How to become a hotel manager
Hotel managers run hotels, or a large part of one: guests, staff, rooms, food and drink, maintenance and the money that pays for it all. In a small hotel the manager does a bit of everything; in a large one they lead a team of department heads and answer to owners or a hotel group.
Most hotel managers did not start as managers. The usual route is to join in a front-line role, move through supervisor, duty manager and assistant manager posts, and learn how every department works along the way. A degree or apprenticeship can shorten the climb but is not essential. This guide covers the routes in, how long they take, what the job is like day to day and what hotel managers earn.
Quick facts
- Starting salary
- £24,000 - £32,000 (asst manager)
- Mid-career salary
- £35,000 - £55,000
- Senior salary
- £60,000 - £100,000+ (GM)
- Work environment
- Hotel - long, unsociable hours common
- Time to entry
- 3 - 7 years
- Degree required
- Helpful
- Category
- Hospitality and Food
Compare pay across careers in the UK salaries by career report. Also in: High-paying careers.
What a Hotel Manager does
Run a hotel or part of one - guests, staff, revenue, operations.
How to become a hotel manager in the UK
There is no single required qualification. Employers look for experience across the main departments of a hotel, a track record of leading shifts and teams, and commercial awareness: knowing how occupancy, room rates and costs turn into profit.
You can get there by working up from reception, food and beverage or housekeeping; by taking a hospitality management degree, which often includes a paid placement year; through a Level 4 Hospitality manager apprenticeship while you work; or through a management trainee programme run by a hotel group, which rotates you through departments. Whichever route you take, aim to run a smaller property or a department before applying to manage a large hotel.
- Get a front-line hotel job such as receptionist, food and beverage assistant or housekeeping supervisor to learn how each department runs day to day.
- Ask to rotate through front office, food and beverage, housekeeping and events, as general managers need experience across every department.
- Consider a hospitality management degree or a Level 4 Hospitality manager apprenticeship, which combine management training with paid hotel work.
- Apply for management trainee or graduate programmes run by hotel groups, which move you through departments towards a duty or assistant manager role.
- Learn revenue management basics, including occupancy, average daily rate and RevPAR, and how online booking channels affect profit.
- Get a personal licence to sell alcohol, plus food safety and health and safety training, as you will be accountable for compliance on shift.
- Consider joining the Institute of Hospitality for professional development, and aim to run a smaller hotel before moving to a larger property.
| Route | How long | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work up from front-line roles | 3-7 years | None, paid work | People who want to learn on the job |
| Hospitality management degree | 3-4 years | Tuition fee loan | School leavers aiming for graduate schemes |
| Level 4 Hospitality manager apprenticeship | Around 2 years | Paid by the employer | Supervisors ready to step up |
| Hotel group management trainee programme | 1-2 years | Paid while training | Graduates and experienced supervisors |
How long it takes
Expect 3 to 7 years to reach hotel manager. Most people spend several years in supervisor, duty manager and assistant manager roles first, and becoming general manager of a large hotel usually takes longer.
Hotel Manager salary in the UK
Hotel managers usually start as assistant managers on around £24,000 to £32,000. Experienced hotel managers earn about £35,000 to £55,000, and general managers of larger hotels £60,000 to £100,000 or more. Pay depends on the size and type of hotel, the group you work for and the region, and some roles include live-in accommodation or meals. Our hotel manager salary guide compares pay at each level, from assistant manager to general manager.
Is hotel manager a good career?
Hotel management suits people who enjoy looking after guests, can stay calm when several things go wrong at once and like running a team. You can start without a degree and work your way up, and experience transfers between hotels, groups and countries. The trade-offs are long and unsociable hours, especially at weekends and holidays, and pressure to hit occupancy and revenue targets.
Key skills
- Leadership
- Customer service
- Commercial awareness
- Calm under pressure
Hotel Manager FAQs
Do you need a degree to be a hotel manager?
No. Many hotel managers start in front-line roles such as reception or food and beverage and work up through supervisor and duty manager posts. A hospitality management degree or a Level 4 Hospitality manager apprenticeship can speed things up, and some graduate schemes ask for a degree.
How long does it take to become a hotel manager?
Usually three to seven years. Most people spend several years as a supervisor, duty manager and assistant manager first, and running a large hotel as general manager usually takes longer.
How much does a hotel manager earn in the UK?
Assistant managers usually earn around £24,000 to £32,000, experienced hotel managers £35,000 to £55,000, and general managers of larger hotels £60,000 to £100,000 or more.
Is Hotel Manager right for you?
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Still deciding whether hotel manager is the career for you? Here is which career test is actually worth taking, and what a free quiz will not tell you.