Attributes of Hospitality Leaders

It can be extremely difficult to sort through hundreds of applications looking for the one employee that will satisfy the position and hopefully thrive within your organization.  Older employees will have already laid the groundwork of their career and it’s obvious which ones are successful after a handful of years in the industry.  But how do you recognize talent in a freshly graduated hospitality student?  There are a handful of attributes that standout in hospitality leaders that you can look for.

1. Leadership.  Hotels are never centralized.  It’s important for an employee to be able to manage and lead a team of their peers and interact with other teams throughout the hotel while deliver strong results.
2. Conflict resolution.  Hotels have TONS of conflicts.  They should know how to respond and react to unhappy guests and colleagues.
3. Globalization.  International travel is back on the rise.  Different cultures have different expectations of how they should be treated at your property.  Cultural sensitivity is very important to guests.
4. Regulations.  Hotel regulations and policies are constantly changing.  Employees must address these changes and adapt accordingly to continue success.
5. Internship experience.  The majority of your on-the-job skills that you’ll use are learned through experience, not school.
6. Communication skills.  Being able to effectively communicate via email, social media and in person is essential to a professional appearance in the workplace.
7. Ownership skills.  Employees should understand the management and financial structure as well as the management relationship with the owner or management company.  This helps them understand the top priorities in the hotel and will stand to benefit them in many ways.
8. Ethical behavior.  Golden rule.
9. Attitude.  Hotel guests and employees have an expectation to be treated like they would in the hospitality industry.  You must be friendly and personable at ALL times.
10. Personal appearance.  This one is a no-brainer.  Hotel guests expect employees to maintain a certain level of cleanliness.

While finding new employees that will thrive and grow with your organization is difficult, these are a few things to look for when picking your future leaders.  Students can use these as employee guidelines in any hotel or hospitality establishment.

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Source:

http://www.hotelsmag.com/Industry/Blogs/Details/51212

Unemployment: Why Hire Students?

It’s graduation season!  In a time when eager young professionals are wrapping up their college education, we’re once again reminded of how limited their opportunities are in our current job economy.  There used to be an expectation that if you went to college and earned your degree, that you were essentially guaranteed a job in your field of study.  Unfortunately, this is no longer the case.  The unemployment rate for recent college grads has dropped over the years, but 50% of all employed college grads are employed through unskilled positions.  The hospitality industry is one that can help fix this problem; particularly in tourist states like Colorado.  Our industry is thriving and we have an opportunity to help change this curve!

Hospitality programs are growing in popularity at universities across the country.  These programs dedicate 4 years of a student’s life to learning, practicing and understanding the hospitality industry inside and out.  Not only do these programs give you a pool of qualified individuals to employ at your organization, but these individuals have committed to your industry and will do whatever they can to thrive and succeed.

So much goes into creating a successful hotel and it can be hard to define what makes them successful.  One thing we know that works is having employees that are willing to go the extra mile for guests.  “Hospitality students knew almost instinctually that the cornerstone to the hotel business is building a relationship with the guest.”  Because hospitality students have dedicated so much of their lives to this industry, it comes as no surprise that they are the ones on the front lines with a big smile ready to help with whatever your guests may need.  Employees like this are the ones that create a memorable experience for your guests.

Don’t delay; strong students will get picked up quickly!  Of course, it can’t hurt to hire them before they graduate, giving you an advantageous position to promote them as you see fitting with their experience and learning.

Checkout our website for a list of local hospitality students that have been actively involved with the CHLA and are eager to work and learn in our wonderful industry!  If you’re a student, we also host a job bank on our website of local Colorado hospitality positions that our members are eager to fill!

Follow Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association on Social Media for industry trends, news and information!

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Source:

http://www.hotelsmag.com/Industry/Blogs/Details/49800