Restaurant and Hotel Managers |
Who are Restaurant and Hotel Managers?Is This Program in My Area?What do Restaurant and Hotel Managers Do? Restaurant and hotel managers are responsible for the daily operations of their restaurant or hotel. Restaurant managers coordinate activities among various departments, such as the kitchen and dining room and banquet operations, and make certain that customers are pleased with their dining experience. They also oversee the inventory and provide maintenance for all restaurant facilities and equipment. Hotel managers ensure that guests receive all of the necessary amenities to make them feel at home (comfortable room, friendly service, helpful staff) and ensure that their hotel runs efficiently and profitably. They often direct housekeeping, personnel, office administration, marketing and sales, purchasing, security, and managing recreation facilities. Both restaurant and hotel managers spend time hiring, training, and retaining good employees and are involved in setting staff schedules. Each of the services performed by the restaurant and hotel management depends on the type of restaurant or hotel and the size of its staff. Restaurant & Hotel Management Training Students interested in a career in hotel and restaurant management often need specific management training. While some management positions in the restaurant industry are filled by promoting experienced food service workers, the majority of positions in hotel management require a bachelor’s or master’s degree, often in hospitality, institutional food service management, or hotel management. Almost 1,000 colleges and universities offer two or four-year online or traditional programs in restaurant and hotel management and a growing number of universities offer a masters in hotel management or hospitality. Many community and junior colleges, technical institutes, vocational and trade schools, and other institutions also offer programs in the restaurant and hotel management field that lead to an associate degree or other formal certification. Hotel and restaurant management programs include classes in hotel administration, accounting, economics, marketing, housekeeping, food service management and catering, nutrition, food planning and preparation, and hotel maintenance and engineering. Computer training is also an essential part of restaurant and hotel management training. Hotel and restaurant managers also need to be able to get along with a variety of types of people, handle stressful situations, quickly solve problems, and be effective communicators. The specific type of training suggested for restaurant and hotel managers depends on the area in which they plan to specialize and the type of hotel or restaurant they want to work in. College graduates with degrees in restaurant or hotel management will most likely have better opportunities than those without degrees for jobs at full-service hotels and restaurants and for advancement within the industry. Restaurant & Hotel Management Certification There are many two- and four-year college and universities that provide formal certificate programs for restaurant and hotel management. In the hotel management industry, career advancement can also be expedited by the completion of certification programs offered by various hotel and lodging associations. Hospitality management certification by one of the best hotel management schools, like The Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, is increasing in importance with employers. Certifications in the hotel management industry usually require a combination of hotel management courses, examinations, and experience. In the restaurant management industry, the Foodservice Management Professional® (FMP) credential is a measure of professional achievement for food service managers and is offered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. The FMP is not required for employment, but more employers prefer candidates who hold this credential. A certificate program in hotel and restaurant management is an ideal way to gain additional education and skills for those who are already in the early stages of their career. Restaurant & Hotel Management Job Prospects Demand for hotel and restaurant managers is expected to continue to grow as the tourism industry expands and new restaurants and hotels emerge. The Bureau of Labor expects jobs for hotel managers to grow about 12 percent from 2006 to 2016 and jobs for restaurant managers to grow 5 percent. Most new jobs will be in full-service restaurants and hotels, as positions in limited-service restaurants and hotels are expected to decline. A significant number of new resorts, casinos, and luxury hotels are expected to be built and will create additional jobs for experienced managers and management trainees. Additional openings are expected because of experienced managers leaving the work force or moving to other industries. Restaurant manager jobs will also increase in special food services, which includes food service contractors for schools, health care facilities, and other commercial business, as well as in nursing and residential care for the elderly. People with college degrees in hotel, restaurant, or hospitality management are expected to have the best opportunities at upscale restaurants and luxury hotels. Restaurant & Hotel Management Job Security and Salary The job market for restaurant and hotel managers is expected to steadily increase because of new hotel and restaurant construction as well as current managers migrating to other industries. Those managers with a certification or a bachelors or masters degree in hotel management or restaurant management will mostly likely experience accelerated career advancement. Salaries of restaurant and hotel managers vary greatly according to their responsibilities, location, and the segment of the industry in which they work. Hotel managers can expect to earn between $25,120 and $82,510 a year. Restaurant managers can expect to earn between $27,400 and $70,810 a year. Some managers may earn bonuses up to 25 percent of their salary in some hotels and restaurants and are often provided with free meals, additional training, parking, laundry, and other services. |