Serving Luxury | Career | wavemag.com.np

ALL IMAGES: SILVER MOUNTAIN SCHOOL OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT

With hotels from two to seven stars, spas, resorts and cruise ships, the service sector is not only expanding–it's booming. Spending time at the spa, grooming oneself or going out to lunch in a fancy restaurant isn't just a luxury people treat themselves to every once in a while, it has become a lifestyle that more and more people are becoming accustomed to. Well-qualified hotel managers are in increasing demand across the globe. Before, in Nepal, this was a sector that students went to, only if they couldn't do well in the science faculty. Even now, the concept of a career in hospitality and hotel management isn't as popular as it should be, but this is slowly changing. People are now beginning to realise that this sector is a goldmine. The scope and opportunity available in this career has enormous potential.

Reading academic books and passing exams isn't at all what hotel management is about. It's a complete training of oneself in everything, from how you present yourself to your manners. Most schools teach students an invaluable life lesson–personality development. Rachana Thapa, Director of Sliver Mountain School of Hotel management says, "This is a people's business, which requires future managers to be groomed in every aspect." Schools teach students hospitality, leadership, etiquette and punctuality to name a few. WAVE talked to three hotel management schools: International School of Tourism and Hotel Management, Sliver Mountain School of Hotel Management and Global Academy of Tourism Hospitality Education.

Basic Qualifications

The first step is to get a bachelors degree from a well-known school. Most hotel management schools accept +2 or A level students, no matter what stream they come from. Some schools like International School of Tourism and Hotel Management have a two-year diploma course right after SLC so that training can start immediately. If one passes an aptitude test, then s/he can get admitted to a hotel management college right away. This is usually a four-year course which involves internships in hotels here in Nepal and abroad. A lot of the schools here are affiliated to international schools, which means that there are numerous opportunities for internships in top-class hotels all over the world. Recommendations from internships also play an important role in getting a degree and for future jobs. Some of the courses in management schools include economics, accounting, administration, marketing, catering, maintenance engineering, housekeeping, food services and the usage of computers.

Practical skills and knowledge from experience is the most important qualification for this job. From day one, schools instill their students with grooming techniques, etiquette, public speaking and leadership skills. Basic knowledge of some foreign languages is also a requirement in some schools. However, as Khem Raj Lakai, founder of Global Academy of Tourism and Hospitality Education says, "The most important quality required is having a service-oriented attitude; one has to be proud to serve others". Ninety per cent of this job is done if you have the right attitude.

Cost\ Earnings

In Nepal, most of the top schools charge around Rs 400,000 for admission. A lot of the internships are paid, and hotels also pay for food and accommodation. Minimum salary in Nepal begins at Rs 10, 000 and jobs abroad pay even more. But with the scope in this career and the rise of the service sector, the pay is sure to increase.

Opportunities in this job
Tej Bahadur Dhakal, Director of International school of Tourism & Hotel Management, says, "This is a very dynamic profession as there is no boundary in this industry." Those who take up this career option have so many choices to specialise in. While everyone has to take the whole hotel management course initially, you can specialize according to your interest later in the course. Those who fancy themselves as gourmet chefs can master in the culinary arts or those who enjoy the casino can take up casino management. Other areas include front desk operation, housekeeping, sales and marketing.