09/22/2021
If you can balance several tasks while keeping a smile on your face, you may have the chops to work as a hotel general manager. GMs oversee every function related to a hotel, from room cleanliness to pool safety. Their job is to keep their properties running smoothly, all while handling problems with a patient and pleasant attitude to keep guests and employees happy.
1. People Skills
A hotel general manager must be a people person with the interpersonal skills to keep guests and employees happy. The general manager helps to greet and register guests and handle their problems. The GM has to approach guest concerns with patience, tact and understanding, even in stressful situations. He/she also has to motivate employees to do their jobs well, which requires leadership talent and a knack for understanding problems and resolving conflicts. A hotel general manager must know how to listen well.
2. Critical Thinking Skills
Hotel general managers are professional troubleshooters. They must be able to think of creative and practical solutions to problems in a fast-paced environment. They need the capacity to reason by applying common sense to complete their duties. Hotel managers must know math to interpret financial information. They also need the ability to make decisions based on a combination of company reports and their own professional experiences and ideas.
3. Communication Skills
Reading, writing and speaking clearly are part of the job. To understand safety rules, maintenance instructions, procedural manuals and industry trade journals, GMs need effective reading and comprehension skills. Hotel managers also write company reports, business letters and problem-solving summaries, so they need to have good grammar, diction and style know-how. Because GMs give presentations to the Management Company and/or Owners, customers and employees, they must be able to speak well in public.
4. Organizational Skills
Hotel general managers wear many hats, so they must be multitaskers. They oversee guest relations, the front desk, housekeeping, maintenance, finances and staff development. He/she must be able to organize and keep track of projects, schedules and people. Organizational talents are especially important in larger hotels, which have more complex operations.
5. Computer Skills
Computers are a daily part of life for hotel GMs. They use basic word-processing and spreadsheet software to communicate with the Management Company, Owners, employees and guests. They also work with computer systems to oversee payroll, property management and reservations. As hotel companies move to new software and computer programs, hotel GMs must be able to pick up on new programs quickly.
6. Financial Skills
Financial skills are essential for any hotel general manager. The hotel’s bottom line is the GM’s responsibility. He/she must set room rates through working with their revenue manager, put together budgets, approve property expenses and determine funding for various departments. He/she also has to keep track of how much money the hotel earns.
Must also work flexible shifts and follow all request from GM.
