Hospitality Careers in Hotels, Motels, and Resorts

Hospitality Careers in Hotels, Motels, and Resorts.....Do you enjoy meeting new people and providing a warm welcome to your guests? Chances are, you'd enjoy a career in the hospitality industry. Hotels, motels, and inns are an indispensable part of the life of travelers and a big part of our nation's economy. According to a recent First Research, Hotel and Motel - Lodging Report, the U.S. hospitality industry includes about 30,000 companies that operate 50,000 individual locations, with combined annual revenue over $90 billion.

Lodging establishments can vary significantly in size and in the number of services they provide, and can range from a cozy bed-and-breakfast on the seashore to a glitzy Las Vegas hotel-casino. Many lodging managers work in traditional city and suburban hotels and motels, but off the beaten track many other opportunities exist including resort inns, bed-and breakfast establishments, recreational camps, cruise ships, youth hostels, and RV parks.

A Wide Variety of Opportunities

Within the hospitality industry there are many rewarding career opportunities. The one person who oversees all of a property's lodging operations is often called a general manager. At larger hotels, one general manager supervises a staff of assistant managers of various departments including office administration, housekeeping, purchasing, security, personnel, marketing and sales, maintenance, food and beverage, and guest recreation and relations. At a casino, the gaming operations may be a major division, and may even drive the business strategy for the entire brand.

A successful lodging manager has to be a "jack of all trades." Lodging managers have wide-ranging responsibilities for the operation and profitability of the property. They may hire and train staff, and set schedules. Most importantly, a good general manager must have experience and training in every facet of the hotel's operations, from operating the restaurant to knowing how to contract the linen service to running the web-based reservations system.

In large establishments, front office managers are responsible for the hotel's guests and may oversee reservations and room assignments, and hire and train the hotel's front desk staff. Convention services managers oversee meetings, conventions, and special events. Marketing directors and public relations directors are responsible for meeting occupancy goals and coordinating the advertising and promotion of the property. Managers may work with information technology specialists to ensure that the hotel's computer systems, Internet, and communications networks are creating value. Food and beverage managers supervise the hotel's restaurant and catering activities.

How's the Pay?

Earnings of lodging managers vary according to their location, responsibilities, and the segment of the hospitality industry in which they work. According to a recent report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Division of Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual earnings of lodging managers is $42,320. The middle fifty percent earn between $31,870 and $58,380. The lowest ten percent earn less than $25,120 and the highest ten percent earn more than $82,510. For highly qualified individuals working in the upper echelons of the industry, the compensation can be significant.

Training and Advancement

While prior experience working in the hospitality industry always helps, management trainees for larger hotels may need a bachelor's or master's degree, preferably in hospitality or hotel management. Most large, full-service chains usually look for candidates who have a bachelor's degree in hotel, business, or hospitality management. At smaller properties, especially those with fewer services, the pay may be lower but employers consider applicants with an associate degree or certificate in hotel, restaurant, or hospitality management.

The Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition, job growth will be around five percent a year and the job market will be competitive. The government expects that job seekers holding a college degree in hotel or hospitality management will have better opportunities, particularly at luxury and upscale hotels, cruise ships, and resorts. Shifts towards hotels with limited personal service may result in fewer opportunities for middle managers. Good customer service skills and experience in the hospitality industry, in addition to a college degree, are assets to any job seeker.

Train for a Rewarding Career in Hospitality

To explore career education opportunities, log onto a reputable college directory website and request free information from colleges and career schools with hospitality programs. Compare three or four programs, check out financial aid opportunities, and get a feel for their job placement services. If you find a school that you like, schedule a campus visit or apply online.

If you are ready to move into an exciting new career in hospitality, with the right education you could have a bright future!

Thinking about training for a new career in hospitality? To make the best decision, you need the right information. Log onto http://www.Education-For-Careers.com and compare colleges. Get free information about career training programs, degrees, online education, financial aid opportunities, job placement services, and much more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Thomas_Hauck/505762

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Make a Career in Hospitality

Make a Career in Hospitality

If you think a nine-to-five job is not meant for you because you love meeting people and entertaining them, a career in hospitality could be a good idea. This career is best suited to those who are ready to take up everyday challenges and work in high-pressure zones. However, there is more to the hospitality sector than pressure. It is a 24X7 entertaining job that lets you enjoy on the job.

India is a booming economy and upcoming tourist destination. In the current scenario, hospitality is a promising industry. According to reports, presently tourism and hospitality are the third largest net earners of foreign exchange. By 2010, they are expected to be number one. Thus, there are bright job opportunities in this field. The ninth five year plan predicts a shortage of 30,000 trained professionals every year.

Demand for hospitality professionals exists at many places such as hotels, resorts, restaurants, catering companies, guest houses and lodges, fast-food outlets, casinos and clubs, spas etc. Considering the flourishing tourism sector and the increasing spending capacity of the Indian middle-class, hospitality is set to be the next big thing in India.

High job opportunities and attractive salaries are making it a very sought after industry. Another attractions of this field is that, with a minimum academic qualification, one can find employment anywhere in the world.

There are various branches under Hospitality. These are Housekeeping, Bakery, Kitchen Stewarding and Cookery. Housekeeping has come a long way from being a job for illiterates to a high-profile job that requires people who hold diplomas, hold diplomas, have technical qualifications and are fluent in English. Housekeepers take care of housekeeping, horticulture, laundry, interiors and even guest relations. Private housekeeping businesses are also flourishing these days. There are both part-time and full-time options in this field.

Next comes cookery. A chef is the most important staff member at any restaurant or eating joint. A good chef can really raise the standard of place he is working at. For being a cook, one requires creativity, shrewdness, knowledge and willingness to learn through trial and error. The pay of a chef largely depends on his/her prowess, experience and skill-sets. These days, chefs can look beyond restaurants to work in sectors like in-flight catering, hospital catering, food styling, catering, restaurants, cruise liners and as entrepreneurs and consultants.

Bakery is a branch separate from cookery. Within baking, one could specialise in fields like bread-baking, pastry baking, cookie baking, demonstrating, R&D, marketing etc. There are good opportunities for bakers, decorators, trainers, process managers and distributors in this field.
Kitchen stewarding requires maintenance of the kitchens of an eatery or hotel. Earlier, this used to be Head Chef's job but now it is a separate branch of work. A kitchen steward looks after cleaning and organising dishes, taking stock of inventory, maintaining hygiene and quality in the kitchen, keeping a tab on breakage and replacements. One can become a kitchen steward without any specific qualifications.. It is the attitude that matters here.

Those who are looking to pursue a course in hospitality have good options in India and abroad. One can either go for a course straight after 12th or a post graduate diploma.
Institutes of Hotel Management are based across India in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Aurangabad. The institute offers degree as well as diploma courses in hotel management, catering technology and applied nutrition.

The Oberoi School of Hotel Management based in Delhi is amongst the premier Hotel management institutes. It offers various courses such as : 2-year Management Training Programme, 2-year Senior Kitchen Training Programme, 2-year Housekeeping Training Programme. The institute also gives stipend and other facilities to students during the course of study.

Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition, Chandigarh train students to fill the skill gap in the hospitality industry. The institute offers a Three Year Diploma Course in Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition. It is a professional full time regular course recognized by National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, New Delhi.

Another good institute is FHRAI Institute of Hospitality Management based in Greater Noida. It offers a BA in International Culinary Administration (BIA) BA in International Culinary Administration (BIA), Diploma in Hotel Operations Diploma in Hotel Operations, BSc in Hospitality and catering Management (BHCM BSc in International Hospitality Administration (BIHA), and BSc in International Hospitality Administration (BIHA).

Those who can afford to spend can also pursue courses in international universities. One can get an edge in the international market with a degree or diploma from a good hotel management school. Most of the reputed schools adhere to international standards and offer good facilities and learning environment to students.

Depending on one's qualification and interest, one could find a good job in the hospitality industry. It is a good time to join this sector as it is growing fast and promises good job options to youngsters.

Geetika Jain writes on behalf of Shiksha.com. Shiksha.com is an education portal that connects education seeker with education provider. Shiksha.com has wide information over Hospitality and Tourism colleges, Air Hostess Training Institutes and courses. Its education forums enable its users to seek opinion of students, alumni and faculty of colleges and schools through College Groups and School Groups.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Geetika_Jain/242215

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A Career in the Catering World

A Career in the Catering World

A Career in the Catering World...........If you have ever considered a career in the Catering World then becoming a qualified Chef may be an exciting and rewarding career choice.

Being a Chef is a way of life and an art form. You do need certain qualities to be successful, such as, a sensitive palate, creativity, good organisation skills, determination and the ability to be able to delegate.

Being a Chef is not always glamourous as kitchens are noisy, hot, steamy, hectic, pressurised and very stressful at times. You will also have to work unsociable hours including weekends and evenings and will need to show true commitment in order to progress within a good restaurant.

You can start by completing a GCSE in catering at school then go to college to complete the NVQ Level 2 and 3 qualifications. There are several degrees available at university covering professional culinary arts and management skills in catering.

After completion of the above, you can then think about a placement in a bar, restaurant, hotel or other type of kitchen. You will generally start as a Commis Chef, spending time in all areas of the kitchen under supervision. Once you are fairly confident, you can progress to Chef de Partie and take responsibilty for one particular area of the kitchen, such as, pastries, grill, desserts or sauces.

After some experience in this role, you may be promoted to Sous Chef, a more senior role and finally to Head Chef, where you are in complete charge of the kitchen, staff, quality of food and are responsible for providing a great service.

Many restaurants fail due to poor management and poor quality of kitchen staff. You may have seen Gordon Ramsey in his series "Kitchen Nightmares". It is not unusual for a restaurant to close within a year of opening due to poor quality of staff, lack of ambiance, quality of decor, but most importantly, poor food and service. Everyone wants their dining experience to be a good one. If the food is excellent, then you are more likely to return and recommend it to others.

If being a Chef is not for you but you like the idea of a buzzing restaurant atmosphere, you could consider waitressing, front of house or bar tender. Again, they can all be stressful Jobs as when things go wrong, you are the first point of contact. However, it can be financially rewarding if you do a good Job and offer great service to your customers.

There are many Internet Job sites and Job boards offering Job opportunities in the Catering World.

Copyright (c) 2010 Ianson Internet Marketing

Louise G is a prolific business author and business consultant. Louise has been instrumental in the development of successful marketing strategies for many leading internet businesses. Examples of Louises work can be found at [http://cateringjobs1.co.uk/] for catering jobs [http://cateringjobs1.co.uk/]

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Employment in Restaurants - The Role of a Cash Register Operator

Employment in Restaurants - The Role of a Cash Register Operator
Employment in Restaurants - The Role of a Cash Register Operator....Every employee of a restaurant plays an important role in the smooth functioning of the establishment. Chefs make the food which forms the basis of the whole idea of a restaurant. Waiters take orders, serve the prepared food and make sure the customers return happy. A dish washer cleans the dishes and other housekeeping employees ensure that the restaurant remains n sparkling condition.

Out of every employee including the manager, there is one single employee who monitors the direct cash flow and is the first person customers meet when they enter the restaurant. He also happens to be the one whom they see in the end when they are leaving as well. Being a cash register operator in a restaurant is undoubtedly one of the most important positions.

Functions of a Cash Register Operator:

First and foremost, a cash register operator should make sure that he bills each and every customer correctly. He should ensure the billing details are correct by checking with the customer itself. Moreover, there are various other discounts and meal combos he need to take care of before billing. More than often, such discounts are directly fed into the machine. However, there are chances that some temporary discounts have not been accounted for. He should be aware of such discrepancy and avoid that at all costs.

An operator should be well conversed with accepting payments through various modes including credit cards, debit cards, gift coupons and vouchers. A good practice is of giving the least amount of coins and bills to the customer when giving back the balance. For example, if the balance if of $50, it is best to pay in a $50 bill rather than five $10 bills and so on. Also, he should be aware whether a customer wants to include a tip in the billing. This is however a very infrequent practice as most customers leave the tip on the table itself.

Since the operator is generally the first person the customers meet, he should always have a welcoming smile on his face He should know the proper etiquettes of welcoming customers.

Getting a Restaurant Job:

Nowadays, there is no shortage of suitable restaurant job opportunities. You can find access to thousands of jobs in restaurant sector by simply signing up with job websites dealing exclusively in this sector. You can search and apply to jobs all in the comfort of your home. Anyone who plans to pursue exciting careers in restaurant business, he should visit these websites that will lay the perfect platform for him.

ICU Servers provides platform where you can find the best kitchen staff jobs and offers first-rate employment in restaurants [http://www.icuservers.com] for various type of jobs available in restaurants. To get more details regarding restaurant job opportunities [http://www.icuservers.com], follow any of the links above.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Robert_Mike_Jackson/677564

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Winning the Career Race - One Step Back Could Mean Three Steps Forward!

Winning the Career Race - One Step Back Could Mean Three Steps Forward!....For many losing a job might mean they ran out of luck. For others it can become a journey of discovery and creating their own luck.

In the past month I met two individuals who created their own luck. Both had decent careers and they thought they were on positive career paths. In one, I'll call him Jack, his company was sold, and most of the jobs eliminated. In the other, I'll call her Jackie, the company made several missteps in the marketplace and everyone lost their jobs as the company went out of business.

Both came to the same conclusion, they would accept temporary positions at a bit over minimum wage in industries they knew little about. In their free time they would look for a "real" job.

Jackie began working in a local outlet of a large (not the largest) fast food restaurant. She decided the best way to enjoy the position was to learn everything she could and make whatever contribution was necessary to do an outstanding job. She read company manuals, learned the food preparation process, helped train new employees and volunteered for extra assignments.

After six weeks she was offered the assistant managers job. Today, after three years, she is a district manager responsible for six restaurants and over 200 employees. She is saving for the purchase of her own franchise, which she expects to have opened in the next year.

Jack took a job on the overnight shift at Wal-Mart, bringing in merchandise and stocking shelves. He reasoned he could work nights and look for a "real" job during the daytime. Since Wal-Mart had computer learning modules available for associates, Jack took advantage of the opportunity and studied everything available. Within a short time, whenever the assistant manager was not scheduled, he was put in charge of the over night stocking crew.

A couple of months later, when a department manager's job opened on the day shift, he bid on the job and was promoted. Within a year, doing more than what was expected and doing it well, he applied for and was promoted into an assistant store manger position. After three years, a store manager position opened in a nearby community, he bid on the position and was promoted to store manager. He now continues to do more than is expected running a $40 million a year retail operation and managing over 250 employees.

Both agreed if they had listened to friends advising them that taking a job slightly above the minimum wage was suicide for their careers they would have missed the career opportunities. Both jobs were way below their education and experience levels. But they both recognized that career opportunities are everywhere. Often opportunities show up in unexpected places.

Both differentiated themselves in the workplace. They not only did what was expected of them; they did it very well, and then did a bit more. Becoming good team mates, helping others and learning all they could about the industry led them to create their own luck. Employers are always looking for individuals with initiative.

To often the attitude of many is they will only do extra work if they get paid for it, or they will only take on extra responsibility if their pay is increased first. They have it absolutely backwards. If you do the work, do it well and then do it even better, as Jackie and Jack demonstrated, higher pay, greater responsibilities and increased opportunities will follow. How lucky is that?

John Groth is a former HR executive and career coach. Find Job Hunting Ideas, valuable articles and more employment suggestions. Discover up to date career and recruitment strategies at our Career Idea Guide; all to assist you in advancing and developing your career.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/John_Groth/124598

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