer financial rewards for outstanding performance. This could be in the form of bonuses or commission.
• Another way to incentivise your staff is to offer non-financial rewards, such as paid time off, gift cards or tickets to events. If the team as a whole has preformed well, try a staff lunch or after work drinks to celebrate.
• You can also show your appreciation for your staff by recognising their achievements publicly. This could be in the form of an award or simply announcing it at a team meeting. By doing so, you will make your staff feel valued and appreciated, which in turn, will motivate them to do their best.

Prepare for emergencies

As a hotel manager, it is important to be prepared for emergencies and have a plan in place. This is because, in the event of an emergency, you will need to be able to take quick and decisive action.

There are a few things that you can do to prepare for emergencies:

• Create an emergency plan and make sure that all of your staff are aware of it. This plan should outline what actions need to be taken in the event of an emergency.
• Make sure that you have all the necessary equipment and supplies on hand. This includes things like first aid kits, fire extinguishers and emergency exit signage.
• Ensure that your staff are trained in how to handle emergencies. This includes things like first aid and evacuation procedures.

By following these hotel management tips, you can be sure that you are taking the necessary steps to improve as a manager and create a positive working environment for your staff. This will help you to also retain staff over a long period of time and allow you to continue to provide guests with an enjoyable experience.

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