HOSPITALITY
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
From hotel to cinema management, the opportunities in hospitality, leisure and tourism are diverse, fast-paced and challenging.
What’s involved?
Hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, spas, health clubs, gyms and contract catering facilities all require managers, and they in turn require the support of brand managers and human resources professionals, among others.
JOB ROLES
* Cinema managers
What they do?
* run a business, which could be a small cinema in the case of the city mall in Lagos or a larger multiplex with more staff
* recruit staff, aiming for a balance between permanent and part-time workers
* schedule, advertise and promote films
* work out staff duty rotas
* may work alongside staff, selling tickets and refreshments and greeting customers
* train staff in customer service
* take responsibility for health and safety, security and emergency evacuation procedures and for training staff in all these aspects
* take responsibility for maintaining stock levels
* manage the payroll
* run special screenings and charity performances
* write reports and compile statistics
* meet profit targets.
Key skills?
* leadership
* flexibility
* verbal communication skills
* ability to work in a team
* commercial awareness
* numeracy
* willingness to work unsocial hours.
* Hotel & catering manager
What they do?
* manage guest services – accommodation, conferences, food and drink, etc
* manage a team of employees
* recruit and train staff
* plan and control budgets
* analyse sales figures and set business targets
* devise marketing strategies to generate more business
* make sure that guests enjoy good customer service
* promote and market the hotel or restaurant.
Key skills?
* ability to organise other people’s work
* ability to prioritise and multitask
* teamworking and leadership skills
* initiative
* commercial awareness
* willingness to do routine tasks if staff are absent
* willingness to work unsocial hours.
* Leisure centre managers
What they do?
* work for local authorities, private leisure organisations or hotel groups
* run a range of leisure facilities for clients
* (eg sport/fitness centres, restaurants, pools, beauty suites, community meeting rooms)
* control a budget
* co-ordinate marketing and publicity
* analyse sales figures and set business targets
* oversee sales outlets within the centre
* provide financial forecasts
* maximise the use of facilities
* manage a team of employees
* recruit, train and motivate staff
* liaise with community organisations
* ensure that the centre is maintained and that health and safety standards are met.
Key skills:
* ability to organise other people’s work
* verbal and written communication skills
* ability to prioritise and multitask
* willingness to do routine tasks if staff are absent
* teamworking skills
* leadership and initiative
* willingness to work unsocial hours
* numeracy
* commercial awareness.
Training
Many managers have relevant qualifications. Formal training schemes are rare – it is usual to gain experience, then apply for promotion.
* Travel & tourism operators
What they do?
* work for tour operators or travel providers
* (ie airlines, shipping companies, road and
* rail carriers)
* devise and price all-inclusive tours and holidays
* set prices, always with competitors’ prices
* in mind
* check on facilities and amenities in different resorts and countries
* visit hotels, inspect rooms and negotiate rates
* organise special interest tours and holidays
* buy or sell seats with different carriers
* market and promote services
* arrange promotional visits for travel agents and tourist board staff – from several countries.
Key skills:
* management skills
* verbal and written communication skills
* teamworking skills
* ability to work under pressure
* ability to multitask
* commercial awareness
* negotiating skills
* numeracy.
SKILLS REQUIRED
Employers in the leisure and hospitality industry may not look for degrees in particular subjects, but they do want certain skills.
These skills include:
* interpersonal and teamwork skills
* enthusiasm
* iniative
* business awareness
* computer literacy
* communication
* customer awareness
* cultural sensitivity
* flexibility and stamina
* problem-solving ability
* time management.
Employers value ‘people skills’ most highly. They’re looking for recruits who have good communication skills, the ability to work in a team, and leadership potential.
Flexibility is important too – managers sometimes have to cover for semi-skilled and unskilled staff in order to keep the business running.
As for customer awareness, no leisure company can survive without staff who possess good customer service skills, as the industry is client-driven.
Working in the leisure and hospitality sector can be demanding. Evening and weekend work can be expected, particularly during peak season – after all, you will be working while other people are at leisure. |
