What is hotel organizational structure?

CEO

The hotel's CEO (chief executive officer) presides at the peak of the hotel organizational pyramid. The CEO oversees the work of hotel managers and assistant managers who operate, supervise and ensure the hotel's full functionality each day.

Managers

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2010-11 report, lodging managers, as well as assistant managers and directors, oversee individual departments, such as housekeeping. Hotel general managers (also called GMs) meet all guest needs and wants by supervising a large or small staff depending on the size of the hotel

Departments

Large and small hotels create an organizational structure by dividing employees onto an administrative side or operational side. A hotel may also divide employees between management and non-management departments.

Management and Non-Management Positions

Some administrative or management jobs include general manager and assistant managers, human resources directors, front office managers, accounting specialists, catering and events directors, restaurant managers, and employees in sales, marketing and promotions.

Operational and non-management jobs include those in food and beverage services, housekeeping, maintenance, supervisors, front office employees--who take reservations and assign guestrooms--spa employees, bellmen and grounds attendants. Full-service, resort and luxury hotels generally require more personnel than small hotels that can operate with a condensed staff. Each member of a hotel team is as important as another in ensuring the hotel is always operating at its most efficient and helpful capacity.

Individual Hotels

Smaller hotels in a franchise agreement with a larger hotel chain are either operated by the parent company or separately. Individually run smaller hotels may participate in the company's reservation service or hotel deal programs, but offer lower-rates. These individually run hotels under a larger hotel structure belong to a larger enterprise but have the charm and personality of an independent hotel.

Hotel Chains

According to the BLS 2010-11 hospitality report, while national corporations own major hotel chains, some properties are independently owned but affiliated with a chain through an agreement or contract. This means that a large hotel may serve as an umbrella company for small hotels and maintain the hotel's organizational structure on a smaller scale. As of 2010, hotel chains are moving away from owning properties and choosing to manage them instead.

Source:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Lodging Managers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Hotels and Other Accommodations

HCareers: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group: Careers

More Information:

HCareers: Hospitality Careers