5 Skills for Career Success in Budget Hotels

Why? Budget is where the future is. Thats right, it is the fastest growing segment in the hospitality trade and will continue to expand for time to come. But that is not where hospitality /service is. Most of the brands are self-help, good looking motels. If you walk in with skills you learnt in Hotel Management Schools, you would not only fail magnificently, you may want to go back and strangle some of the faculty.

Here are my 5 skills for career success in Budget Hotels:

1. MULTI-TASKING

more than any other space, this segment, requires and rewards individuals who have the capacity to take on a myriad of roles without the slightest reluctance and hesitation.

2. Think Efficiency

In everything that you do here, efficiency is the key word. Customer happiness/satisfaction will follow, once they are educated enough on what is on offer and what isn't.

3. ABILITY to say NO

I know, you were trained to the 'customer is always right' but this is not where it is to be practiced. This is a mass market and any deviation (customization) costs money. you have to be able to say NO to things that are not available/provided

4. Technology Savvy

If you don't know how it all works together, you will be at sea and without a life jacket. As these brands grow, technology will play a big part in facilitating multi-location issues and guest services

5. Process Management

Everything is laid down in a manual and your job is to learn it, implement it and train it further. don't question, don't try and change these things, just follow them. if it says, one swipe of the rag, then thats it. Its a space that will give you a chance to take on mega responsibilities at a very early stage/age and you better learn to forget that 14 course meal they were teaching you in fnb classes!!

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Posted in: ability,budget hotel,career success,efficiency,guest services,hesitation,Multi tasking,process management,reluctance,responsibility,savvy

Higher education in Hospitality Management

Stenden South Africa accreditation and partnerships mean that the Institution is truly in a position to craft the future leaders of the hospitality industry.

Stenden South Africa is situated in the picturesque seaside town of Port Alfred, halfway between Port Elizabeth and East London in the Eastern Cape. It is the only Private Higher Education Institution offering a three year B.Com Degree in Hospitality Management in South Africa. Stenden South Africa is affiliated with the world renowned Mantis Collection of Boutique Hotels and Private Game Reserves.

History of Stenden South Africa Preface

It was a great privilege to be associated with the founding of a Hospitality University in South Africa. The one experience that was both thought and life changing for me was my first visit to CHN in the Netherlands. I was never a great scholar because for me I found the theory extremely difficult to follow, however as soon as I was able to see the practical side of the theory it was all so easy. At CHN the emphasis on the practical side of learning meant everything to me.

All the courses I saw had a practical side to them, how easy it would be for the students! If this was the model we were to bring to South Africa I desperately wish to be part of it.Throughout my business career in the Eastern Cape and all the new ventures my team and I have brought to the Province none have been easy, however all have succeeded. It is with pride that I was part of the original structure of EISS and it is with humility that I now serve as Chairman of the Board of Governors and I praise my colleagues in the Netherlands for persevering with their endeavors, both financially and with effort and time to ensure that this University becomes one of the success stories of not only our Province but South Africa.

Sifra Kooi, alumni of CHN University, the Netherlands and lecturer at EISS prepared the information for this book by conducting interviews and wrote the base text. We like to thank all people who participated and helped to develop this book. The start of EISS / Initiators of EISS / The birth of EISS. The idea which led to the formation of the Educational Institute for Service Studies (EISS) was conceived by the Christelijke Hogeschool Nederland (CHN). The CHN University is based in the Netherlands and since its establishment in 1987 it developed an international focus. The vision was and still is to establish five to seven campuses around the world.

Mr. Klaas Speelman, Director Global Campus Sites, Mr. Bert Vroon, President of the Executive Board and Mr. Klaas-Wybo van de Hoek, Director of the CHN International Hospitality Management Institute, Mr. Douwe Tamminga, Chairman of the Board of Governors,, Mr. Joris Paulussen, IHM staff member, was the team that developed the idea and took the initiative to negotiations between the CHN and the South African business people.

In the meantime a group of South Africans considered the idea of establishing an educational facility. Mr. Isaac Mabindisa, former administrator at University of Fort Hare SA, Mr. John Hughes, owner of the Grand Hotel and Mr. Raymond Mhlaba, First premier of the Eastern Cape, Councilor Louise Swanepoel, Ndlambe Town Council, provided the initiative in South Africa.

Mr. John Hughes approached Mr. Adrian Gardiner (ownner of the Mantis Collection of Hotel Groups) , and a businessman with interest in wildlife conservation and tourism industry, to take part in the developing of a hotel school. During a hospitality conference in Berlin, Germany, delegations from the two parties met, and they discussed establishing a hospitality training institute in South Africa.

After the visit of a panel with Ms. Kurti Mennen as chairperson from the Department of Education in January 2002, the CHN University of Port Alfred was granted provisional registration and accreditation with one of the conditions being that they could not continue with the name, CHN University Port Alfred. After discussion the name: Educational Institute for Service Studies (EISS) was chosen. With this name, the options are open to offer other study directions, for example education, retail business and social work.

In January 2003 EISS welcomed their first thirteen South African First Year students. These students enroled for the international hospitality management, eight week modules. Students from CHN University in the Netherlands came to South Africa to follow modules or to do internship at EISS. There were International Hotel Management (IHM), agric-tourism, Retail Business Students (RBS), Office Management (OM), Educational and Social Care Students. This is now called: the Grand Tour.

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Posted in: agric-tourism,Business student,EISS,hospitality management,IHM,International hotel management,Office management,social care student

Starting a Hospitality Career

To start out on a realistic note, working as a professional in the hospitality industry is no easy living. You are going to work long hours around the clock. You will most likely work weekends and holidays, because that's the busiest times. And, even though most people are at least pleasant, there are those guests who are so rude that they give the others a bad name.

It takes an iron will to face all this and more. You'll need to have a selfless, sacrificing nature to see your kith and kin have the time of their life holidaying while you slog to please others. And you'll be expected to never be without a perpetual smile on your face. But the offered perks, the potential for good tips or attaining a high-ranking position, and the benefit of working in a recession-free industry draws potential workforce towards it. If you have all that, you can set up a pretty nice life for yourself.

Enjoying being among people is the first and foremost requirement to be able to chart a course of success in the hospitality industry. The job of a person serving in this field requires one to be people-friendly, adaptable, and energetic. Other traits that will come in handy include the ability to work in a team, problem-solving capabilities, and working in a customer-centric atmosphere. If the smiles on your guests' satisfied faces make you forget all your difficulties - including the pressure of working on your feet for late hours without the weekends for yourself - you are probably tailor-made to suit this profession. On the contrary, a reclusive, introverted personality who likes keeping to themselves, working in a cubicle for a stress-free job, or likes a typical office-hours shift is a complete misfit.

If you know your calling in life lies in the hotel and hospitality industry, you need to take a path that will provide you an edge over the others as far as employment is concerned. You could go in for any of many educational paths to take your plans forward.

Though not always necessary, enrolling for a full-time course is an option. Identify your area of interest and enroll for a full time program affiliated to a specific industry. Choose a program depending upon the eligibility and the time you wish to spend on your education. Chefs, especially, will need some form of culinary school, and those aiming for management will probably be best served by a simple business degree.

Another option is a company-sponsored training program. Join a program that is conducted by an employer or an agency that is associated with employers in your target hospitality industry. Such programs are generally the blend of theory or off-site training at a community college or institution, and practical or on-the-job training at affiliated businesses, similar to an internship.

Finally, you find an employer who will hire a first-timer. This is your 'break-in' period, and it's wise to remember the old Chinese saying, "The temptation to quit will be strongest just before you succeed." The first year will arm you with the necessary and invaluable experience.

Though it has been recognized as a full fledged industry relatively late in history, the hospitality trade is as old as scriptural times. The current trend of globalization, coupled with the exponentially rising spending power of the new world economy is at the core of the boom that the hospitality trade has received in the past few years. But, people who are short-sighted about the many dimensions of the trade fail to see the myriad hues that this industry offers its workforce.

A mere mention of the hospitality industry brings to our mind the images of chefs with high white hats, or pleasant, tidy front desk executives and alert, courteous waiters. It is helpful to be aware of the deluge of other opportunities that await a young hospitality industry graduate. Amusement parks, resorts, golf courses, spas, gyms, retreats, bed and breakfasts, and casinos all fit under the wide umbrella of the hospitality industry.

You might not think of working in a restaurant waiting tables sounds like a fun career, but have you been to Disneyland and seen that restaurant they have inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride? Or perhaps you've thought of working your way up to head hostess at Ceasar's Palace? Or have you figured how much a wine steward at a South American beach resort makes, all under the warm equatorial sun and drenched in the ocean breeze all day? See, there's more options available than just slinging hash in a truck stop!

Contrary to the common perception, hospitality most definitely does not pertain merely to hotels. We tend to overlook the fact that hospitality has entered our lives in more ways than we can think of. Small and big eateries, coffee shops, ice-cream parlors, lodges, cinemas, workplace canteens, and event management agencies are as much a part of the hospitality industry as hotels and restaurants.

A qualified hospitality professional might have a choice of working as a hotel manager, concierge, front desk manager, food and beverage manager, housekeeping manager and sales and marketing professional. Apart from this, openings in restaurant management, catering, event planning, consulting, and research firms beckon the trained graduates with a modest run of experience.

A common question that comes up: What matters more in the hospitality trade, qualifications or personality? Since employers believe that success in the hospitality industry isn't always related to the qualifications that you have, personality and charisma is more of a score over the list of qualifications of a prospective employee. Outgoing people focused on business goals are always the most sought after. Qualifications are definitely a value addition, but not a must-have. Some believe in the credibility provided by these qualifications but nonetheless fervently advocate the performance-oriented nature of the industry, since you can always pick up an extra certificate while you're working.

But really, a winning attitude, a positive personality, and excellent people skills are most important, and in many cases will be all you need. And what school could teach those? You're either born with it or you aren't. If you were born with it, it's yours to put to work for you.

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Posted in: busiest times,career,chart,course,holidays,hospitality,hospitality management,pleasant,potential,workforce

Career Opportunities In Food Services

There are literally hundreds of Job roles that you could consider if you choose to enter in to a career in food services. You will not need to have achieved top grades in your GCSE results to go in to this Industry. There are several city and guild qualifications you can take, which include a diploma in food and beverage services, food safety in catering and cleaning and support services. All of these would be beneficial and will give you a head start against your competition when applying for any Job roles.

You could always start as a food service assistant. Providing good customer service, while meeting strict food hygiene standards, is an important part of the job. Most assistants work on the service counter. Some also help to prepare food in the kitchen and work in the dining areas. Others may help to organise and run events on the premises, such as children's parties. Service assistants are often provided with a uniform.

Service assistants may work shifts, totalling up to 40 hours a week. Flexible and part- time work are common. Assistants often have to stand for long periods. Fast food operations can be hot and noisy. At busy periods the work is demanding. Some customers can be challenging. Earnings start from around £9,920 per year for new entrants, and may rise to £20,000 or more for trainee or assistant managers.

Waitressing is another starting point in the catering world. Waiters/waitresses are busiest in the evening and sometimes well into the night. Part-time and seasonal work is increasingly common. Shift work is normal. Some staff based in remote areas need their own transport. Some employers supply a uniform, but others just require staff to adopt a dress code. Starting pay may be based on the national minimum wage, which is around £7,342 to £11,918 a year, depending on age. A head waiter/waitress may earn £18,000 or more. Tips from customers are a considerable addition to staff income. Meals are usually provided and sometimes your accommodation.

You could also consider bar work. The pub, bar and nightclub industry is currently suffering from the recession. In the longer term, however, the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector is still predicted to grow. Employers range from small bars, clubs and hotels to national chains of breweries and pub management companies. The positions above will give you the experience to progress your career. There are opportunities such as catering or restaurant manager, publican, hotel manager or chef, to name a few. There are several Internet Job boards and Job sites advertising vacancies in the food service Industry. This will give you an idea as to what is currently available.

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Posted in: assistant manager,career opportunities,catering jobs,children,competition,food services,job roles,service counter,waiters,waitresses

So You Want A Career As A Restaurant Manager

Even if you're currently a restaurant's resident dishwasher, it is still very possible for you to climb the ladder to the very top with hard work, persistence and the right set of skills. A lot of restaurant operators seek people who already have ample experience in nearly all restaurant duties, so if you've been rotating on different tasks for the past months or years, you already have one foot in the door.

However, given the present times, most owners are eyeing potential candidates who have formal qualifications to fill supervisory and managerial roles in the company. While experience also carries a lot of weight, job opportunities are likely to be more open and better if you have an associate or bachelor's degree to your name, particularly those that have something to do with restaurant and institutional food service management.

Understanding Your Work Conditions

A restaurant manager's daily life is often very hectic and subject to high levels of pressure. Thus, a considerable amount of resilience, stamina and physical, mental and emotional endurance is required of you. Since evenings and weekends are the most busy times for restaurants, you should be prepared to work during late nights and weekends. It is not uncommon for restaurant managers to work for around 50 to 60 hours per week, and you will most likely be the first to arrive and the last to leave everyday.

A restaurant manager's work hours and job nature are also highly intermittent, as you might have to fill in for an absent employee, no matter what his job designation is, at the last minute. Hence, it is very important that you know all the restaurant's operations inside out and from top to bottom, as being a restaurant manager does not just mean sitting behind a nice desk and making chitchat with customers. There will be times that you will have to perform all sorts of "dirty work".

The pressures of making sure everything is in order almost always happen simultaneously with a number of other responsibilities. Whenever there are problems, it will be your duty as restaurant manager to seek a solution with the least possible disruptions to other operations, particularly in the serving of customers. This can be further aggravated by uncooperative and stubborn staff, as well as irate clients. You have to have a lot of patience for this job if you want to pull through sanely and in one piece.

Duties of a Restaurant Manager

A restaurant manager's daily duties are not to be underestimated. Apart from the usual tasks of selecting what to place on the menu and determining each of their prices, ensuring quality service and proper food preparation and the efficient utilization of supplies, taking responsibility for the rising number of human resource and administrative tasks are also part of the job description.

Typically, the management team is composed of a general manager, one or two assistant managers (depending on the size of the place) and one executive chef, who takes charged of all kitchen operations. Often, in the case of small restaurants, the manager and the executive chef is just one person. In the case of major fast food chains, there are a number of assistant managers to supervise the different shifts.

All of the members of the managerial team should expect to be working from the moment the restaurant opens until it closes at all days of operation. Because a manager is responsible for all, he does not have the liberty to just skip work because he doesn't feel like going. Restaurant management, though accompanied by considerable perks, is a full service job that requires full time commitment.

Managing the Menu and Supplies

It is a restaurant manager's job to determine menu items. This is often doen with the help of the executive chef and will be decided on based on the past popularity of certain meals and the likely number of customers who will patronize it. Sometimes, a new dish is introduced in order to accommodate and avoid the wastage of unserved food. How the menu is arranged also depends on what raw ingredients are in season or simply for the sake of variety and novelty.

Managers also review each dish to find out how much it costs to prepare them, taking into consideration certain overhead expenses, to know what price best represents its value. Items on the meu should also be done ahead of time so managers can estimate what supplies are needed and when these should be bought and delivered. Upon delivery, it is the manager's duty to check the content and evaluate their quality, particularly the meats, fruits, vegetables, fish, baked items and poultry.

Grocery items are not the only supplies that should be monitored. Tableware, linens, cooking supplies, furniture and cleaning materials should also be checked regularly. Waste disposal and pest control should be addressed, as well.

Hiring the Right People

How smoothly a restaurant runs depends a lot on the people who work there. That's why it is important that managers hire the right people for the job. It is the manager's responsibility to explain the company's rules and regulations to all staff members and to provide the training necessary. Employee work schedules are also under his jurisdiction.

Because restaurants at peak hours are considered one of the most stressful working environments in the business world, managers should be able to exercise maximum grace under pressure and handle problems with the least disturbance.

Administrative Duties

While majority of administrative functions are handled by the bookkeeper, managers should also know how there are run, particularly for smaller restaurants where he might have to do the job himself. Issue like work hours and staff wages, tax and licensing paperwork, payroll, supply and equipment purchases and other disbursements fall under this category. Given a highly technological business environment today, managers will also need to learn how to operate computerized point of sale systems to increase productivity and efficiency. POS systems can help minimize the workload by automatically talling sales, supplies and ranking which dishes on the menu are the most popular among clients.

Training to be a Restaurant Manager

Given the multitude of responsibilities managers face each day, it is important that he is well equipped to handle the job. Colleges and universities offer two to four-year programs on restaurant related subjects like food technology, nutrition, food planning and preparation, accounting, even restaurant and hotel management itself.

The demands of the times today do not only call for a vast experience on the business, but also the adequate formal and technical know-how in order to grow safely with the changes and industry advances.

To further bolster you chances of becoming a restaurant manager, you might want to acquire a certification as a Foodservice Management Professional from the Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association. This can be obtained after you've successfully completed a series of food service management related courses, passed a written test, and met certain minimum requirements pertaining to performance and experience.

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Posted in: candidates,experience,Food service,managerial roles,potential,restaurant manager,restaurants,supervisory,work conditions

Outlook on Earning Online Degree in the Hospitality Management

In last few years, the hospitality industry in the United States has taken on new proportions due to an increased international travel, more affordable airfare, and increasingly diverse consumer demands. So, if you are looking forward to excel in this larger field of hospitality that primarily consists of hotels, leisure and restaurants, on-the-job training is not always sufficient. Today earning a hospitality degree after completing an accredited program is gaining huge popularity. In fact, in recent years, it has become the minimum requirement for many of the more prestigious establishments.

These days, it is important to understand that hospitality is a very fluid industry that has many part-timers and seasonal workers. As a result, in order to make a career in this hospitality industry, securing an associate or bachelor degree is strongly recommended. Earning a degree in hospitality management cannot just secure your job but expand your career profile and enable you to work in various positions such as catering managers, gourmet chefs, hotel managers, travel agents, and related fields. As a graduate, you may even assume managerial roles in varied hospitality disciplines including: private clubs, meeting and event planning corporations, convention centers, casinos, entertainment venues, and vacation ownership or fractional ownership operations.

Apart from all this, a typical hospitality program not just stresses upon the specific techniques connected to your given field, but it even exposes you to areas like communications, conflict resolution, customer relations, business administration, marketing and advertising. The degree even offers you plenty of options. As a graduate with a hospitality management degree, you may also place yourself in entry-level positions in all areas of the hospitality industry. Working at entry level position, your responsibility may revolve around assisting more experienced professionals with everything from event planning to publicity directing to food and beverage service. This can be an excellent benefit for you as it may help you to go into event planning, including wedding coordinating.

It is one of the few degrees that cover formal education and fill the gaps that practical experience alone can't provide. It provides recognized support of your skills, abilities and an opportunity to put what you learn in the classroom into the workforce immediately. In terms of salary, the degree may also enjoy decent income with median annual earnings starting at about $35,000, while those at the upper end of the earnings scale can make in the range of $75,000 per annum. In addition to this, many hospitality management positions offer benefits such as health insurance, paid vacations and at times reduced rates on accommodations, food, and travel.

Today there are many online colleges and universities that offer degree in hospitality management. These days distance learning classes in hospitality have also become ever more popular among employees who are already in the industry and feel like advancing their profession without taking a pay cut to attend a traditional school.

If we look at the current scenario, indeed it won’t be wrong to say that hospitality is an industry that is known for promoting from within. If you are talented enough and demonstrate a good work ethic, you can surely advance quickly. Your skills and ambitions can take you in the challenging yet rewarding and fascinating world of Hospitality Management.

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Posted in: casino,catering manager,entertainment,gourmet chefs,hospitality degree,hotel manager,international travel,minimum requirement,prestigious establishment,restaurants,vacation

Online hospitality management jobs

Hospitality means friendly and generous treatment to guests etc. Hospitality consists of one person or group of peoples in some cases. A single person who does this type of job is called host. Management is simply the act of accomplish desired goals and objectives. Management comprises planing, organizatin, staffing, leading, directing, controling or effort for the purpose of accompleshing a goal.To get all above goals is called hospitality management jobs. Management can also known as the person or people who perform the acts to take cares of others.

The resources of these jobs are humen resources, financial resources, tecnological resources and natural resources. Some of these resources can easily access through the internet. This is an exciting time for hospitality management jobs because it is changing more rapidly than almost any other field. This field is varying in terms and conditions that how and where care is delivered, who is providing those services. This type of management requires talented people to manage the changes taking place. For example healthcare manager has an opportunity to make a significant contribution to improving the health of the communities which their organization provides and hotel manager or hotelier is a person who handles the functions and management of a hotel. Larger hotels have management teams, instead of individual managers, where each member of the group specializes on a certain area of interest.

As you know that online job sites also provides the facility of Hospitality Management jobs even through a distance. Working adults can study Hospitality Management at their own place without forfeiting present employment. In this high-growth field, a distance learning course is a convenient way to prepare for a challenging career. Majority of Students can earn 100 percent of the credits needed for a degree in Hospitality Management in as little as six months through internet easily without stepping foot in a traditional classroom. All these institutes which provide the learning facility also offer jobs after getting the degree. Online job sites of management provide the information about marketing, occupancy forecasting, operations, staffing, the front desk, reservations, organization, security, room service, restaurant and bar management, housekeeping, staffing, meetings, banquets, purchasing, accounting, and more.

Hospitality management jobs provides tips that how to build customer traffic, operate efficient food and beverage services, and make sure guests are satisfied in every manner. The changing in this job has led to more and more people undergoing hospitality management training courses to prepare themselves for a profitable and rewarding career in fields. There are a lot of organizations are operated either privately or by government entities. Some private institutes operate for profit and others are operated by religious or secular charitable associations on a nonprofit basis.

For all above conditions training for the Hospitality management jobs is the most important if you are planning or taking on a management position in the hospitality field. Of course you can learn on the job to be a manager of any organization but that can take years and years to do it and is certainly the tough way to take this position. An online hospitality management job is the best way to improve the ability of management and give chance to get the better jobs.

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Posted in: Banquet,bar management,financial resources,hospitality management,human resources,management,natural resources,technological resources