While most folk go through at least one, two or even multiple jobs in the hospitality industry – to boost a high-rolling student lifestyle or when starting out and finding our feet – it takes real commitment to stay the course and finally run your own hotel business.
The manager of a rural hotel, in particular, needs to be tireless, determined and often, a master of all trades in an out-of-town location.
We spoke to Laura Strang, who managed a hotel in Kilmartin, to find out what it takes to be successful in a countryside retreat.
What’s a typical day like for the manager?
Early starts to make breakfast, checking people out, chatting about their holiday plans and offering tourist information.
Then it’s on to housekeeping before opening for the lunchtime shift, which sees more people in through the door, locals and tourists alike.
After a brief break in the afternoon is the busy dinner shift, then continuing on to cover bar work.
You can expect to meet many nationalities, all with their own homegrown cultural expectations to be catered for.
What sort of skills or qualifications are needed?
Because of the variety of the work it’s not really a job about qualifications so much as having the right can-do attitude.
HNDs as well as hospitality and catering qualifications are great for starting out but experience is the best teacher.
In terms of skills, personal discipline is the most important – in a small, family-orientated business, if a member of staff falls ill, those left have to do whatever needs to be done.
For rural hotels, there’s a fairly small labour pool – but you have the same staffing and HR issues that exist in any big city chain hotel and all the same legal responsibilities.
There’s a stronger focus on nurturing good personal relations and making compromises.
What advice would you give to anyone getting started?
Appreciate that at at the beginning you need to be on hand all the time and you only learn by doing.
Progressing your career to become manager means leading by example, only asking people to do what they know you’ve already done yourself, setting a high standard you expect others to meet.
Finally, never be afraid to ask for advice.
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