1995 - the Year I became a Real Hotel Manager ...

Hotel Managers do not spend their lives in a Tuxedo, drinking with their guests in the Cocktail Bar - you quickly have to come to terms with Real Hotel Management. Real Hotel Management has more mundane aspects to it - you must do them. But you will complete these tasks faster if you draw from other Hotel Managers’ experience, develop a routine and get organized.

For Early Career Hotel Managers, the first six months of working with real Hotel Guests can range from somewhat uncomfortable to highly shocking. These early career Management Trainees often have given up secure lives in other careers or as students, only to discover some on-the-job demands never mentioned in the textbooks.

However, the right attitude can help you during your first few months regardless of which Department your career begins within your Hotel. For those who overcome the challenges of transitioning to Hotel Work, the rewards outweigh the costs of this starting period within our Trade.

Manage the Unexpected - as a Trainee Hotel Manager in 1995, I was jolted by the unpredictable nature of Hotel Management....there was a constant assortment of things that could come up, because I was working in a busy Hotel.

One of my best survival techniques as a Real Hotel Manager was adopting an attitude of humility. It was important to acknowledge that there was always going to be things that happened that I had not seen before. Once I had really settled with the fact that I couldn't know everything, I became more comfortable as a Hotel Manager.

A Survival Tactic I used was to discuss problems with my Managers, some of whom had 30 years of experience, who had seen just about everything. I soon realized that it was a group effort taking care of your Hotel Guests.

Another Tactic I learnt to survive, was when I first approached a duty with a Guest (if there was an emergency or they were reported as being angry), I thought about the worst thing that could go wrong as I walked up to them, so that if it happened, I was prepared in my head. It very rarely did happen.

Perhaps the biggest Real Hotel Management challenge I faced was the switching from doing very little to at least 12-hour shifts on my feet -- shifts that were physically, emotionally and mentally demanding. 

Another Challenge was accepting that I was low in the Hotel hierarchy – particularly difficult to come to terms with as you were “a Manager”. Suddenly realizing that you are the one who needs to make the coffee and do the photocopying.

You need to give up that idea of your Management Role and control; but doing that is easy when it's in exchange for the chance to directly help people and learn new things every day from more senior talented Hotel Managers.

Adjusting your attitude is critical to become a Real Hotel Manager – if you do not your work will remain painful and difficult to come to terms with. Many people would ask me why I was becoming a Hotel Manager, and this made me feel concerned, as my career choice meant 50 percent less pay than some of my friends. What really worried me was whether I would be satisfied with Hotel Management in the long term?

My attitude has helped reduce these fears. I have inter-acted with people every day of my career which for me is a real draw. I have also had the chance to help people through-out every one of my working days. I have worked in a vibrant atmosphere for years as I have enjoyed the buzz of Team-spirit. I have had the opportunity to share the skills I have learnt with thousands of people. And for me, that's worth giving up an office with a window and a more ---money.

Through his electronic writing, Stephen attempts to help those without the time or often the money to attend College by providing them with Learning.

Watching these vlogs and reading these blogs will assist hospitality students and workers in the Global Hospitality Industry to train and develop using Social Media.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephen Sawyers brings 20-years of Hotels and Hospitality Management to his book writing.

These blogs and vlogs are intended for hotel workers, supervisors and managers who are (or want to become) actively engaged in learning and development around the world.