Hotel and Motel Managers

Check out The Hotel Industry (https://www.thehotelindustry.com), which is sponsored by the AHLA Foundation, to learn more about the field. It offers information about 12 work areas in the hotel industry, including hotel management, human resources, sales and marketing, and lobby and guest services.

You can test your interest in this career firsthand by visiting a local hotel or motel and spending a day at the front desk, or better yet, with the general manager. Most high schools have a job shadowing program that introduces students to various careers. If your school doesn't have such a program, talk with your counseling center about implementing one.

Working in hospitality is really the best way to explore the field. Part-time jobs in any department, no matter how small, will give you important business experience. Employees that start out loading dishwashers can, with the appropriate educational experience and training, rise to the rank of vice president.

Books such as Introduction to Hospitality Management (John Wiley & Sons, 2021) will help you to learn about the field. Read Hotel News Now (http://www.hotelnewsnow.com) and other industry resources to stay up to date on the industry.

Participate in information interviews with lodging managers. Ask your school counselor or a teacher to help you set up the interviews—which can be conducted in-person, on the phone, or through video-conferencing technology. You could also contact local lodging associations and hotels for potential information interview leads.