Five Things You Need to Know About Hotel Operations Management

Think you know everything about hotel operations management? While there's a good chance you know at least some of what is involved if you're reading this article, we're going to break it down into the five most important things you need to know about managing hotel operations.

Five Keys of Managing Hotel Operations

Here is a breakdown of the five major things to keep in mind in regards to hotel operations management.

Communication - Managing a hotel requires a team who knows how to communicate effectively. Whether it's letting the owner of the hotel know what's going on to communicating expectations to the staff, communication is crucial for smooth hotel operations. Additionally, if the hotel is part of a franchise, the person in charge will need to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to what is expected. A trained consulting firm will be able to effectively communicate and manage hotel operations.

Evaluation - In addition to communication, smooth hotel operations management requires someone to evaluate (daily and monthly) whether something is working or not. Evaluations also include using the Property Success Index Report System and other methods to ensure that a hotel owner has every possible chance to make a positive return on their investment. Evaluating the hotel and people working for the hotel can help with better overall performance of the location.  

Details - Another key aspect of managing hotel operations is paying attention to the details. This includes coming up with a strategy for both the short term and long term. Additionally, details for various marketing plans, budget projections, as well as capital improvements plans are all crucial for success. It takes a lot of work to make sure even the smallest details are thought about, but this can be the difference between success and failure. Implementing systems and procedures to ensure everyone is paying attention to the details is recommended.

Inspections - Various inspections are also important for smooth operation of a hotel. This includes things like inspections by outside agencies (like the health department) as well as internal inspections to make sure everyone is doing what they should be doing. (See above about details being important.) Making inspections a regular activity is also recommended as a means to keep everything running. Take the time to use inspections to ensure all employees are following the overall strategy/plan for success.

Strategy - Speaking of strategies and plans, this is one of the main keys for managing hotel operations. The management should have a strategy in place and make sure all employees actually follow everything in the plan. While you might be able to run a hotel without a "big picture strategy" in place, it's not recommended. The good news is that coming up with a strategy is not difficult, especially if you work with people who have many years of experience in managing hotels.

Next, we're going to expand on why hotel operations management is so crucial for success.

Why Hotel Operations Management is Important

Looking at the five overall things you need to know about hotel operations management, it's important to keep in mind that no one person can keep a hotel running smoothly all the time. It takes a team of trained professionals with experience in managing real estate investments centered around hospitality.

If no one takes the reins and keeps everything in check for both day to day operations and long term strategies, your return on investment is not going to be as high as it might be if you have a team of professionals taking care of everything. Hotel management is key to smooth operations, which is why you should hire a consulting firm.