A career in the hospitality industry is one of the most demanding professionals of all times. You need the right skill, the perfect attitude, and a welcoming demeanour to be a part of the hospitality industry. To rise above the competition, you need much more. From communication to comprehension, this job requires you to be at the top of your game 100% of the time.
You can make an excellent career in hospitality with the right skills, attitude and a practiced set of etiquette. Because the judgment of your performance lies with strangers, you must master your craft, while being the nicest professional in the room.
Developing hospitality skills doesn’t happen with a one-time crash course. It is a continuous process that can go on throughout your professional career. Almost all aspects of the hospitality industry — travel, assembly, lodging, management, event, and restaurant services carry the same code of conduct and professional decorum. Being a skilled worker will always keep you ahead of the competition.
The top skills required in the hospitality industry are:
- Initiative
The most important skill to stand out from your peers is learning when to take initiative. When you are dealing with strangers all the time, it is important that you are there to help them. Many a time that means extending the hand first, asking for ways to make your guest comfortable, while balancing it all with grace, so you don’t come out as intrusive or overbearing.
For example, if your guest wants a reasonably priced wine without letting their co-guests know, you can take the initiative and point them towards all decently priced wine without making it too obvious.
Mastering the instincts and becoming aware of the needs of your guest is a learned skill that comes with practice and experience. - Adaptability
Hospitality jobs are unpredictable. You have no idea what task you will be assigned as you head to work. To run a lodging or a hotel like well-oiled machinery, you need to be able to fill in for your fellow employees all the time. The best employees are those who step in and save the day. Adaptability is a top-rated skill in this industry. Those who wish to get ahead in their careers must be able to adorn a can-do attitude at the office.
Adaptability is not about being the jack of all trades, but training yourself to be a reliable supplementary who gets the job done at a moment’s notice. - Communication
Maintaining resourceful and professional communication with your peers and your customers is the foremost requirement in the hospitality sector. Not only do you need to be a good listener, but you must master the art of comprehension. Understanding the needs of your team and performing the delegated tasks is just as important as getting the right sheets for your guest. Guests may come to your restaurant for the first time for good food, but it’s the customer service and how you make them feel that will make them a regular visitor. - Multitasking
When you work in a fast-paced environment like a restaurant, multitasking is a must. From juggling reception to fulfilling requests, your to-do list is endless. But the orders never stop coming, and you must be up to date with the requests. You can never do one thing at a time, which is why you must learn how to multitask.
Multitasking with efficiency and aptitude gets you noticed by your upper-level managers and makes you a reliable team player. It gets the job done quickly, leaving you with free time at the end of your shift. You can either use a notepad to write down the list of things you have to get done, or you can use your mental diary. Either way, whichever works for you should be practised. - Cultural awareness
Your customers come from all walks of life, practicing tons of different beliefs and lifestyles. As a host, you must learn to not only be aware of the differences but also be understanding and accommodating. Cultural sensitivity is the unique asset of a hospitality professional, that gets them perfect marks from their guests.
Being culturally aware and respectful also makes you a better host, which ultimately adds to your overall excellence as a hospitality professional. - Attention to detail
Zooming in on the little things and making sure that everything is no less than perfect is a great professional skill. Most of the time, you are involved in events or programs in which a hundred things are happening at the same time. Your sharp observational skills must come forward to save the day.
Hospitality Colleges in India
The highly desirable hospitality skills aren’t gifted, they are taught and practiced for years. The best hospitality courses make sure that their graduates have honed all the aforementioned skills. To enter into the hospitality sector, a hotel management course is recommended.
Here are the best Hospitality Colleges in India:
- Lords Institute of Management Hospitality Courses, Gujarat
The Lords Institute of Management offers the best hotel management course in Gujarat. Under its most popular curriculum are the certification courses and undergraduate hospitality courses. With an affordable fee and a flexible structure, it has helped thousands of hospitality graduates make a career in the industry.
- Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition, Mumbai
IHM Mumbai is the oldest and most reputable hotel management college in India. Employees of Taj and Oberoi hotels are a part of IHM Mumbai’s alumni. The college offers diploma, undergrad, and postgraduate degrees in hotel management, and the admission is done through a central entrance exam. - Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition, Kolkata
IHM Kolkata offers competitive degrees in the field of Hospitality. It is one of the top-rated hospitality institutes in the country. Studying in the Kolkata campus exposes you to a distinctive culture and ethnicity, and makes for a memorable experience.
In conclusion,
A career in hospitality is not for the thin-skinned. It’s a high-stressed, fast-paced and tough environment that involves great patience and physical endurance. The tourism and hospitality industry thrives on professionals who can keep their head up even on the most challenging days. How well you deal with the pressure, while keeping your management, your colleagues, and your customers happy, comes down to your skills, and the training you receive.