Are you looking for a long-term career that will help secure your future and teach you skills that can be useful in a variety of settings? If so, you may be interested in a career in hospitality management. The skills you will gain through such a career include catering, banquet organization, and of course, management. The business skills and interpersonal skills you can develop through this job are sure to serve you well, even if you decide to do something else later on.

There are several different types of managers in hotel and lodging management. General managers are what most people think of first. Its parameters may be set by the hotel owner or hotel chain executives, but the general manager’s authority may cover pricing, budgeting and allocation of funds to various departments, and setting standards for the quality of service.

Resident managers are another type and by definition live in the hotel. Along with the luxurious lifestyle of living in a hotel, if you become a resident manager, it is your responsibility to respond to emergencies. For the most part, you can expect a typical forty-hour week, but you should be prepared to be annoyed occasionally at odd hours.

There are also reception managers. They take care of everything related to the reception, so reservations, room assignments and registrations are their responsibility. They also supervise and train reception staff. Making adjustments to a customer’s bill and handling complaints is also part of your responsibility.

Another position is that of assistant manager. As the assistant manager, his job would be to help general managers and residents run the day-to-day operations of the hotel. He might expect to handle operations in a combination of, but not necessarily all of, the following areas: accounting, paperwork, recruiting, personnel administration, marketing, sales, purchasing, security, maintenance, and recreational facilities.

A very rewarding but often demanding job is that of a convention services manager. Many hotels host conferences, business conventions, special events, and even fan conventions. As a convention services manager, it is your responsibility to work with the client and make arrangements, such as scheduling conference rooms and planning itineraries. He would also be on site during the event itself so that he can make adjustments if necessary and resolve any issues that may arise.

When working toward hotel management jobs, experience and education are assets. Many employers are specifically seeking higher education in hotel management. Many colleges have programs through which you can earn a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in hotel management, and you can also find hotel or restaurant management programs at vocational or technical schools. These programs typically cover food service, catering, marketing, accounting practices, billing, reservations computer skills, and housekeeping management.

The skills you gain through a career in hospitality management also come in handy in a number of jobs, including event planning, business management for companies, restaurant management, and more.