Moving On Up in Your Hotel Career

00:00:00 Speaker: Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Best job you never heard of. I'm Grace, and today I want to talk about something that's incredibly important. If you're just starting out in the hotel world, how to move up the ladder. You might be in an entry level role now, or maybe you're just considering entering the hotel business, but your dream is to get into hotel sales or a leadership position. So how do you do it? Well, let's break it down step by step. First, embrace the job you've got, whether you're at the front desk, in housekeeping or answering phones and reservations. This is your training ground. Everything you do is an opportunity to build your reputation right there where you are. Here's what gets noticed. Showing up early, smiling and greeting every guest like a VIP. Helping your coworkers without being asked. Staying calm and positive during busy moments. Asking questions and learning about other departments. Trust me, managers are watching. And they remember the people who go the extra mile. You know, I entered the hotel business at age thirty. And it was just a part time thing because I was going to paralegal school. But I think it's worth noting. Looking back, I had four little boys at age thirty. They ranged in age from about Seven two. That's not right. It was. They were aged about two to nine. Four of them. And. When you're a mom of four boys, you have seen a lot. And you become calm in many, many situations. I think it's oh, well, the kids are okay so I can deal with everything else. And without realizing it, this served me so well, building my career in my career as a hotel sales manager because it was very difficult to fluster me. I was older than most of the people who were my coworkers, and I was calm in almost every situation. And this became sort of my reputation. Oh, you can count on grace. She's calm in every storm. And I think this is worthwhile for you to put in your, you know, in your tool belt, because it is a very valued quality in the workplace, in all workplaces. All right. So if you want to move into sales, start learning the language right away. For example, what's ADR? Well, that's average daily rate. What's a comp set. Well that's your competitive hotel group. What does Rev PA mean? Revenue per available room. Easy things to learn but good to know again. Another valuable tool to have in that tool belt as you build your career. Learn how sales and revenue teams work together. Listen for how sales managers talk about group business proposals, contracts b e o s and conversions. Every hotel has its own systems, but the concepts are pretty universal. You can even ask a sales manager if you can shadow them for an hour or sit in on a side tour if appropriate. Check with your manager first before you approach a sales manager, but you will probably be encouraged. People admire that kind of initiative. Show interest, but don't be entitled. And if you really want to stand out, be the person everyone knows they can count on. Be the one who, as I said before, is calm in the storm. Also, who knows how to use the reservation system or whatever system your job revolves around. Remember the names of VIP guests. Answer the phone with professionalism and warmth. Again, stay calm. When a group checks in or we have to walk people to another hotel because we're sold out. Your reputation is someone who's steady, positive and guest focused will open doors faster than you can even imagine. Don't keep your dreams a secret either. When the time is right. Like in a performance review or one on one meeting. Tell your supervisor. I'm really interested in moving into sales one day. I'd love to learn more about what it takes. Though of course I value our department and this experience most of all. I would say that for sure they might recommend training, they might help you, let you help with projects, or put in a good word for you when a position opens up. But it starts with you being clear and discriminating about your goals. Make sure to respect the department that you're in. There's also a lot you can do on your own. Take courses online, in hospitality, sales or marketing. Read books about persuasion, communication. Customer service, selling practice. Writing proposals or pretend b e o s just to get the feel for it. Study hotel websites and brand standards and work on your confidence. Sales is about building relationships, so start getting comfortable introducing yourself, making small talk and asking great questions. Eventually, an opportunity will pop up. It may be a sales coordinator role or an event services assistant, or even an internal sales manager position. If you've built up enough trust and knowledge, don't wait to feel one hundred percent ready because you never will. You will learn on the job. The team will train you. Your managers will train you. What they're really looking for is someone who knows the hotel, who knows the team, who knows how to treat guests, and who shows up with drive, Polish personality and who is able to remain calm in any situation, moving from entry level to sales. It's not a mystery. It's a series of small, intentional steps. Be excellent where you are. Stay curious. Speak up about your goals and never stop learning. In our next episode, I'm going to walk you through a real world hotel sales process from the first inquiry to the final bill. It's a behind the scenes look you won't want to miss. I'm Grace, and this has been the best job you never heard of. Thanks for listening and keep believing in the incredible career that's waiting for you. See you next time.