Hotel Manager
Also advertised as: Assistant Manager, Deputy Hotel Manager, Duty Manager, Front of House Manager, General Manager, Hotel Manager
Runs a hotel: guest experience, staff, revenue, standards and budgets.
What the job involves
Hotel managers are accountable for everything from occupancy and revenue to housekeeping standards and guest complaints. Most progress through reception, food and beverage or housekeeping supervision rather than through a degree.
Typical responsibilities
- Lead departmental teams and rotas
- Drive occupancy, rate and revenue
- Maintain service and cleanliness standards
- Handle escalated guest issues
- Control costs, payroll and budgets
Common employers
- Hotel groups
- Independent hotels
- Serviced apartments
- Holiday parks
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£28,000 – £34,000 a year
With experience
£38,000 – £55,000 a year
Typical hours
45 hours including weekends and on-call
Working environment
Hotel front of house and back office
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Hospitality operations
- Revenue awareness
- Leadership
- Guest service recovery
- Budget control
Transferable skills you may already have
- Front of house supervision
- Complaint handling
- Rota planning
Requirements employers ask for
- Hospitality operations
- Revenue awareness
- Leadership
- Guest service recovery
- Budget control
- No formal qualification required
- Personal licence for licensed premises
Useful but not essential
- Front of house supervision
- Complaint handling
- Rota planning
- Level 4 Hospitality Manager apprenticeship
- Personal licence
Helpful qualifications
- Level 4 Hospitality Manager apprenticeship
- Personal licence
Licences and checks
- Personal licence for licensed premises
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Hospitality Manager (Level 4)
- Hospitality Supervisor (Level 3)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Hospitality management
- Related subject: Business
- Related subject: Tourism
Where this career can lead
next
General Manager
next
Cluster Manager
next
Area Operations Manager
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Promotion from the floor is normal
- Accommodation sometimes included
- Transfers internationally
What people find hard
- Weekend and holiday working
- Guest issues arrive at all hours
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a hotel manager?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a hotel manager earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £28,000 to £34,000 a year, rising towards £55,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Front of house supervision, Complaint handling, Rota planning.
Related careers
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Restaurant Manager
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Kitchen Manager
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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