Hotel Manager Interview Questions

1.1The hotel manager role - operations, revenue, people, and the guest experience

1.2Hotel classifications - budget, mid-market, luxury, boutique, and how management differs across segments

1.3Hotel operational departments - front office, housekeeping, food and beverage, maintenance, and the GM role in each

1.4Hotel ownership and management structures - owner-operator, managed, and franchised hotels

2.1Revenue management fundamentals - occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, and the metrics that drive hotel performance

2.2Pricing strategy - rack rates, BAR, dynamic pricing, and optimising revenue across distribution channels

2.3Distribution channels - OTAs, direct booking, GDS, and managing channel mix for margin

2.4Revenue management systems - the technology that drives pricing decisions and channel management

3.1Front office operations - check-in, check-out, reservations, and the guest arrival experience

3.2Guest relationship management - recognising loyal guests, handling special requests, and personalising the stay

3.3Complaint handling - the hotel approach to service recovery and turning a bad experience into a loyal guest

3.4Guest satisfaction measurement - review sites, Net Promoter Score, and responding to guest feedback

4.1Housekeeping operations - room standards, cleaning schedules, linen management, and quality inspection

4.2Maintenance management - preventive maintenance, reactive repairs, and managing the hotel fabric

4.3Energy management - energy consumption, sustainability targets, and cost reduction

4.4Health and safety in hotels - fire safety, food safety, pool safety, and legal compliance

5.1Restaurant and bar operations - table management, menu design, service standards, and GP management

5.2Kitchen management - food safety, waste management, procurement, and managing the kitchen team

5.3Banqueting and events - conference and events sales, execution, and the revenue opportunity

5.4Food and beverage profitability - GP percentage, menu engineering, and managing the F&B financial performance

6.1Hotel workforce management - the challenges of high turnover, seasonal demand, and managing a large, diverse team

6.2Recruitment and onboarding - finding and developing hospitality talent in a competitive market

6.3Performance management - standards of service, feedback, and developing the team

6.4Employment law for hotels - the specific workforce issues in hospitality and legal compliance

7.1Hotel financial management - the P&L, the balance sheet, and the financial reporting in a hotel

7.2Cost management - payroll, costs of sales, overheads, and managing the hotel cost base

7.3Capital expenditure - refurbishment, FF&E replacement, and managing the hotel asset

7.4Owner and investor reporting - how hotel managers report performance and manage the owner relationship

8.1Hotel sales strategy - corporate accounts, group business, MICE, and the sales channels that drive occupancy

8.2Digital marketing for hotels - website, SEO, social media, and online reputation management

8.3Loyalty programmes - the hotel loyalty programme and how managers drive enrolment and redemption

8.4Sales team management - managing the sales function, setting targets, and driving revenue performance

9.1Hotel general manager leadership - setting the culture, the standards, and the vision for the property

9.2Strategic planning - annual business plans, revenue targets, and the long-term property strategy

9.3Brand standards and franchise compliance - maintaining brand standards and managing the franchisor relationship

9.4Property positioning and competitive strategy - how the hotel differentiates and competes in its local market

10.1Technical questions - revenue management, financial performance, guest satisfaction, and operations

10.2Leadership questions - team development, culture, managing difficult situations, and improving hotel performance

10.3Commercial questions - demonstrating RevPAR improvement, cost management, and strategic thinking

10.4Salary negotiation, evaluating a hotel and its ownership structure, and questions that reveal the investment culture and career trajectory in the property