Hotel director jobs are typically found within the hospitality industry. There are many different hotel director jobs, most of which can be pursued via various avenues such as schooling or familiarity with the business. Many of these careers require an advanced degree, and some require a degree in a specific field. There may be one or several hotel directors within the same location, and they exist in departments such as security, engineering, food and beverage service, sales, and customer service. Hotel directors typically know a bit about each department of the hotel, though.
Earning a college degree in hospitality is one direction a candidate might take before applying for hotel director jobs. Associate’s degrees and specialized certifications can be obtained at a local community college. Those who wish to go on and obtain a bachelor’s degree in a specific hotel-related field can choose from a plethora of universities, both nationally and internationally. As some large hotel chains or successful resorts will only hire people with verifiable success and motivation, a Master’s in Business Administration may also be earned by hopeful candidates. Often, advanced degrees can be earned over a period of years, occasionally on the company’s dime, while working full time.
Those interesting in running a kitchen or catering department might get a culinary arts certificate with an additional degree in business, for example. Special skills are often required in various areas across America and the world. At specialty Caribbean resorts, for example, many chefs and kitchen directors are well-versed in ice sculpting and fruit carving. Other hotel director jobs in the kitchen might require candidates to have a background in a certain ethnic cuisine, which can truly only be learned and honed with experience.
A bachelor’s degree in engineering might be required for those who wish to run the physical and mechanical aspects of the hotel building. Knowledge of elevator systems and structure integrity, for instance, are pertinent to engineers pursuing hotel director jobs in this field. Such directors should also know a thing or two about heating-venting-air-condition (HVAC) structures and various utility systems.
Likewise, at larger hotels, resorts or casino-style hotels, a criminal justice or similar degree might be required for hotel director jobs in security. For potential candidates wishing to pursue a director of sales position within the hospitality industry, proof of prior sales success is often necessary before a large hotel will hire them on. Working in a few niches within a hotel setting can help future hotel directors hone the skills they enjoy and are successful at.
Hotel director jobs that don’t require a college education often require substantial experience managing in the desired field. For example, a future food and beverage director at a hotel may have worked his way up the ladder from hotel busser, to server, to line cook, to sous chef. A hotel security director may have worked his way up the security department ladder in a similar fashion. Internships may also be held at many hotels.
