8. A hotel administrator

Definitions

A hotel administrator is one of the management positions available to hospitality workers. A hotel business requires many managerial tasks in different areas such as housekeeping, accounting, food services and hotel administration. Since a hotel’s size and the responsibilities of its employees may vary, a hotel administrator commonly carries the title of hotel manager.

Responsibilities

A hotel administrator may “make decisions that affect the general operations of the hotel, including setting room rates, establishing credit policy, and having ultimate responsibility for resolving problems.” A hotel manager may also meet with managers over different areas within the hotel to review their performance. Additional responsibilities may include reviewing new policies with middle managers, holding staff meetings and performing conflict resolution between staff members.

Preferred Qualifications

A hotel administrator should possess qualities necessary for an authoritative position. A managerial position requires leadership and decision-making abilities. Employers may also prefer to hire applicants with good organizational and financial skills. Since a hotel administrator must constantly interact with guests and staff, she must have an engaging personality and have a knack for conflict resolution.

Education

The Bureau of Labor statistics states that “Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in hotel, restaurant, and hospitality management provide the strongest background for a career as a hotel manager, with nearly 150 colleges and universities offering such programs.” Once she established in her career, a hotel administrator may seek advanced training to hone her skills or formal recognition of her hotel managerial aptitude. The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute offers Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) certification. CHA certification is a prestigious, industry-recognized distinction reserved individuals whose careers boast an advanced level of education and professional development. Hotel administrators interested in certification must submit an application and pass the certification exam.

Work Environment

Hotel managers' work environments may be high stress when hotels are fully booked or hosting multiple events at once. Interacting with guests may also cause hotel administrators a great deal of stress. Accommodating the most demanding or unpleasant guests can be a trying experience for hotel administrators, causing mental stress that could carry over into their personal lives.

Salary

Salary.com’s data from November 2009 lists the median salary for a hotel manager as $95,399 per year. A hotel manager may earn more or less depending on his experience, amount of hours he works and the intensity of his workload. The size and location of the hotel may also affect a hotel manager’s salary.

9. Hotel room attendants

Room attendants, also known as hotel room attendants, hotel housekeeping attendants or hotel housekeepers and maids, are responsible for the cleaning and upkeep of hotel and motel rooms. These are generally entry-level positions and require little to no formal education. As a result, wages are generally low, which leads to a high rate of turnover in the field.

Duties

Room attendants perform all cleaning duties in hotel and resort rooms. They vacuum carpets and floors; change bed linens and bathroom towels; remove trash; and clean all bathroom surfaces, including tubs, sinks and showers. Room attendants also dust and polish furniture and mop dirty floors. They restock complimentary toiletries in the bathroom and other hotel provided amenities as well. Room attendants are also responsible for inspecting hotel rooms for safety hazards or broken items and reporting the issues to maintenance. When they locate lost items, they must report those to a supervisor as well.

Training

Some room attendant positions require a high school diploma or GED, but others have no formal education requirements. Most hotels and other accommodations hold on-the-job training for new room attendants and housekeeping staff, which may be done via video or the Internet.

Working Conditions

Hotels and other accommodations are open 24 hours a day, so service employees often work in shifts. In general, room attendants perform their duties during the day, but housekeeping staff must be available both day and night to respond to guests’ requests and other emergencies. Weekend work is also required. Room attendants usually have both full- and part-time employment opportunities available to them. Working in a hotel can be difficult because guests may be demanding and rooms must be cleaned in a timely, efficient manner without disturbing guests.

Salary

According to PayScale, the median hourly wages for room attendants with one to four years of experience ranged from $7.43 to $9.21 as of July 2010. Those with five to nine years of experience were paid between $7.89 and $10.05 per hour, while those with 10 to 19 years of experience earned between $7.91 and $11.51. Room attendants with more than 20 years of experience earned as much as $13.63 per hour.

Employment Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that wage and salary jobs in hotels and other accommodations, including room attendant positions, will grow by 5 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is a slower rate than the average for all occupations. As the population continues to grow, new hotels are expected in be built throughout the country, creating opportunities for room attendants and other hotel staff. In addition, many openings result from the need to replace attendants who leave the occupation.