Hotel and Motel Managers

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that employment for hotel managers will grow much faster than the average for all careers from 2023 through 2033. "Overall travel spending patterns will translate to strong demand for lodging managers in hotels and other lodging establishments," according to the DOL. "For example, some employment growth may be driven by an increased need for extended-stay accommodations and by consumer preferences for combined business and leisure travel."

College graduates with degrees in hotel or restaurant management, or a similar business degree, will have the best opportunities (especially at upscale and luxury hotels), as will managers with excellent work experience and those with certification. Opportunities will become available as current managers move to other occupations, retire, or leave the workforce for other reasons. Competition for lodging manager positions will be keen at larger hotels that offer more services and better employee benefits.

Many factors influence the employment of managers, including hotel consolidations that mean layoffs for redundant workers and the increasing number of budget hotels and motels with fewer extras, such as a restaurant or room service. Hotels and motels with fewer guest services and offerings need fewer managers.

Additionally, the travel and hospitality industry is very sensitive to economic developments. During weak economic times, people travel less often for pleasure—which means fewer tourists in need of lodging. Businesses also cut back on their expenses by limiting or eliminating business travel and using other methods, such as teleconferencing, to meet with clients who are in different locations. This also means fewer customers for hotels and motels.

World events also have a major influence on the travel and hospitality industry. For example, the terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001 dramatically reduced the number of people willing to travel for business and pleasure. A lack of customers translated into layoffs in the industry. According to the publication National Hotel Executive, approximately 360,000 people in the hotel sector alone lost their jobs in the three months after the attacks. More recently, the COVID-19 virus created a worldwide epidemic that severely reduced travel to and hotel stays in many countries. As a result, hotel occupancy rates declined in many areas.