Accommodation Manager

Accommodation managers are generally employed in the private sector by hotels, cruise ships and conference centers, or in the public sector in halls of residence, NHS hospitals and health worker housing, government-run care homes and housing associations.

It is their responsibility to ensure that their establishment is run efficiently, that standards of cleanliness and maintenance are upheld (in rooms, bathrooms, and public areas), that budgets are controlled and that their teams of staff are well trained and managed. Cross all sectors and establishments, accommodation managers have similar and typical managerial responsibilities, including people management and training, budget control, business planning and administration.

Exact duties and levels of responsibility vary from position to position. For example, in a large hotel chain, accommodation manager roles may be restricted to housekeeping and more clearly defined than in a smaller independent hotel, where the manager may also have responsibility for front of house, catering or other areas. Domestic bursars also frequently assume responsibility for catering operations.

In educational/hospital accommodation, typical activities include: planning the availability of accommodation for students or conference delegates (education) or for nursing and medical staff (hospitals), budgeting and controlling finances, supervising the work of cleaning staff and ensuring standards are maintained, involvement in building and refurbishment plans for residential accommodation.

Accommodation managers may be involved in some practical or hands-on work, but their role is mainly supervisory, with people management constituting a significant proportion of their role.

Increasingly they are required to manage staff are employed by contractors, as opposed to in-house teams, and therefore need to be able to handle rapid staff turnover and ensure all new staff are fully conversant with policies and procedures.