The hospitality industry in simple terms means the act of making someone feel welcome and comfortable even when they are away from home. This is a sector with a wide range of businesses like hotels, motels, resorts, restaurants and theme parks.
The hospitality industry can be divided into four big categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Travel & Tourism
- Lodging
- Recreation.
Future Scope of Hospitality Industry
The tourism and hotel industry in India has proven to be one of the key drivers of the country’s economic growth. India’s rich cultural heritage, natural beauty and variety of ecology have resulted in the coming up of many tourist attractions.
The industry has been a great source of employment. In India, the tourism sector accounts for nearly 39 million jobs. Around 30.5 billion foreign tourists are expected to visit the country in the next 7 years, as per the latest data. The Indian hospitality sector has also embraced staycations as the new emerging trend. The tourism industry in India has proved itself time and again and is expected to grow even further due to the expansion of the e-Visa scheme.
Career Opportunities in Hospitality Industry
The tourism and hospitality industry has several career options. The sector is constantly growing and adapting to new trends and regulations. It is also adapting to new technology and innovations. With so much happening in this sector, it is the best time to explore career opportunities in that field.
Let us look at different career opportunities in this industry.
1) Banquet & Conferences
2) Food & Beverage
3) Front Office Reception
4) Resort Management
5) Restaurant Management
6) Spa and Wellness Management
7) Concerts, Festivals & Exhibitions
8) Wedding Coordination
9) Catering
10)Cruises
Top 18 required skills for a successful career in Hospitality Industry
A hospitality employee has an X-factor that makes the guests feel welcome and at home. This is achieved with a combination of several skills that are picked up during the training of an employee and later during the course of the job. But what are these skills and what role do each of them play while discharging the responsibilities in the industry?
Soft Skills
Customer service skills: Customer is king. We have all come across this saying and it could not be more true than in an industry like hospitality. A hotel’s staff needs to ensure that the customer is pleased with the service strategy and quality. This helps in spreading a good word about the establishment. There are some practices that help in increasing customer satisfaction.
- Understanding the profile of the customers.
- Make customer service easy.
- Train hotel staff well about customer service
- Engage the customer with local offerings
- Go the extra mile.
Networking skills: Effective networking can help in pacifying a dissatisfied guest. It can also make a customer aware of your services and feel more comfortable about asking for a favour or for putting in a request. You need to build a connection to make the guest feel at ease.
Communication skills: How would you feel if the hotel receptionist is unable to address your billing issues? Such issues keep occurring in the hospitality industry. You may not be the best person to handle them but the key is to communicate well with the guests without losing your cool. It is essential that the hotel staff provides reasonable explanations and resolve the issue at the earliest.
Flexibility skills: Every industry has its own set of challenges but with a flexible attitude one can tackle situations with ease. This is a crucial skill for hospitality employees because they come across a wide range of situations — some tricky, some unpleasant. It is in these circumstances that the staff needs to adopt flexible ways to deal with the situation while keeping one’s cool.
Organisational skills: Organisational skill is a must-have in the hospitality trade. The duties in a hotel require one to multi-task and respond to unexpected requests. If not prepared, one may be caught off-guard. Therefore, every hotel staffer must plan things in advance and even keep a checklist to ensure activities go as per plan.
Language skills: This is another key skill as it makes communication smooth and efficient. A hotel staffer should be able to speak in the client’s language as it develops a better relationship and leads to customer satisfaction.
Commitment: The hotel industry can prove to be a harsh one as one has to perform amidst many odds. It requires dedication and commitment towards work while ensuring that all duties are fulfilled even if that means you need to extend your shift or work on public holidays.
Cultural awareness: Every region has their own set of cultural values and traditions that make them distinct. As a person who needs to build personal relationships, you need to be aware of the cultural aspects. This eliminates the chances of hurting cultural ethics and practices.
Other Skills
While soft skills are crucial for a hotel industry professional, the responsibilities demand a host of other qualities as well.
Professionalism: A hotel staff must not lose his or her cool during tricky situations. A customer may be making unreasonable demands but you should resolve the problem by handling it tactfully. You do not need to oblige the person if the request is against the hospital policy but the trick is to deliver the message politely.
Teamwork: A hotel runs efficiently only if the different teams work in coordination. The housekeeping staff cannot pass on the blame to the laundry department when a customer complains about a messy room. Working as a team makes carrying out all duties easier.
Stress and time management: Working long shifts and sometimes without day-offs can become stressful. So it is essential to handle such periods without getting flustered and hassled. Plan your day and seek help whenever you feel things are going out of control.
Strategy and innovation: An experienced hotel staff will have many stories about unexpected problems and situations. In most of these instances, it is innovation that proves to be the saviour. A lot of unwanted situations can be handled with a good strategy but when everything fails it is innovation that saves the day.
Attention to Detail: Making the bed, setting the cutlery, planning shifts. All these day-to-day duties of a hotel staff need attention to detail.
Industry Awareness: This is an ever-evolving industry and being aware of the latest trends and developments is essential. This helps in providing the best services to the patrons.
Interpersonal Skills: Being aware of one’s surroundings, caring about others and making people comfortable count as interpersonal skills. These are essential qualities for a hotel industry staffer because good interpersonal skills include clear communication and conflict management.
Join TransGlobe to build a career in Hospitality
The hotel management industry is one of the industries that has bounced back despite all the odds brought forth by the pandemic. It is one of the best industries to work in because of the experiences that it provides and the exposure that it gives the professionals. So, you need to get a good college to obtain a recognised degree and grow in the profession.
TransGlobe Academy offers a 12-month Professional Diploma in Hospitality and Travel Management. The institution provides great placement opportunities and training for the same.
TransGlobe also offers a 9-month course in Hospitality & Travel Management with top industry certifications. Anyone who has completed graduation or any equivalent degree can apply for the same.
Check out the course details and apply now at www.transglobeacademy.com.