Lodging Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that provides lodging and other accommodations.

From people doing the work

Day-to-day, it's a constant balancing act of ensuring guest satisfaction, managing staff, and keeping an eye on the bottom line. You're always problem-solving, whether it's a guest complaint, a staffing issue, or a sudden maintenance problem. It's demanding, but there's a real sense of accomplishment when everything runs smoothly and guests leave happy.

Drawn from Hotel Managers Forum, BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Indeed.com

Attribution: Composite

Composite · Synthesised from Hotel Managers Forum, BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Indeed.com

A day in the life of a Lodging Manager

People interaction
Extensive
Team vs solo
95% Team / 5% Solo
Client facing
Frequent
Impact visibility
Moderate
Travel
Minimal
Schedule flexibility
Flexible
Remote work
Hybrid
Typical work hours
50-60
Stress level
High

Lodging Managers salary, education and outlook at a glance

Median salary
$68,130
Entry-level
$44,000
Senior
$112,000
Growth by 2033
+3.4%
Demand
Stable
Freelance potential
Moderate
Salary growth potential
155%
Typical student debt
High

Skills you need as a Lodging Manager

Hard skills

  • Administration and Management
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Web page creation and editing software

Soft skills

  • Service Orientation
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Active Listening

Technical complexity: Low

Tools of the trade

Core tools

  • Cloudbeds (Platform): To streamline operations, enhance guest experiences, and maximize revenue for lodging facilities.
  • Mews (Software): To power hotels of all sizes and segments, giving staff more time to focus on personal guest experiences.
  • Agilysys PMS (Software): To provide a cloud property management system designed for operational precision in hotels, resorts, casinos, and multi-property groups.
  • Opera Cloud (Software): A tried and true property management system for larger properties, managing reservations, check-ins, and billing.

Commonly used

  • Salesforce (Software): To manage guest data and tailor interactions, from assigning rooms to offering personalized services.
  • Google Analytics (Service): To analyze website traffic and guest booking patterns to inform marketing and revenue strategies.
  • Microsoft Excel (Software): To create budgets, forecasts, and track financial performance for lodging operations.

How to become a Lodging Manager

Minimum education
Bachelor's Degree
Licensing
No
Years to mid-career
8-12
Years to senior
15-20
Career switching
Hard

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

  • Front Desk Agent: Often an entry-level position where individuals learn the basics of hotel operations and guest services.
  • Housekeeping Manager: Manages the cleanliness and maintenance of guest rooms and public areas, providing a foundation in operational oversight.
  • Food and Beverage Manager: Oversees dining and catering services, developing skills in managing staff, inventory, and customer satisfaction.
  • Assistant General Manager: Supports the General Manager in daily operations, gaining experience in various departments and strategic planning.

Where you can go from here

  • Regional Director of Operations: Oversees multiple lodging properties, focusing on broader strategic goals and regional performance.
  • Hospitality Consultant: Provides expert advice to hotels and resorts on improving operations, guest experience, and profitability.
  • Hotel Owner/Entrepreneur: Individuals with extensive lodging management experience may choose to own and operate their own hotel or hospitality business.
  • Director of Revenue Management: Specializes in optimizing pricing and inventory to maximize revenue for a hotel or group of hotels.
  • General Manager (Larger Property): Manages a larger, more complex lodging establishment, often with more extensive facilities and higher guest volume.

Typical progression

  1. Food Service Managers
  2. Lodging Managers
  3. Senior Lodging Managers
  4. or Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

Lodging Managers job outlook and future demand

Automation probability
Very Low
AI disruption risk
Moderate
Demand trend
Stable

Job satisfaction as a Lodging Manager

Overall satisfaction
7.2/10
Meaning
6.8/10
Work-life balance
5.5/10
Prestige
8.5/10
Social perception
Very High

Where practitioners gather

Professional organisations

Podcasts and media

  • Hotel Management: Premier source of information about the hotel industry, offering news, features, expert insights and industry trends.
  • LODGING Magazine: The official publication of AHLA, providing hotel news, lodging news, hotel business tips, and hospitality industry coverage.

Online communities

  • Hotel Managers Forum: A Facebook group for genuine peer-to-peer engagement among hotel professionals.

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