How To Start A Business in the Hotel Industry: 4 Tips

Whether you’re looking to open a brand new hotel, provide IT services to a hotel, or take over a hotel that is currently open, you need to know what it takes to start and succeed in the hospitality industry.

Before you opt for opening a hotel, or working with hotels, you may want to consider opening a campsite, or running a business that rents out RVs, as these types of businesses are proving to be very popular, and profitable.

However, if you have your heart settled on opening a hotel, you may find the following tips quite useful, as they will help you get that little bit closer to running a business in the hospitality sector:

Understand Exactly What A Hotel Is

You may be wondering why this tip has been added, as surely everyone knows what a hotel is? The surprising fact is that not everyone is clear about what can be defined as a hotel.

The definition of a hotel is an establishment that offers accommodation and meals, as well as a few additional services such as a gym, swimming pool, and a beauty parlor or spa.

There is often a little bit of confusion between hotels, guest houses, and B&B’s. Guest houses and B&B’s usually offer accommodation in a house that is typically the owners home, whereas hotels are primarily establishments that people do not live in.

However, the size of a hotel can vary from just 3-4 rooms to 1,000 rooms, while offering guests the extras that they would not find in a guesthouse or B&B.

The size of a hotel alone makes for extra challenges, whether you want to open your own or just provide IT services.

Get The Right Training And Experience

You may be tempted to open a hotel and hope that everything falls into place, but if you don’t have the right training and experience, you may find that you’re out of your depth.

Think about working in the hospitality industry for at least a few years, so you get to know the ins and outs, and know what is expected of you in terms of advertising, offering guests the best service possible, and keeping the hotel running 24 hours a day.

And the hotel has to run 24 hours a day– if you’re providing technical support for a hotel’s computer systems, you have to be prepared to work odd hours.

Think About What Types Of Hotels You Wish To Work With

Before you consider setting up shop, you need to think about what type of hotel you wish to work with.

Will you be offering a hotel that caters for newlyweds or young families? Are you looking to open a themed hotel or a cozy hotel that appeals to senior citizens? If you’re providing support, what type of support will that specific type of hotel need?

Alternatively, you may wish to work with a hotel that caters to the needs of business men and women who may only need to stay for a night or two, which may require more robust IT support. Knowing what type of hotel you wish to open can help you style the hotel in a way that appeals to your chosen market.

Be Aware Of The Rules And Regulations

Hotels and other businesses in the hospitality sector are governed by a wide range of rules and regulations. If you want to open a hotel, you need to know what the rules and regulations entail.

Get up to date on employment law, food safety, fire regulations, and anything else that is relevant. When you’re aware of the rules and regulations, you can build or adjust your hotel accordingly so you stay on the right side of the law.

Use the above tips to help you set up a business in the hotel industry, and get that little bit closer to welcoming your very first guest through your doors.