Hotel Management
What is Hotel Management?
Hotels are amongst the most visible and important aspects of a country’s infrastructure. Hotel industry is a closely linked one to the tourism industry. A number of factors like promotion of tourism and rapid industrial progress have given a boost to hoteliering. The recent liberalization of trade and opening up of economy will further lead to revolutionary growth in this sector.
With increasing globalization, career opportunities in this field are not only limited within the country but there are chains of hotels which operate internationally providing scope of a career abroad. It is a glamorous profession which has a bright future. With the growth of hotel industry propelled by oreign and domestic tourism and business travel, the demand for well trained quality personnel too has grown impressively.
The diversity of experience in hotel management is greater than in any other profession. Hotel industry involves combination of various skills like management, food and beverage service, housekeeping, front office operation, sales and marketing, accounting. Today, the rise in corporate activity (leading to greater number of business trips) as well as the wish to travel on holiday has made the hotel industry a very competitive one.
ELIGIBILITY
One can enter this field by direct entry or through hotel management institutes. For direct entry the vacancies are generally advertised in the newspapers and the minimum prescribed qualification is graduation with 50% marks. They are trained by the hotels themselves. But Qualified personnel’s are always given a higher preference.
Educational: Minimum qualification required to go for a course in hotel management is 10+2. For certificate, diploma and bachelors courses 10+2 is sufficient. Duration of certificate courses is six months to one year. Bachelor and diploma courses are of duration one and half to three years. Those with graduation can go for post graduate diploma courses the duration of which is one year.
ENTRANCE TEST
Selection to most government recognized institutes is based on a common entrance test (NCHMCT-JEE) conducted by the National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology. The test consists of English, Reasoning, General Science and General Knowledge. The test is of two hour duration and is held around April every year. The test is followed by a group discussion and interview, in which a person’s personality and confidence is seen. Private institutes also conduct tests of their own, the pattern of which is almost the same.
GOOD INSTITUTES
Some of the prominent schools that conduct courses in this area are: The Oberoi centre for Learning and Development, 1 Sham Nath Marg, New Delhi- 110054; Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Rauza Bagh, Aurangabad- 431001; Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Valley View Hotel, Manipal- 576119, Institute of hotel Management, Pusa, New Delhi, Institute of hotel Management, Chennai, Institute of hotel Management, Hyderabad, Institute of hotel Management, Bangalore, Institute of hotel Management, Mumbai.
AREAS OF STUDY
Course areas include food processing, Food and beverages service, Accommodation operation or front office, hotel accountancy, Business communication, French language, hotel engineering, computer, nutrition and food service, Hotel laws, Principles of management, sales and marketing management, Human resource management.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
They should have a good organizational background, excellent communication and interpersonal kills, strong commitment and self-discipline. One must be an extrovert, co-operative, polite and respectful to the guests, have patience to deal guest criticism even when you know you are right, willing to work hard even at odd hours and yet be cheerful.
REMUNERATION
After completing the diploma or the bachelor’s course, a graduate is usually taken as a trainee. After successful completion of training, they may be absorbed in positions with salaries range between Rs 4,000 to Rs 7,500. However, based on performance and individual effort, individuals may get recognized and move quickly up in the organization’s hierarchy. After that, salaries rise significantly. People in niche professions like chefs, sommeliers, chocolatiers, or pastry chefs will earn more.