tips to the top
Hotels can be gorgeous, busy, business-like, affordable, teeming with kids, full of world leaders, sophisticated, cutting-edge, traditional, functional – or all of the above. One thing they are not is dull. So if you are outgoing, friendly, fun, ambitious,
restless to meet interesting people, want to work in challenging roles and maybe even travel, you’ll fit in perfectly. Oh, and you’ll have to be energetic. Hotels never stop, and you’ll find yourself working long hours – simply because you love the job. The skills shortage, plus constant growth in this
sector, means there are plenty of vacancies for young people who want to go places. For instance, according to business advisory firm BDO’s report, Hotel Britain 2014, some 200 new hotels were scheduled to open in 2013/14 – and they will all need staff. The action is mostly centred in and around
London, but expansion is boosting other towns and cities, including Manchester, where Travelodge recently opened an £11m flagship hotel, and Dunblane, where tennis ace Andy Murray launched luxury hotel Cromlix. So how do you get in on the action? You could
get to know an employer through work experience while you are at college. You could take an entry-level job and work your way up, or sign up for an apprenticeship. You might take a college or university vocational course or join a hotel company training scheme or graduate programme. But before you plunge head-first into your
career, you should also think about the type of hotel work you want to do. You might want to progress from front office staff to general manager, be more employee-focused in human resources, be behind the scenes in housekeeping or crave a public-facing role as a receptionist or concierge. You also need to consider what sort of hotel you would like to work in: five-star, mid-range, boutique, country house or budget. To find out which path would suit you, why not do some research on
www.hospitalityguild.co.uk first?
13
Cromlix, Andy Murray’s hotel in Dunblane
2 5
Look for opportunities to develop, whether through company training programmes or by volunteering to help on a special project.
1
Always think ahead. If you encounter a challenge, try to propose a solution rather than using it as an excuse to give up.
4 6
Work hard and show willing. Be prepared to take on tasks that are outside your remit if they will get you noticed or advance your knowledge and skills.
Stay positive and project that positivity to others.
Make a point of getting on with everyone, even if there are some people you work better with than others. You never know when you might bump into them again in your career – they might even interview you one day in the future.
Know when to say no or to delegate. You can’t always do everything and some battles can never be won.
3
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98