What is hospitality? Oxford Languages defines it as the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. In other words, hospitality is also a business of keeping guests happy, safe, comfortable and entertained. Phew! That sounds like a tall task, doesn’t it? However, this is where practical hospitality skills come into play, enabling trained managers and professionals to cater to the ever-evolving needs of guests while following all protocols simultaneously.

Read this blog to learn why skills are more important than a degree.

Training programs abound globally for teaching hospitality and tourism skills to aspirants. While they equip students with technical knowledge and practical exposure, some hospitality management skills cannot be taught academically. Hospitality employees need to imbibe and perfect these attributes until they are ingrained into their personalities.

Must-Have Hospitality Skills

So what are these hospitality or hotel management skills that every employee should possess? Here’s taking a look-

Juggling multiple tasks

The ability to handle various jobs simultaneously or multitasking as we know it is a prized attribute in the industry. The job itself is extremely dynamic. One moment you may be fetching something for a guest while simultaneously placing other orders into the system. Oh, and you also had to deliver a package to a patron in the interim! Sounds familiar? Just another day in the life of a hospitality employee!

Being detail-oriented

The devil lies in the details goes a famous phrase, and it could not be truer for the hospitality industry. One of the most significant hospitality skills and attributes is paying attention to details. From presentation and food to rooms, linen, and even service standards, details define the hospitality experience.

Working in a team

One of the intrinsic hotel management skills for every employee, its importance cannot be stated enough! Hospitality establishments function on the premise of teamwork, group dynamics and collaboration. Learning to manage different team members and personalities while harmonising various ideas/philosophies is the need of the hour.

Being flexible

We often underestimate the importance of flexibility as one of the core skills required in the hospitality industry. However, a flexible approach is a foundation for building a rewarding hospitality career. For starters, how does working on New Year’s Eve or all public holidays sound? Tough right? From changing schedules to flexible shifts and ever-changing rosters of responsibilities, hospitality personnel need to adapt quickly to various situations.

Managing Time

Hospitality and time management go hand in hand. Setting up and cleaning rooms, arranging events and venues, preparing and serving food, and also attending to customer requests- everything has to be done punctually to win customer trust and satisfaction.

Being a good communicator

Another indispensable skill for any hospitality employee is the ability to communicate effectively with team members and guests, which is crucial. Confidence and a pleasant demeanour are always helpful while interacting with guests. Don’t forget that smiling face too!

Tapping into social skills

There is a wide fulcrum of attributes that we often label under social skills. These include being a good listener, being patient, tolerating almost everything under the sun, being innovative or creative, negotiating smartly, and empathising with others. These skills are essential when dealing with guests and colleagues alike.

Being able to fix problems

With the industry being customer-centric by nature, a good problem solver is always a big asset. You will have to think on your feet and find out solutions to various issues. We can even classify this skill as quick-thinking!

Being tech-friendly

Technology has disrupted the whole world, and the hospitality industry is no exception. As a result, contemporary hospitality employees need to be tech-savvy and well-versed with using technological tools that managements and guests depend on these days.

Being aware of the industry

Hospitality professionals can only build fulfilling careers in the field if they strive for continual self-improvement. Being aware of evolving industry trends, standards and knowledge will help immensely in this regard—hospitality brands treasure well-informed professionals who can upgrade themselves in sync with the industry.

These are the top 10 hospitality skills that every employee should possess, more so in a highly dynamic and rapidly evolving modern hospitality industry. If you are a resident of Australia, then Catch Training institute is the go-to place for you to learn practical job skills.