Does a Hospitality Career suit you?

Tourism in Singapore is on a winning streak.

For two consecutive years, tourism receipts and visitor arrivals hit record highs in Singapore. According to the Singapore Tourism Board, tourism receipts rose by 3.9 per cent to S$26.8 billion in 2017, while visitor arrivals grew 6.2 per cent to 17.4 million, with 13 of the top 15 markets showing growth.

For the first three quarters of 2017, tourism receipts excluding Sightseeing, Entertainment & Gaming from the Business Travel and Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions (BTMICE) industry grew by 4% to $3.15b compared to the same period in 2016.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s country report on Singapore, capital investment in Singapore’s travel sector is expected to rise 4.5% to $20.9 billion in 2018, and by another 5% per annum over the next decade to a whopping $33.9 billion in 2028.

Career prospects in the tourism and hospitality industry certainly look rosy for the coming years, with job demand likely to remain strong in the hotel, events organisation, and travel industries.
But how do you know if you are suited for this industry? Here are 5 ways to tell if a hospitality career is for you.

1. You love putting a smile on people’s faces

This business is all about people. Your job is to literally take care of other people.

As a hospitality professional, you enjoy keeping your guests and visitors happy and delighted, and feel like they are right at home.

You have a natural affinity for this sector if you derive satisfaction in making others feel good and valued.

Attentive to the spoken and unspoken needs and desires of your guests, you have a knack for attending to the little details which make your guests comfortable.

As Danny Meyer, restaurateur and hospitality guru, puts it, “Whoever you are, whatever business you’re running – we’ve all been commoditised… but the one thing that cannot be copied is how we make people feel.”

2. You are a good team player

Excelling in the art and science of customer service is not a job done alone.

Virtually every business in the hospitality and tourism sector requires teams of specialists – from hotels, airlines, and travel agencies, to attractions and restaurants.

Beyond working well with others, you need to have great organisational and communication skills. This helps you to work well across different frontline and management roles in hospitality, and empowers you to be both a team player and leader.

Effective teamwork is a prerequisite to success in the tourism sector.

The delivery of premium customer experiences can only happen with good camaraderie and cooperation amongst team members.

3. You love meeting people from all walks of life

Whether you manage a hotel or a world-class attraction, you will be immersed in a culturally diverse working environment as you meet and greet people from all cultures and walks of life.

While you do not necessarily need to speak six languages, you enjoy knowing how to say “hello” and “thank you” in ten different tongues.

You are also curious and approachable, happy to making conversation with strangers, and a keen listener.

4. A 9-to-5 office job is not your thing

As a hospitality or guest services manager, you will probably work odd hours. Occasionally, you may have to be on standby to handle unexpected situations or be rostered for night or weekend duties.

If you find a 9-to-5 deskbound job does not challenge you sufficiently, a hospitality career may be just right for you.

The fun part about this industry is that you hardly ever get stuck in the same role for very long. Most people get rotated amongst different jobs – in the case of hotels, you may move from concierge and F&B to reception desk and guest services.

Along the way, you get to learn the ropes and pick up valuable new skills.

5. You enjoy solving other people’s problems

The dynamic and fast-paced nature of this industry calls for agility, decisiveness and creative problem-solving.

There is no room for waffling and waiting around, as every minute counts when a customer finds himself in a bind.

Is a guest complaining about not getting the room upgrade that he requested for? Step in, quickly assess the situation, and offer the irate guest an option that is closest to what he needs.

Always try to throw in some “goodies”, like a complimentary cocktail or dining vouchers, if you are unable to meet his demands to a tee.

Being able to satisfy an unhappy customer is not always easy. However, one thing is for sure – the ability to think on your feet and solve problems creatively is invaluable for any kind of industry in the future.

Hospitality is the perfect training ground for building these skills.

Boost your career prospects in hospitality with a Degree at Murdoch University

Murdoch University offers the Bachelor of Business in Hospitality and Tourism Management.

With core modules such as Hospitality and Tourism Project, and Sustainable Tourism, you will gain practical and valuable insights into what goes on behind the scenes in managing top-notch hotels, tourist destinations and attractions.

You will also learn how to balance the needs of tourism with that of your local culture and natural ecosystem.

To find out more about the programme, register for a preview session or request for a prospectus today.