Hotels provide accommodation, along with services like food and beverages and facilities such as recreational, conference, or training arrangements. They are also a popular destination for travellers looking to relax, unwind and enjoy the company of friends or family. While hotel businesses vary greatly from property to property, they all have one goal in common – attracting more guests and maximizing the value of every booking.
This can be achieved by building strong relationships with your guests, and it starts with understanding what they really want from their experience. Creating meaningful connections with your guests can lead to a snowball effect, where the guests keep coming back because they trust that you are there for them and will do whatever it takes to make their stay as comfortable as possible.
While there are many definitions of a hotel, most simply describe a managed establishment that offers lodging to guests on a short-term basis. This can include anything from a large commercial building filled with rooms for rent to smaller buildings like motels, inns or bed and breakfasts. Some may insist that overnight stays are a key feature, while others define it as the provision of accommodation plus services and amenities such as recreation, food, drinks, and lodging.
The hotel industry is characterized by the use of technology, and this will continue to be important in the future. The new generation of travellers is accustomed to using mobile devices to gain inspiration for travel, and they also expect a seamless booking process that provides them with all the information they need to make an informed decision about where and when to stay. In addition, older generations are more comfortable with online reservations than they were in the past, and this will continue to be a significant part of the industry.
As the global pandemic continues, the need for hotels to be more flexible and accommodating will increase. Many guests will be looking for the opportunity to escape their usual surroundings and feel normal again, and this will require a focus on health, hygiene, and safety. It will also be necessary for hotels to offer a variety of different types of rooms, from single rooms for a budget-conscious guest to luxury suites that are ideal for a business traveller.
The organization structure of a hotel can vary from property to property, but generally the departments of a hotel will be administration, finance, sales and marketing, operations, purchasing, and human resources. These departments are headed by managers, who report to the general manager and assistant general manager. These managers oversee the day-to-day running of the hotel, and are responsible for coordinating all departments to ensure they operate in a cohesive and efficient manner. They will also be responsible for implementing the strategic plans and goals set out by the management team. The finance department will be responsible for managing the finances of the hotel, and this includes collecting payments, making deposits, settling accounts, preparing budgets and financial statements.
