London Hotel Manager
The days of Basil Fawlty being representative of the British hospitality sector are long gone. These days, particularly in the top London hotels, both front and back-of-house managers are likely to b
London boasts hundreds of hotels of varying size and luxury levels. What they all have in common, however, is that they need managers to help them run smoothly.
Such managers tend to be seasoned hospitality industry professionals capable of excelling in a number of areas, with the typical London hotel manager job including administrative tasks, hiring and firing and other HR issues, overseeing catering and events, welcoming guests and even chipping in with mundane tasks such as pot-washing if needed.
Professional and Academic Requirements
Many older hotel managers started their careers in tourism and hospitality at the bottom, working their way upwards from positions such as bar supervisor to the top of a venue.
However, the modern-day hotel business, particularly in London, is much more-structured, with most hotels recruiting people straight into management positions, though only if they possess the required qualifications and skills.
As an example, many larger hoteliers will call on would-be managers to possess a degree in a field such as hospitality and tourism or leisure, though many of those holding the top jobs in London can boast MBAs.
Given the complex nature of the role, as well as customer service experience, excellent maths and accounting skills are also required and, since due to London being a major global tourism destination, languages in addition to English are also a major asset to possess.
Some of the larger hotel chains run graduate trainee schemes, with a degree and obvious potential to succeed in the hospitality sector generally all that is needed to aim for the top, though competition on these is usually fierce.
Personal Attributes
As well as looking at the qualifications and career progression details on a candidate's CV, hotel operators will also give serious considerations to their personal attributes when recruiting for a management position.
More specifically, they will be looking for proof that a candidate is able to multi-task, deal well with pressure, show excellent organisational and leadership skills and be able to remain calm and amiable to customers even in the face of adversity.
Furthermore, the ability to work flexibly, a keen awareness of the latest trends and development in the travel and tourism sector, both in London and globally, and the ability to think creatively and bring something new to a hotel are also likely to be valued.
Potential rewards
Working in one of London's top hotels can be seriously rewarding, with the Times advising that salaries of around £100,000 are not unheard of in the capital, though these are likely to be commanded by senior managers in luxury venues rather than lower-level managers in basic chains.
However, even at the lower level, salaries tend to be good, reflecting the time and energy commitments managing a London hotel demands, while perks such as free accommodation around Britain and the world and good career progression prospects are also on offer.
Possible Drawbacks
Working as a manager in a London hotel can be tough and extremely demanding, both in terms of the hours required and the pressures of dealing with everything from finances, customer complaints, HR issues and security all at the same time.
Long shifts, usually incorporating early starts and late nights, are routine, while the need to remain calm, well-presented and amiable under stressful conditions can be testing to say the least.
Biggest Employers
Of course, every hotel, whether large or small, requires a manager to run it, meaning there are thousands of potential jobs within London.
However, the biggest employers tend to be the major chains such as Marriott, Travelodge, Ibis and Hilton, all of which have set recruitment processes in place.
A simple online search can help prospective London hotel managers learn what skills they need to manage a venue in the capital and how to embark on a career within a major chain.
