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Hotel Management

Lunch with Russy Modi, dinner with Juhi Chawla, tete-a-tete with Shobha De -

Trying to guess who this lucky #@!&%*$ is?? Before you wrack your brains too hard - let me do the honours! This is a normal (if not everyday) routine of an enterprising member of the hotel industry.
The growth in tourism and business has led to the rapid expansion of the hotel industry. More hotels mean more customers - more customers mean more needs and expectations (read - complex needs...). All this leads to competition and the need for hotels to standardize and professionalise their operations, providing a wider range of in-house facilities and incentives (which is a fine thing!!) This in turn calls for young people (like you!) with the drive, determination and initiative to make this industry function.

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hot3.gif (1432 bytes) Professional training is an absolute must for all hotel jobs (how else do you propose to acquire specialisation and skill??).There are two training programmes for you to choose from - One is the statutory apprenticeship programme for certain categories of trades like, stewards, housekeeping staff, cooks and front office personnel. The other is the formal, structured programme, at craft and diploma levels, set up by the government and some private sector hotel groups.
The private sector boasts of institutes which helps you to train yourself to be in this sector . Along with a 3-yr. diploma, you will also get on-the-job training in one of their fine hotels (which is a very good thing!).

The eligibility for admission in these institutes is 10+2. A 2-hr. entrance test will judge you on your English, Reasoning, General Science and G.K. The group discussion and interview come later, once you’ve cleared the first step!

After you complete the course, there will come a day when you will be employed (thinking of that day already, are we?) Employment opportunities within the hotel industry largely depend on the size of the hotel, the clientele it caters to and the purpose it was made for. The hotel management graduates, however, have a lot of options to choose from -

  • General Operations:
    • General manager
    • Lobby managerhot4.gif (1542 bytes)
  • Front Office:
    • Front office manager
    • Head receptionist
    • Receptionist
  • Housekeeping:hot5.gif (1258 bytes)
    • Executive housekeeper
    • Assistant housekeeper
    • Housekeeping executive
  • Food and Beverages:
    • Managerhot6.gif (1772 bytes)
    • Assistant food and beverage Manager
    • Restaurant manager
    • Executive chef or chef de cuisine
    • Sous chef
    • Chef de partis
    • Pantry supervisor

This industry pays well. The senior management in private hotel chains may be paid like other corporate management. However, there is always an anti climax to everything that’s good. The sad story in this case is that, it may take you quite a few years (don’t ask me ‘how many?’) to rise to the senior most positions, in order to earn that kind of money! Well, money is not everything (I didn’t say that!) - so, don’t let it dampen your spirit! Besides, think about the great opportunity to meet, socialize and interact with a wide variety of people!

Gone are those days when women graced the front office and housekeeping departments only. These configurations are already in the process of change. Visit any leading hotel and you will find it swarming with female employees in most functional divisions (with one or two exceptions, of course!). Very few chefs, for instance are women! (Isn’t it strange? Most homemakers are women known to possess excellent culinary skills!)

Can you guess when your services will be required the most?? Of course, during the customer’s leisure hours - so you can bid farewell to holidays and evenings!! (that is, if working hard for long hours was not enough!). Every guest has to be looked after with equal care. Whatever your department maybe, all the operations must function smoothly. If this calls for you to perform any task, however menial, you should be ready! (ever heard about the dignity of labour ??)
And now for the toughest part - INTERACTION!! There will never be a dearth of guests who are out there solely to ruin your happiness. Always remember pal, the customer is the boss! You may be seething with anger, wanting to beat the living daylights out of that *&%$#@, but a saint is what you have to be (or pretend to be!). You have to remain calm and pleasant while listening to complaints and sorting out problems (very tough!)
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hot8.gif (1945 bytes) If all this was not enough, it’s time for you to find out what it takes to be a hit in this industry - If you do not possess excellent communication skills, you should opt for another career (doesn’t get any simpler than that!). It definitely helps if you have an outgoing personality, organising and administrative ability. You will have to be ready to work under pressure and take an active interest in people and their comforts (think you can handle it?) And finally, commonsense, tact and a sense of humour will see you through the tough times.
This is a very challenging career (for those who still didn’t figure that out!). The challenge lies not only in striving for a better pay packet, but also in the responsibility, career progression, team spirit and the pride of working for a big organisation which enjoys great esteem.

It would be wrong to call hoteliering a career. It is a lifestyle! You are either attitudinally or aptitudinally suited or not suited for this profession. It may seem very glamorous, but those who were paying attention earlier will know how tough and taxing it is.
Memo Ah! well, hope and dedication is all we have. Who knows you might end up as GM of a leading group of hotels (touch wood!) So, am I meeting you for lunch tomorrow at the Taj ?

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