How to Become a Hotel General Manager

Hotel general managers should understand the duties of all their employees.

There is no one path to becoming a hotel general manager, but like every other job, this position is becoming harder to get. The most attractive candidates can prove they have an academic understanding of their business and, in general, they must have more than an undergraduate degree. They need to be able to soothe angry tourists who may not speak English. They must understand the duties of their employees and be well-liked, and they should be able to spot opportunities to make their hotels more profitable.

Things You'll Need

• Undergraduate degree in hospitality management
• Foreign language skills
• Graduate degree in business

Instructions

1. Earn a degree in hospitality management. The curriculum was invented by Cornell University, which is still widely ranked as the best such program in the country. According to "U.S. News," the University of Nevada at Las Vegas is widely regarded as the second best.

2. Build your resume as you earn your undergraduate degree. Most future managers start as desk clerks. Apply for your first job on the desk or as a bellman or maid while still in school.

3. Learn at least two foreign languages. Hotel general managers must be able to assist foreign visitors with limited English, and must also be prepared to accept assignments overseas.

4. Earn an MBA with an emphasis on management or accounting. General managers must know a great deal about both those fields; there are more applicants than jobs, and a graduate degree will help your application be considered.

5. Work your way up the ladder at one company. Although many boutique hotels hire from outside, managers at major hotel chains are expected to know and appreciate that company's "corporate culture."

References

• Hcareers; Behind the Scenes with a Hotel Manager; 2009
• College Surfing; Become a Hotel Manager -- The Smart Way; Elise Zito; 2011
• "The Princeton Review": Hotel Manager
• "The Sunday Times"; How do I Become a Hotel Manager?; Beryl Dixon; May 2006
• American Universities Admission Program; "2010 Undergraduate American universities rankings for international students"; 2010
• "U.S. News"; Education; National Universities; University of Nevada at Las Vegas;