WHAT DOES AN ASSISTANT HOTEL MANAGER DO?

Published: Jul 22, 2025 - The Assistant Hotel Manager assumes overall responsibility for the effective, compliant, and profitable operation of the hotel, ensuring adherence to local health, hygiene, safety, and labor regulations. This role maintains high guest and team engagement, manages daily operations, staff development, training, and oversees performance reviews, grievance handling, and team motivation. The assistant also monitors budgets and financial reporting, drives revenue growth, resolves guest complaints, and fosters professional relationships with internal departments and external partners.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Assistant Hotel Manager

1. Assistant Hotel Manager Duties

  • Customer Service: Provide exceptional customer service and verify that all employees of the location are doing the same.
  • Account Management: Responsible for overseeing the retention and acquisition of accounts by growing existing accounts and generating new business to a level that meets or exceeds sales forecasts.
  • Sales Execution: Execute all aspects of the sales and marketing plans to surpass revenue goals, including making outside sales calls and cold calls while maintaining relationships with current accounts.
  • Client Relations: Build and maintain relationships with key clients.
  • Business Development: Create and solicit new business through innovative means.
  • Team Leadership: Lead the management of the hotel staff in a way that increases hotel profitability and customer satisfaction.
  • Talent Management: Oversee the interviewing, hiring, training, work direction, and performance management of all employees.
  • Staff Development: Contribute to the successful development of the staff.
  • Policy Compliance: Oversee the activities of all staff members to ensure adherence to hotel policies and procedures.
  • Schedule Management: Review all departmental schedules for accuracy and staffing demands.
  • Meeting Facilitation: Conduct regular departmental meetings.

2. Assistant Hotel Manager Responsibilities

  • Compensation Compliance: Assist the General Manager with annual salary reviews and ensure that all employee wages follow federal, state, and local wage and hour guidelines.
  • Financial Recordkeeping: Review and maintain accurate records of the hotel’s funds and information, including the cash flow sheet, accounts receivable and payable, credit card reconciliations, and registration information.
  • Invoice Validation: Review and validate vendor invoices.
  • Marketing Management: Oversee advertising and marketing campaigns for the hotel.
  • Guest Assistance: Assist guests whenever possible.
  • Issue Resolution: Responsible for resolving escalated customer relations issues.
  • Policy Information: Answer inquiries about hotel policies and services.
  • Guest Satisfaction: Appropriately address guest requests to ensure customers are satisfied with the hotel’s services and accommodations.
  • Property Promotion: Responsible for positively representing and promoting the property.
  • Safety Compliance: Ensure systems and procedures are in place and followed for guest safety and security.

3. Assistant Hotel Manager Job Summary

  • Staff Supervision: Oversee personnel, including Front Desk, Housekeeping, and Maintenance employees.
  • Performance Management: Monitor employee performance and conduct regular evaluations to help improve customer service.
  • Financial Management: Collect daily deposits and maintain records of budgets, funds, and expenses.
  • Issue Resolution: Resolve issues regarding hotel services, amenities, and policies.
  • Task Coordination: Organize activities and assign responsibilities to employees to ensure productivity.
  • External Coordination: Coordinate with external parties, including suppliers and a payroll company.
  • Compliance Evaluation: Evaluate hotel performance and ensure compliance with health and safety rules.
  • Budgeting Activities: Partake in financial activities, including establishing room rates, setting budgets, and assigning funds to departments.

4. Assistant Hotel Manager Functions

  • Front Desk Operations: Responsible for the daily operations of the Hotel Front Desk, including implementation and execution of proper check-in and check-out procedures, guest account settlement, and in-house account balance maintenance.
  • Interdepartmental Communication: Maintain and integrate effective communication between the Front Desk and all hotel operation departments, including Internal Maintenance, Housekeeping, and Bell Service/Valet.
  • Team Supervision: Monitor and evaluate team members to ensure the highest levels of productivity and compliance with the policies and procedures set forth by corporate and departmental standards.
  • Staff Scheduling: Schedule staff accordingly based on daily arrival and departure volume.
  • Financial Planning: Assist the Hotel Manager with budgeting and forecasting, with a focus on long-term occupancy and revenue generation.
  • Inventory Management: Maintain the supply stock ordering.
  • Workplace Culture: Maintain communication with team members to promote a positive work environment and maintain exemplary morale.
  • Policy Compliance: Maintain proper records regarding team members’ adherence to policies and procedures, and required counseling and disciplinary action.

5. Assistant Hotel Manager Overview

  • Hotel Operations Management: Assume overall responsibility and ownership for the effective, compliant, and profitable running of the hotel.
  • Health and Safety Compliance: Ensure the hotel meets local health, hygiene, and safety standards.
  • Standards Implementation: Implement and maintain all standards and procedures laid out in the management manuals.
  • Guest Relations: Retain a high-profile presence with guests and staff.
  • Relationship Management: Establish, develop, and maintain professional working relationships with all department managers, local staff, and external companies.
  • Professional Reputation: Develop a professional reputation within the resort.
  • Complaint Resolution: Deal with guest complaints and problem-solving.
  • Team Leadership: Manage and motivate the team to operate the hotel effectively.
  • Training Development: Devise and implement pre-season and ongoing training plans for the team.
  • Performance Management: Conduct staff reviews, appraisals, and any disciplinary or grievance matters.
  • Rota Management: Devise and manage hotel rota and timesheets in line with local labor law.
  • Legal Compliance: Ensure compliance with local labor law, overseeing and managing legal documents in the event of an inspection.
  • Budget Control: Monitor and control all hotel budgets, costs, and monies.
  • Revenue Growth: Proactively increase hotel revenue.
  • Financial Reporting: Take overall responsibility for accurate and timely financial reporting.

6. Assistant Hotel Manager Details and Accountabilities

  • Guest Needs Assessment: Connecting and understanding the guest's needs, checking them in, assigning the best room, and ensuring luggage and needs are in the room, ready.
  • Departure Coordination: Ensure the guests' departure is smooth and all charges are handled correctly.
  • Guest Experience Engagement: Connect with the guest to learn more about their stay and their experience.
  • Cash Handling: Successfully maintain the assigned bank.
  • Hospitality Communication: Communicate with guests at the highest level of hospitality and integrity.
  • Special Request Support: Support and accommodate the guest’s special requests whenever possible.
  • Service Recovery: Empowered and supported to resolve guests’ below-expectation experiences.
  • Payroll Administration: Review, approve, and verify payroll, generate reports, investigate, and respond to guest complaints.

7. Assistant Hotel Manager Additional Details

  • Front Desk Supervision: Oversee the Front Desk operations and act as the manager on duty in the hotel when senior managers are not available.
  • Guest Registration: Welcome and register hotel guests, explain the accommodations, and establish credit or a method of payment.
  • Checkout Procedures: Check the guest out of the hotel, prepare and explain the bill.
  • Guest Request Fulfillment: Respond to a wide variety of guest requests by accurately assessing the guest's needs and requests and then adding personal recommendations and touches to achieve maximum customer satisfaction while complying with all Four Seasons policies.
  • Retail Team Supervision: Supervise a team of retail sales workers.
  • Shift Scheduling: Adjust the daily schedule for shift personnel to ensure optimal efficiency.
  • Employee Training: Train and evaluate employees.
  • Business Forecasting: Track monthly results and trends for business forecasting.
  • Complaint Resolution: Resolve escalated customer complaints.