Career advice. Hotel industry

[danphuket]

After completing bachelor's degree in business I moved to Thailand to work as a small guesthouse manager. Prepared business plan, budget, helped to build it and worked there for 1.5 years, all within the same period of time. Later moved to property business - sales, rentals, maintenance of 10 luxury villas.

2 years ago I had a vague idea of what to do with my life. After the above mentioned experience, it is clear to me that this is not what is going to drive me for a long time. My preference is to go into more technical and analytic fields. Hence the question. What are the typical positions found in a hotel where you need to deal with numbers and facts most of the time rather then to deal with people?

My guess is that not that many. Finance, accounting, IT, revenue management.

One of the possible ways I am thinking about is to get a position in hotel chain and work my way through the ranks to revenue management position. In a couple of years get education in Operations Research, Statistics and work as a researcher/consultant from then on.

Another way will be to get into accounting, but since I am a foreigner that is nearly impossible at an entry level.

I am 24 now. Can speak fluent Russian and English. Can speak, read and write Thai and hopefully will be semi-fluent in a year.

Any recommendations welcome.

[Asiantravel]

That could be your selling point . The fact that you regard it as a career because many Thai’s that I have spoken to in the hospitality industry only consider it as being a job . Good luck

[SheungWan]

You might consider doing a Masters at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at PolyU in Hong Kong.

http://hotelschool.shtm.polyu.edu.hk/eng/academic/programs_overview.jsp?ID=29&SA=posthk&Tag=1&Program=pgd&SubProg=msc

[Tomtomtom69]

I think you could just stand a chance with your positive attitude and range of skills, including language skills. Persevere and try to network as much as possible.

[danphuket]

Thank you for your replies.

I am divided between 2 subjects at the moment. On one hand accounting (cost accounting, financial controller) is a licensed profession which has a pretty straightforward route and stable income associated with it. It does offer some interesting challenges, but is very technical and dry most of the time in my perception. On the other hand I like the idea of doing mathematical type of research for businesses (such as revenue management for big hotel chains, market research, logistical problems, statistics, modelling). If you were in my shoes in your twenties what would you go for? Math (operations research) or accounting?

Looking 10 years into the future what do you think will be more in demand?

Is it possible that accounting will be automated to a great extent and therefore there will be reduction in specialists needed for any business?

In choosing a career path what would be a general advice to your own children?

[Asiantravel]

Thank you for your replies.

I am divided between 2 subjects at the moment. On one hand accounting (cost accounting, financial controller) is a licensed profession which has a pretty straightforward route and stable income associated with it. It does offer some interesting challenges, but is very technical and dry most of the time in my perception. On the other hand I like the idea of doing mathematical type of research for businesses (such as revenue management for big hotel chains, market research, logistical problems, statistics, modelling). If you were in my shoes in your twenties what would you go for? Math (operations research) or accounting?

Looking 10 years into the future what do you think will be more in demand?

Is it possible that accounting will be automated to a great extent and therefore there will be reduction in specialists needed for any business?

In choosing a career path what would be a general advice to your own children?

I think you're right about computers taking over many such functions in the future.

I don't have any children but if I did I think I would be warning them that the likelihood of one particular job for life will probably not be so common in the future.

Unfortunately I think they would need to have the attitude of being willing to do anything and accept any salary (as long as it's not unrealistic) to get a foot in the door and then hope to impress the employer to be able to advance. And from there to work hard and apply yourself diligently for whatever you do.

[simon43]

II built/own several small hotels in Phuket. I'd go for revenue management (and all that this entails).

If you are good at it, you will reap the rewards, especially if you can negotiate profit share.

I spend several hours every day juggling and managing room rates via about a dozen on-line agents, using Channel Management software, knowledge of flight arrivals, different demographic trends etc (my hotels are at the airport). By doing this, I manage to achieve 100%+ room occupancy almost throughout the year, whilst my competitors lag behind.

Simon

Edited January 28, 2014 by simon43

[Furbie]

Thank you for your replies.

I am divided between 2 subjects at the moment. On one hand accounting (cost accounting, financial controller) is a licensed profession which has a pretty straightforward route and stable income associated with it. It does offer some interesting challenges, but is very technical and dry most of the time in my perception. On the other hand I like the idea of doing mathematical type of research for businesses (such as revenue management for big hotel chains, market research, logistical problems, statistics, modelling). If you were in my shoes in your twenties what would you go for? Math (operations research) or accounting?

Looking 10 years into the future what do you think will be more in demand?

Is it possible that accounting will be automated to a great extent and therefore there will be reduction in specialists needed for any business?

In choosing a career path what would be a general advice to your own children?

“On the other hand I like the idea of doing mathematical type of research for businesses (such as revenue management for big hotel chains, market research, logistical problems, statistics, modelling).”

Looking at job trends, this is a hot job right now in marketing for most consumer product/services industries and its growing. The ability to mine big data has a wealth of opportunities and a is badly needed skill set. The only issue, it’s just starting in Thailand - Google is pushing this very hard here, and the MD seems to spend all his time on Google analytics from what I can tell. I imagine this applies doubly to the hotel industry. If I was early in my career, I would jump on this.

[danphuket]

II built/own several small hotels in Phuket. I'd go for revenue management (and all that this entails).

If you are good at it, you will reap the rewards, especially if you can negotiate profit share.

I spend several hours every day juggling and managing room rates via about a dozen on-line agents, using Channel Management software, knowledge of flight arrivals, different demographic trends etc (my hotels are at the airport). By doing this, I manage to achieve 100%+ room occupancy almost throughout the year, whilst my competitors lag behind.

Simon

Wow! 100%!

Could you recommend some books on revenue management, statistics and demographics that you found useful?

Interesting place to have a hotel. Good luck!