‘How do I start a career in revenue management?’ This question is posed not only by students nearing the end of their educational program, but also by mid-level managers who have worked in the hospitality industry for a couple of years already. The challenge is of course that most hotels prefer someone with a proven track record. There is no short cut in this field. You will have to earn your marks, and work your way up step by step.
Where to start? I would encourage anyone who really aspires to a hotel revenue management career to rotate through front desk and especially reservations. A profound understanding of the operational process will help you become a more fully developed hotel revenue manager in the long run.
There is also the option to apply for an entry-level position within the yield or revenue management department of a hotel group or large hotel. The global international chains generally have a position of hotel revenue analyst in their clusters. A junior position in such a centralized environment is also a good way to gain valuable experience.
You will be working on either availability management, in charge of allocating and restricting rate levels, or on the analytical pricing side of the business. The cluster structure usually contains several managerial layers allowing for promising talent to work their way up.
I just mentioned the word ‘talent’ because you will need it. Competition in this field is becoming more and more fierce for candidates as hotel schools and universities have integrated courses in yield, revenue management and distribution as part of their curriculum. Each year more and more graduates hold a degree in revenue management. It is quickly getting to a point where there are more ‘certified’ revenue management applicants than jobs in this highly specialized field.
So ladies and gentlemen who are looking for hotel revenue management jobs, it is upon you to set yourself apart from the pack. Make sure you stand out. Having accomplished your studies with good grades combined with revenue management internships simply will not do the trick anymore.
Want to find out more about our career opportunities in the hotel industry? Visit our revenue management jobs section for more information.
Author: Patrick Landman @ Xotels
Hotel Management Company - Xotels Ltd. 