Becoming a Hotel Manager

October 2026

By Chava Pearl Lansky

Courtesy of Chris Catsman

Chris Catsman’s first hotel job was as a front desk agent at a Ritz-Carlton in Hawaii. Over the past 20 years, he’s worked his way up the professional ladder, building experience in every corner of the hotel ecosystem. Now Catsman is the director of operations at a luxury resort in Palm Beach, Florida. He’s responsible for managing the teams that handle reservations, guest arrivals and departures, housekeeping, security, and the hotel’s shops and VIP club— 250 employees in all.

Read on to learn about what it takes to be a hotel manager.

Illustration by Koren Shadmi

One of Catsman’s many responsibilities is managing the hotel’s front desk staff.

What’s an average day like for you?

I spend a lot of my time supporting the people who report to me. I help resolve conflicts between employees from different departments and with guest requests. I have meetings to strategize about what’s next for the hotel, like our upcoming room renovation. And I make the rounds: I walk through the lobby, go out to the pool, say hi to guests and to the team members. I try to stay visible.

How did your college degree prepare you for your career?

I majored in recreation and tourism thinking I might want to open an outdoor adventure company. It gave me a foundation for hotels too. I learned about all the pieces that go into tourism—not just hotels, but also outfitters (businesses that provide equipment and supplies), transportation, and the tourism departments within cities and states.

What is important for someone interested in working in hotels to know?

Hotels tend to foster an all-inclusive, family-type atmosphere. They’re staffed by people from different generations and countries who come together to do all kinds of jobs. And if you work for one hotel company for a long time, you get chances to relocate and travel. If you want to work in hotels, you need to have hospitality in your heart and soul. Do you naturally serve your friends when they come over? If that trait is a part of who you are, you’ll be very successful here.

Fast Facts

New York Public Library via Wikimedia Commons

History

Boston’s Tremont House, considered the first luxury hotel in the U.S., opened in 1829. Before hotels, travelers stayed in cramped inns or taverns, often sharing rooms with strangers.

What to Expect

Hotel managers earn between $50,000 and $300,000. This range is based on the location, size, and type of hotel, which span from economy or budget options to luxury resorts.

Key Soft Skills

Active listening: Hotel managers must pay attention to guests’ feedback and work to meet their needs.
Attention to detail: Managers are responsible for making sure their teams adhere to the hotel’s standards, from perfectly made beds to impeccable customer service.
Conflict resolution: Hotel managers can be responsible for up to hundreds of employees who all come to work with different priorities and perspectives.

Meet the Team

Concierges assist with local advice and services.
Food service managers coordinate and direct corporate kitchens, restaurants, or event spaces.
Recreation directors manage staff and run programs at camps or recreation facilities.

Step by Step

Interested in becoming a hotel manager? Here’s one way to do it.

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1. NOW

Get a part-time or summer job at a hotel or as a restaurant food runner or host. Practice your hospitality skills on your friends by hosting parties or theme nights.

2. NEXT

Some hotels require a high school degree and job experience to become a manager, while higher-end hotels require a bachelor’s or master’s degree in hospitality or tourism management.

3. FUTURE

The hotel industry is known for promoting from within, with many managers having worked for the same hotel chain for a long time. You can enter the field in an entry-level job and work your way up to the management level.