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Hotel operation manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Timothy Edwards,

Keith Hassell

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical hotel operation manager skills. We ranked the top skills for hotel operation managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 9.7% of hotel operation manager resumes contained reservations as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a hotel operation manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 hotel operation manager skills for your resume and career

1. Reservations

Here's how hotel operation managers use reservations:

Maintained and managed the Hotel daily rates with Wholesale Department and In-house reservations watching occupancy closely.
Confirmed reservations and collected proper payments for hotel accommodations and/or other hotel services.

2. Guest Service

Here's how hotel operation managers use guest service:

Restored operating fundamentals, and directed improvements in guest service.
Analyzed weekly Service Scores for the entire hotel division to recognize trends and create action plans for improving guest service.

3. Cleanliness

Here's how hotel operation managers use cleanliness:

Inspected and documented necessary repairs and cleanliness to ensure optimal property appearance in accordance with I-CARE procedures.
Performed property inspections, ensured property safety and cleanliness, and maintained diligent compliance with laws and statutory regulations.

4. Payroll

Payroll is the sum of all the compensation that an organization has to pay to employees at a specified time. Payroll is managed by the finance or HR department while small business owners may handle it themselves. Payroll isn't fixed as it varies every month due to sick leaves, overtime, etc.

Here's how hotel operation managers use payroll:

Recruited, trained and monitored staff performance as well as managed payroll, AR/AP and inventory.
Handled all payroll, revenue projections, and cost analysis for all venue events.

5. Hotel Operations

Here's how hotel operation managers use hotel operations:

Assisted Hotel Operations Director with special projects and also implementing policies and procedures.
Generated and maintained budgets related to the Hotel Operations Department.

6. Financial Performance

Here's how hotel operation managers use financial performance:

Managed operations, execution, budgets, projecting sales, and evaluating financial performance to ensure region profitability.
Prepared program operating budgets, budget reports and other financial performance reports.

7. Direct Supervision

Direct supervision is a term used to indicate that a person is supervising a certain task or a certain person while being physically present or in close proximity. It refers to the presence of a person and the availability of their supervision in something if it is needed.

Here's how hotel operation managers use direct supervision:

Provided direct supervision of 20 hotel and casino accounts with over 250 employees and full P&L accountability.
Instructed and monitored restaurant and hotel personnel with direct supervision and training over employees.

8. Human Resources

Human resources is a set of people in a business or a corporation that are designated to locate, interview, and recruit new employees into the company. They are also responsible to maintain the integrity of the employees and help them sort their problems out. They try to introduce and manage employee-benefit programs.

Here's how hotel operation managers use human resources:

Ask for Human Resources) Assisted guests of the hotel with various issues.
Initiate and direct salary, disciplinary, or other staffing/human resources-related actions in accordance with Company rules and policies.

9. Guest Complaints

Here's how hotel operation managers use guest complaints:

Maintained a proactive approach to meeting franchise requirements in guest complaints and service related charge-backs.
Responded appropriately to guest complaints, solicited feedback and built relationships to drive continuous improvement in guest satisfaction.

10. Guest Rooms

A guest room is an assigned room at someone's house which is reserved for guests. It is a room or suite of rooms used or maintained for the accommodation of individuals to whom hospitality is extended for compensation.

Here's how hotel operation managers use guest rooms:

Answered all calls from guest rooms.
Perform impromptu housekeeping and maintenanceinspections of guest rooms and hotel grounds.

11. Customer Satisfaction

Here's how hotel operation managers use customer satisfaction:

Infused a can-do attitude geared to achieve customer satisfaction.
Interact positively with guests and take action to resolve problems to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction and quality

12. PBX

PBX represents Private Branch Exchange, which is a private phone network utilized inside an organization or association. The clients of the PBX telephone framework can call internally (inside their organization) and remotely (with the rest of the world), utilizing diverse correspondence stations like Voice over IP or ISDN.

Here's how hotel operation managers use pbx:

Maintained PBX computer system by updating and entering Front Desk data, while providing Customer Service to associates when needed.
Manage front office functions of Front Desk, PBX and Bell/Door associates, to sustain courteous and professional guest service levels.

13. LMS

Here's how hotel operation managers use lms:

Implemented system conversion from LMS to Opera.
Oversee the installation and training of the Agilysys LMS hotel system and Agilysys InfoGenesis.

14. Culinary

Here's how hotel operation managers use culinary:

Developed menu promotions with cooperation of Culinary and Marketing Departments.
Experienced in managing by Collective Bargaining Units for the Culinary and Teamsters Unions.

15. Exceptional Guest

Here's how hotel operation managers use exceptional guest:

Provided exceptional guest service to provide an exceptional guest experience.
Demonstrate exceptional guest relations skills.

What skills help Hotel Operation Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on hotel operation manager resumes?

Dr. Timothy Edwards

Professor, Interim Director, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Writing and research skills. Analytical and critical thinking skills. Technical skills such as web design, graphic design, audio and video production skills. Employers are interested in potential employees knowledge, intelligence and skills.

What technical skills for a hotel operation manager stand out to employers?

Keith Hassell

Executive Director of Career & Professional Development, Sacred Heart University

Employers are increasingly looking for applied skillsets and additional certifications to set a candidate apart. Sacred Heart University has recently launched a remote work certification, which houses three modules - focusing on the remote worker, the remote team and the remote leader, providing the tools and resources to comfortably leverage and utilize virtual platforms at various organizations. Additional specialized training, certifications and more are great selling tools pending on the specific area of interest. Certifications are common in areas such as project management, sales, IT/network/software, Google application and more. The candidate needs to think, "What can I do that is beyond my coursework to show I am passionate about my field? How do I make myself stand out?" Certifications is an attainable way to do this.
In addition, soft skills continue to be equally important in today's job market. NACE (the National Association of Colleges and Employers) identified seven core competencies that employers seek from entry level candidates which include critical thinking/problem solving, oral/written communication, teamwork/collaboration, digital technology, leadership, professionalism/work ethic, career management and global/intercultural fluency.

Do you want to know more?

List of hotel operation manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a hotel operation manager resume and required skills for a hotel operation manager to have include:

Reservations
Guest Service
Cleanliness
Payroll
Hotel Operations
Financial Performance
Direct Supervision
Human Resources
Guest Complaints
Guest Rooms
Customer Satisfaction
PBX
LMS
Culinary
Exceptional Guest

Customer Service
Front Desk Operations
Hotel Guests
Guest Relations
Labor Costs
Inventory Control
Night Audit
AAA
Revenue Management
Hotel Services
VIP
Quality Service
PMS
Fine Dining
Room Rates

Room Service Orders
Marriott
Financial Reports
Customer Complaints
Wake-Up Calls
Hotel Rooms
Room Inventory
Room Inspections
Financial Data
Gift Shop
Telephone Calls
Guest Satisfaction Scores
Guest Issues
Inbound Calls
Computer System

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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