How to make a career in the hospitality business?

The hotel business is a rapidly growing and attractive field of activity: people are always interested in the highest quality organization of their own vacation, especially as they become richer.In this article, we will talk about what professions exist in this area, what a typical career path looks like and what salary you can count on if you work in the hotel industry in Russia or abroad.

First of all, you need to understand the common terminology.In addition to the relatively narrow concept of "hospitality", there is a broader one - the "hospitality industry", which includes many different areas: the hotel business, the creation of theme parks, the organization of cruises and other leisure activities. Both the hospitality industry in general and the hospitality industry in particular are industries that employ millions of workers and billions of dollars worldwide. In addition, today, in a significant number of countries, this industry is growing at an impressive rate - much faster than the average economy. This means that getting an education or starting a career in this area is extremely profitable - there is a shortage of qualified specialists, and your professional skills will surely find application.

InRussiathe hotel business in its modern form is a relatively young area. Despite the general economic situation, new hotels are still opening in Russia: the fact is that due to the depreciation of the ruble, travel to Russia is becoming much more attractive for foreigners. Career paths in the hospitality industry can look completely different: on the one hand, employers value professional education, especially obtained abroad, on the other hand, many of those who are today in leadership positions in the hotel business started from the most basic positions, working Concierge or accommodation staff.In addition, the hotel business is characterized by a large “fork of salaries”: it is not uncommon for the same job title to receive completely different salaries - allit's about the prestige and size of the hotel or hotel chain. This is why a career often looks like a transition from one employer to another, while the position (for example, hotel manager) may remain the same.

In 2014, the director of the economic department at a hotel in Moscow received an average of 100 thousand rubles a month, and the maximum salary for this position was 170 thousand rubles. The head of the accommodation service receives about 80 thousand rubles, while his subordinates - employees of the accommodation service - from 50 thousand per month. The highest salaries are for sales and marketing directors - an average of 250 thousand rubles a month, and in some cases the salary can go up to 400 thousand rubles - this is how much is paid in the largest hotels, especially in those that represent international chains. Salaries in St. Petersburg are about 25% lower than in Moscow, and in other cities the difference can be even more significant.

A significant number of those who manage large international hotels in Russia are expats who received education and work experience abroad, but came to Russia to manage a particular hotel. However, recently the number of Russians in leadership positions has increased significantly. In addition, Russian employees working in large international chains are often invited by Russian hotels, offering a higher salary and position.

For those who have been educated at foreign universities, a career in hospitality abroad is also possible. Professional prospects and potential salary levels are highly dependent on a particular country, but on average the need for qualified personnel is quite high. Most of the graduates of European universities get a job in their specialty: for example, in Great Britain, 18% of graduates who received education in the field of hospitality work in the field of marketing, sales and PR (in most cases we are talking about workin hotels or restaurants),17.8% are engaged in management work, 17.2% are secretaries and administrators, and about 13% are engaged in retail and supply. The remaining 33.8% are employed in a variety of different positions, including non-hospitality industries.

The average UK hotel manager salary is £ 43,000 per year (remember that this average includes both small family hotels and huge international chains). The head of the accommodation service can expect a salary of about 35,000 pounds, and the receptionist - about 20,000 pounds per year. In France, the situation is roughly the same: hotel managers receive about 40-45 thousand euros per year, the head of the accommodation service - 30-35 thousand, porter - about 20,000 euros per year.

HR specialists argue that the most successful hospitality careers are built from a starting point: for example, those looking to become a food service executive are encouraged to start a careerfrom the position of a waiter; those who are planning to grow to the head of the accommodation service - from the position of an accommodation manager or receptionist. This allows you to get acquainted with how the hotel operates, to gain the necessary experience.

Another important requirement for those starting a career in the hospitality industry is knowledge of foreign languages ​​and the willingness to develop internationally, improving their qualifications abroad and taking internships. Since working in the hospitality business inevitably involves interaction with foreigners, the ability to successfully interact with representatives of different nations and cultures is often a determining factor in moving up the career ladder.

In most cases, the final point of a career in hospitality is the position of a hotel manager. However, this position can be reached in a number of ways: both former catering managers and sales directors or accommodation managers become hotel managers. In addition, the positions of the head of the HR-service and the financial director of the hotel stand somewhat apart -these people can come from the hotel business, but they can also be hired "from outside".

In general, the hotel business today is a very attractive area for education and employment - a successful career is possible both in Russia and abroad. To be successful in this area, you will need successful communication skills, knowledge of foreign languages, and a 100% commitment. An important advantage (especially for those who want to pursue a career abroad) can be a degree from a European university - in addition to useful skills, getting an education will provide many useful contacts that accelerate career advancement.

Anton Obukh, Business Development Analyst, AZIMUT Hotels Company, a graduate of the Swiss hotel school Cesar Ritz Colleges told StudyQA about his education experience in Switzerland and further career.

Hello, Anton! Tell us why you chose a career in the hospitality business?

I can't say that since childhood I dreamed about the hotel business, but this area became a conscious and desired choice for me. As a teenager, actively interested in natural sciences, I also loved to cook and dreamed of becoming a chef. However, after a certain time, I realized that cooking would remain a hobby for me, and restaurant management seemed too narrow a sphere. So I drew attention to the neighboring, but rather wider sphere - the hotel business and hospitality. Already at the age of 17, as part of my internship in college, I first found myself in a hotel, in which, as a result, I stayed to work for four years, trying my hand at the finance department and the reception and accommodation service, finally making sure that this is “my".

What exactly did you study in Switzerland?

In Cesar Ritz Colleges I entered the MA in International Hotel programManagement (master's degree). The program took four semesters with an internship break. In the first semester, we got acquainted with the operational aspects of the hospitality business: room management and catering. In the second and third semesters - with more general disciplines: personnel management, strategic marketing, financial management, research methods, etc.In parallel, as an additional course, I started learning French. To be honest, this remains my unfinished project. At the moment I actively use only two languages: Russian and English. After three semesters in Switzerland, I got the opportunity to undergo managerial training in the form of a one-year internship at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Resort (Florida, USA) .I note that this became possible, among other things, thanks to the school, namely, the career days that are regularly held in it. Returning to Cesar Ritz a year later, after successfully completing my internship, I embarked on my final semester, which included preparing a business plan for my own hotel project. I won't say that this semester was the most interesting, but it was definitely the most practice-oriented.

How did your education come in handy in the future?Does it provide the applied skills needed at work?

The education you received was definitely useful!After returning to Moscow in 2012, I took a job with the consulting company Horwath HTL in Hungary and Russia as a Junior Consultant, working on a wide variety of hotel development projects. Subsequently, I learned from my manager that it was my Swiss profile education and a well-prepared resume (what we were also taught at Cesar Ritz) that influenced the positive decision to accept me into the company for this position.

As I said, today my direct responsibilities are business development issues for AZIMUT Hotels Company. My main tasks are to develop operating models for new projects (management and franchising), formulate a budget forecast, calculatepayback of projects and so on. Without exaggeration, the existing education (together with the accumulated experience) helps me every day and hour.

Is it possible to say that in addition to practical skills, study gave you something else?

When my family, work, passed the exam in English, friends and all habits were left behind, and I sat in the seat of the plane leaving from Moscow to Geneva, I asked myself: “What have you done? And, most importantly, why?! Was it bad for you?" Despite the fact that by this moment I had already been to European countries many times as a tourist, the first few days at school were a shock for me, which began immediately upon arrival, at the Geneva airport, where other students of Cesar Ritz met me and explained, how to get to campus.It seemed to me that I was not something that I had never passed - I had never studied English. Then the language returned, and after the "orientation" on the first school day, the understanding of who I am, where I am and, most importantly, why I am here, returned.I am convinced that studying and living in another country, work or practice abroad are those things that greatly change a person, his views and consciousness, whoever he is and what he has not been doing before.New knowledge, new culture, new friends... this unique experience later turns into unique opportunities. Separately, I would like to mention that Cesar Ritz Colleges, being part of Swiss Education Group (SEG) , unites all alumni into a community with offices around the world. Today I have been the President of such a community in Russia for three years. Today it is not a secret for anyone that education alone is not enough for a young specialist. Sometimes he has little and the available, usually little, work experience. And this is where "connections" come to the rescue.In Russia, this word is often used in a negative sense, equating to "pull". I'm talking aboutcommunication in their best sense, about networking. At that moment, when, as a teenager, I dreamed of my business, my mother said many times: “You will make it!Until then, you have to make a name and, most importantly, get in and be in the cage! The alumni community is such a “clip” and, of course, this is a very serious advantage that SEG gives its graduates.

What advice would you give to students and young graduates of Russian universities who want to make a career in the hotel business?

Foreign education is not a panacea.If not for my mom, I would never have been able to afford it.However, if you have such an opportunity, use it at all costs! Talking about alumni advice... don't be afraid! Dream, set goals, achieve them!Your youth is not only a barrier to occupying a "position", but also a great advantage! Think about how you could use it, but get ready to work hard! Think carefully about your first job.It will set the level of your entire career. Study in such a way as to qualify for a job in a good hotel, even in the lowest position.By the way, there are no “low” positions. And the same Switzerland, being the keeper of hotel traditions, preaches that a classic career, for example, of a hotel manager, begins with a porter or a dishwasher. And of course, be interested! No university will give you an exhaustive picture of the industry, since we are talking about real business, and it is constantly evolving and changing.You must be “in the know”!

What does the typical career path of a young graduate look like?

I don't think a career is “typical”. As I have already mentioned, more often it starts from the very bottom and there is no need to be afraid of that. In addition, it is no secret that the hotel business is not about big money. I believe that work in "operations", that is, the department of license plate managementhotel fund or food service outlets - it's a passion! On your way, you will meet many people who came to the industry by accident. They will definitely try to pull you to the bottom. Don't give in! Your passion and your goals will help you move on. This is where you come across "hospitality" in its fullest sense. As my professor and later a good friend and mentor used to say: "Hospitality is about pleasure to please others, it is pleasure to serve." If this statement is not about you, that's okay, the hotel business doesn't end there. If we talk about the hotel business from the point of view of personnel management, organization of sales and marketing, financial management and, finally, investment, the hotel is an incredibly multifaceted product and its management is non-trivial and complex. The last thing I want to mention here: I often hear the question “why didn’t you stay abroad?”. I suppose they don't expect us there. Even if you find an opportunity to stay there, chances are you will have to do a lot more work and put in much more effort to achieve something, all the while proving that you are worthy of respect. In my opinion, Russia today is about incredible opportunities for the development of the hotel business. Try to go abroad to work, get experience there, come back, apply it, build your career here, and then, if the opportunity presents itself, leave wherever you want, an already formed specialist.

Alexander Zhuravlev