As a hospitality manager, striking a balance between showcasing your customer service prowess and operational management experience can be a key challenge on your resume. Our guide provides tailored strategies to help you highlight both aspects efficiently, giving you the edge you need to stand out in the job market.
- Sample industry-leading professional resumes for inspiration and hospitality manager resume-writing know-how.
- Focus recruiters' attention on what matters most - your unique experience, achievements, and skills.
- Write various resume sections to ensure you meet at least 95% of all job requirements.
- Balance your hospitality manager technical expertise with personality to stand out amongst candidates.
If the hospitality manager resume isn't the right one for you, take a look at other related guides we have:
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- Restaurant Manager Resume Example
- Restaurant Operations Manager Resume Example
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Formatting the layout of your hospitality manager resume: design, length, and more
When it comes to the format of your hospitality manager resume , you've plenty of opportunities to get creative. But, as a general rule of thumb, there are four simple steps you could integrate into your resume layout.- If you have plenty of experience, you'd like to showcase, invest in the reverse-chronological resume format . This format focuses on your latest experience items and skills you've learned during your relevant (and recent) jobs.
- Don't go over the two-page limit, when creating your professional hospitality manager resume. Curate within it mainly experience and skills that are relevant to the job.
- Make sure your hospitality manager resume header includes all of your valid contact information. You could also opt to display your professional portfolio or LinkedIn profile.
- Submit or send out your hospitality manager resume as a PDF, so you won't lose its layout and design.
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List your educational qualifications and certifications in reverse chronological order.
Traditional sections, appreciated by recruiters, for your hospitality manager resume:
- Clear and concise header with relevant links and contact details
- Summary or objective with precise snapshot of our career highlights and why you're a suitable candidate for the hospitality manager role
- Experience that goes into the nuts and bolts of your professional qualifications and success
- Skills section(-s) for more in-depth talent-alignment between job keywords and your own profile
- Education and certifications sections to further show your commitment for growth in the specific niche
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Proven track record in guest service excellence and complaint resolution
- Strong leadership skills and experience in team management
- Financial acumen with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and profit and loss management
- Knowledge of industry-relevant software and technologies (e.g., PMS, POS, CRM platforms)
- Understanding of health and safety regulations specific to the hospitality industry
Quick guide to your hospitality manager resume experience section
After deciding on the format of your resume, it's time to organize your experience within the dedicated section.
It's common for hospitality manager professionals to be confused in this part of the process, as they may have too much or little expertise.
Follow the general rules of thumb to be successful when writing this part of your resume:
- The perfect number of bullets you should have under each experience item is no more than six;
- Select not merely your responsibilities, but the most noteworthy achievements for each role that match the job requirements;
- List any certificates or technical expertise you've gained on the job and how they've helped you progress as a professional;
- Carefully select the power verbs to go along with each bullet to avoid generic ones like "managed" and instead substitute those with the actuality of your particular responsibility;
- Integrate valuable keywords from the job advert in the form of achievements under each role you list.
If you're on the search for further advice on how to write your hospitality manager experience section, get some ideas from real-world professional resumes:
- Led a team of 25 staff members at an upscale 200-room resort, creating staff schedules, managing shifts, and ensuring a premium guest experience.
- Implemented a customer relationship management strategy that enhanced guest retention by 18%, through personalized service and exceptional care.
- Oversaw the successful host of 120+ events including weddings and conferences, consistently receiving guest satisfaction rates above 96%
- Managed daily operations in a boutique hotel with 80 rooms, increasing overall occupancy rate from 65% to 85% within the first year.
- Established a successful partnership with local tour agencies that resulted in a 30% increase in the annual number of hotel bookings.
- Developed a staff training program focusing on customer service excellence, which reduced turnover by 22% and improved service delivery.
- Pioneered the adoption of innovative hospitality software to streamline operations, leading to a reduction in operational costs by 12%.
- Conducted meticulous market analysis to revamp the service offerings, contributing to a remarkable 25% growth in yearly revenue.
- Launched a comprehensive employee engagement program that heightened team morale and productivity, as reflected in guest service scores.
- Redesigned the guest feedback system to capture more actionable insights, which informed service improvements that led to a 20% increase in return visitors.
- Managed vendor relationships and negotiations, saving the company an average of $50,000 annually on supply costs.
- Enhanced staff performance through a dynamic leadership approach, which was critical in receiving the 'Hotel of the Year' regional award in 2015.
- Coordinated with the culinary team to revamp the menu, leading to a 35% increase in restaurant sales and enhancing the dining experience.
- Led the digital transformation project for guest services, introducing online check-in/out processes that significantly improved efficiency.
- Collaborated with the marketing department to curate special package deals, boosting off-season occupancy by 40%.
- Developed a multi-channel marketing strategy that expanded the hotel's visibility, resulting in a 50% boost in webpage traffic and a 15% increase in direct bookings.
- Directed the renovation of hotel facilities, minimizing disruptions to guests and completing the project 20% under budget while enhancing the property's value.
- Coached and developed a high-performing team with a focus on achieving exceptional service standards, which drove our TripAdvisor rating up by 2 points.
- Identified and captured key business opportunities to develop a VIP guest program that led to a loyal client base and an increase in annual revenue by $1M.
- Implemented cost-control measures that reduced operational expenses by 17%, without compromising the quality of services provided to guests.
- Negotiated and secured lucrative corporate contracts, which accounted for a 60% increase in business traveler stays.
- Streamlined F&B operations across all hotel restaurants, yielding a customer satisfaction score improvement from 75% to 90%
- Directed a task force to improve interdepartmental communication which decreased guest complaints by 30% and enhanced overall operational efficiency.
- Formulated a sustainability initiative that cut energy costs by 10% and established the hotel as an eco-friendly operation within the community.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Highlight the percentage increase in customer satisfaction scores during your tenure, demonstrating a direct impact on guest experience.
- Include the exact number of staff members you have supervised, showing your capacity for team leadership and management.
- Specify the amount by which you reduced operational costs, indicating your ability to optimize resources efficiently.
- Illustrate the growth in revenue you helped achieve, highlighting your contribution to the bottom line.
- Mention the number of training programs you implemented, demonstrating your commitment to staff development and performance improvement.
- Detail the increase in online review ratings under your management, showcasing your impact on the establishment's reputation.
- Quantify the decrease in employee turnover rates, reflecting your effectiveness in team retention and morale building.
- State the number of successful promotional events or marketing campaigns you executed, showing your expertise in driving sales and customer engagement.
Action verbs for your hospitality manager resume
Four quick steps for candidates with no resume experience
Those with less or no relevant experience could also make a good impression on recruiters by:
- Taking the time to actually understand what matters most to the role and featuring this within key sections of their resume
- Investing resume space into defining what makes them a valuable candidate with transferrable skills and personality
- Using the resume objective to showcase their personal vision for growth within the company
- Heavily featuring their technical alignment with relevant certifications, education, and skills.
Remember that your resume is about aligning your profile to that of the ideal candidate.
The more prominently you can demonstrate how you answer job requirements, the more likely you'd be called in for an interview.
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The more trusted the organization you've attained your certificate (or degree) from, the more credible your skill set would be.
In-demand hard skills and soft skills for your hospitality manager resume
A vital element for any hospitality manager resume is the presentation of your skill set.
Recruiters always take the time to assess your:
- Technological proficiency or hard skills - which software and technologies can you use and at what level?
- People/personal or soft skills - how apt are you at communicating your ideas across effectively? Are you resilient to change?
The ideal candidate presents the perfect balance of hard skills and soft skills all through the resume, but more particular within a dedicated skills section.
Building your hospitality manager skills section, you should:
- List up to six skills that answer the requirements and are unique to your expertise.
- Include a soft skill (or two) that defines you as a person and professional - perhaps looking back on feedback you've received from previous managers, etc.
- Create up to two skills sections that are organized based on the types of skills you list (e.g. "technical skills", "soft skills", "hospitality manager skills", etc.).
- If you happen to have technical certifications that are vital to the industry and really impressive, include their names within your skills section.
At times, it really is frustrating to think back on all the skills you possess and discover the best way to communicate them across.
We understand this challenge - that's why we've prepared two lists (of hard skills and soft skills) to help you build your next resume, quicker and more efficiently:
Top skills for your hospitality manager resume:
Budget management
Customer service
Event planning
Inventory control
Food and beverage knowledge
Staff training and development
Marketing and promotions
Safety and hygiene regulations
Revenue management
Hospitality software proficiency
Leadership
Communication
Problem-solving
Time management
Attention to detail
Teamwork
Adaptability
Interpersonal skills
Customer-oriented approach
Stress management
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Showcase any ongoing or recent educational efforts to stay updated in your field.
How to include your education and certifications on your resume
We're taking you back to your college days with this part of our guide, but including your relevant higher education is quite important for your resume.
Your degree shows recruiters your dedication to the industry, your recent and relevant know-how, and some form of experience in the field.
Your hospitality manager resume education should:
- Include your applicable degrees, college (-s) you've graduated from, as well as start and end dates of your higher education;
- Skip your high school diploma. If you still haven't graduated with your degree, list that your higher education isongoing;
- Feature any postgraduate diplomas in your resume header or summary - this is the perfect space to spotlight your relevant MBA degree;
- Showcase any relevant coursework, if you happen to have less professional experience and think this would support your case in being the best candidate for the role.
As far as your job-specific certificates are concerned - choose up to several of the most recent ones that match the job profile, and include them in a dedicated section.
We've saved you some time by selecting the most prominent industry certificates below.
The top 5 certifications for your hospitality manager resume:
- Certified Hospitality Manager (CHM) - American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)
- Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) - American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)
- Certified Hospitality Revenue Manager (CHRM) - American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)
- Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) - American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)
- Foodservice Management Professional (FMP) - National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF)
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Mention specific courses or projects that are pertinent to the job you're applying for.
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Choosing between a hospitality manager resume summary or objective
Many may argue that, in recent times, the hospitality manager resume summary or objective has become completely obsolete.
But the reality is different as both of these resume sections provide you with an opportunity to :
- integrate hospitality manager-vital keywords
- showcase your accomplishments
- answer why you're applying for this particular role.
The difference (between the summary and the objective) is that the:
- Resume objective puts your career goals in a more prominent position.
- Resume summary focuses more on career milestones.
We recommend you select the summary if you happen to have plenty of experience you'd like to spotlight from the very start of your hospitality manager resume.
Meanwhile, the objective is ideal for those candidates who'd like to further prove their suitability for the role with their goals and soft skills.
We've featured some industry professional hospitality manager resume samples to the best resume summary and objective structures:
Resume summaries for a hospitality manager job
- Dedicated hospitality professional with 8 years of progressive leadership experience in a luxury resort environment, adept at elevating guest experiences while optimizing operational efficiency. Proven track record in boosting customer satisfaction scores by 20% through strategic planning and staff training initiatives. Key skills include revenue management, event planning, and fluency in three languages.
- Seasoned marketing executive transitioning to hospitality management, with over a decade of expertise in building robust sales strategies and driving customer engagement in the retail sector. Seeking to leverage extensive team leadership abilities and a passion for service excellence to drive meaningful guest interactions and business growth in a dynamic hotel setting.
- Accomplished financial analyst with a strong background in portfolio management, entering the hospitality industry to bring analytical acumen and a strategic mindset to hotel operations management. Exceptional at managing budgets and financial planning, eager to apply fiscal discipline to maximize profitability and ensure outstanding guest experiences.
- Motivated individual with a passion for customer service excellence, poised to bring a fresh perspective to the hospitality industry despite a lack of direct experience in the field. A quick learner with strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills, eager to contribute to a team that prides itself on creating memorable guest experiences.
- As a recent hospitality graduate, I am eager to apply my comprehensive knowledge of hotel administration, event coordination, and hospitality best practices obtained through rigorous academic training and hands-on internships at high-end establishments, with the goal of nurturing a career in hotel management and contributing to the success of a prestigious property.
- Dynamic leader with over 7 years of high-volume, upscale restaurant management experience, ready to transition into the broader world of hospitality management. Expertise in creating memorable dining experiences, developing innovative menus, and leading cross-functional teams poised to excel in hotel operations to drive both guest satisfaction and profitability.
Beyond your hospitality manager resume basics - extra sections
Ensure your hospitality manager resume stands out from the crowd by spicing it up with a couple of supplementary sections that showcase your:
- Prizes - as a special nod to what matters most in the field;
- Projects - ones that would really further support your application;
- Hobbies - include only if you think they'd further your chances at landing the role with personality
- Community impact - to hint at the causes you care about.
Key takeaways
We've reached the end of our hospitality manager resume guide and hope this information has been useful. As a summary of our key points:
- Always assess the job advert for relevant requirements and integrate those buzzwords across various sections of your hospitality manager resume by presenting tangible metrics of success;
- Quantify your hard skills in your certificates and skills section, while your soft skills in your resume achievements section;
- Ensure you've added additional relevant experience items, such as extracurricular activities and projects you've participated in or led;
- Use both your resume experience and summary to focus on what matters the most to the role: including your technical, character, and cultural fit for the company.
