14 Hotel Management Courses for Upskilling In 2024
While many of us in the hotel industry learn the trade as we go, there are some great programs to skip (some of!) the trial-by-fire learning experience on the job. These courses can even help you negotiate a higher salary as a hotel manager.
Here are some great hotel management courses, with details about their pricing, requirements, the topics they cover, and who they're best for, to help you take the next step in your hospitality career.
Pro tip: Students who excel in learning hotel management tools are better prepared for the competitive hospitality industry.
Why Take a Hotel Management Course?
Here are some reasons you might need (or want) to take a hotel management course.
- Gain Comprehensive Industry Knowledge: Understand the fundamentals of hotel operations, customer service, and hospitality trends.
- Develop Management Skills: Learn essential leadership, team management, and decision-making skills tailored for the hospitality industry.
- Enhance Career Opportunities: Boost your qualifications and stand out for roles in hotels, resorts, and tourism sectors.
- Improve Customer Service Expertise: Master techniques to deliver exceptional guest experiences and handle customer complaints professionally.
- Build Financial Acumen: Understand budgeting, revenue management, and cost control to manage hotel finances effectively.
- Prepare for Common Hotel Management Interview Questions: Familiarize yourself with the questions and scenarios often asked during interviews to increase your chances of success.
- Learn About Technology in Hospitality: Stay updated on property management systems, booking software, and other hotel technologies.
- Understand Marketing Strategies: Develop skills to attract guests through effective marketing, branding, and social media campaigns.
- Network with Industry Professionals: Connect with peers, mentors, and industry leaders to grow your professional circle.
- Gain Practical Experience: Many courses offer internships or hands-on training in real-world hotel settings, giving you practical insights.
Best Hotel Management Course Shortlist
You'll want at least one business management, hospitality management, or similar program on your hotel manager resume. Here's my shortlist of the best hotel management courses I think are worth your time in 2024:
- Hotel Management: Distribution, Revenue, and Demand Management Specialization (ESSEC Business School)
- Hospitality Management (eCornell)
- Hotel Management Diploma (OHSC)
- Online - Hospitality & Hotel Management Program (Institute of Culinary Education)
- Hotel Revenue Management (eCornell)
- Hotel Management- F&B Cost Control & Audit Process (Udemy)
- Hotel Management - Revenue Management for Beginners (Udemy)
- Hotel Valuation and Performance (Les Roches)
- Hotel Front Desk (Udemy)
- Hotel Management - Analyse & Interpret Financial Statements (Udemy)
- Hospitality Management Studies - Hotel Operations (Alison)
- Foundations of Hotel Budgeting and Forecasting (Starweaver)
- Effective Service Innovation by Design in Hotel Management (Starweaver)
- Mastering Hotel Financials (Starweaver)
Enrolling in a hotel management course can significantly improve your hotel manager skill set and prepare you for leadership positions. Find more details about each course below.
Best Hotel Management Course Overviews
1. Hotel Management: Distribution, Revenue and Demand Management Specialization (ESSEC Business School)
This specialization covers comprehensive tactics for managing hotel distribution, revenue, and customer demand. It integrates theory with practical tools to boost hotel performance across various distribution channels.
- Who It’s For: Hotel revenue managers and business developers in the hospitality sector
- Topics Covered:
- Distribution channel analytics
- Revenue management
- Demand forecasting
- Strategic pricing
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? Yes
- Duration: 1 month
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 10 hours a week
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free for trial, fees apply for certification
- Take The Course: Coursera
2. Hospitality Management (eCornell)
This course offers insights into strategic management and operational efficiencies in hospitality, from hiring your own hotel staff to guest satisfaction. eCornell's course provides an in-depth look at management practices and strategic thinking necessary for leadership roles in hospitality.
The faculty for the Hospitality Management course at eCornell includes distinguished educators such as Kate Walsh, Dean and Professor; Steven Carvell, a Professor of Finance; Scott Gibson, a finance expert; Sheryl Kimes, Professor Emeritus known for her expertise in revenue management; and more.
- Who It’s For: Current and aspiring managers in the hospitality sector
- Topics Covered:
- Marketing and promotional strategies
- Revenue and yield management
- Effective customer service techniques
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 3 months
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 3 to 5 hours per week
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $3,750
- Take The Course: eCornell
3. Hotel Management Diploma (OHSC)
This diploma provides comprehensive insights into hotel management, including operational and leadership aspects crucial for managing modern hotel operations. It is designed to build foundational skills for effective hotel management.
- Who It’s For: Individuals aiming to enter the hotel industry or those currently working in hospitality looking to advance their hotel management career
- Topics Covered:
- Hotel front office operations
- Housekeeping management
- Food and beverage management
- Human resources in hospitality
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: Self-paced (typically several months)
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 620 hours
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: £ 9.99 (discounted price)
- Take The Course: Oxford Home Study Centre
4. Online - Hospitality and Hotel Management (Institute of Culinary Education)
This program focuses on the broader aspects of hospitality management, offering skills in operational management, strategic planning, and leadership, essential for managing hospitality establishments effectively. It combines culinary and hospitality management education, offering practical and theoretical knowledge for managing hospitality establishments.
- Who It’s For: Individuals looking to ascend to management roles within the hospitality industry
- Topics Covered:
- Strategic management and planning
- Operational control in hospitality settings
- Leadership development for hospitality managers
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? Information not specified
- Duration: 8 or 12 months
- How Many Hours Of Instruction:
- 8 months: 4 hours for 5 times a week
- 12 months: 3 hours for 3 days a week; or 4 hours for 4 days a week
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Not specified
- Take The Course: Institute of Culinary Education
5. Hotel Revenue Management (eCornell)
Designed by experts from Cornell University's prestigious School of Hotel Administration, this course focuses on the key revenue management strategies within the hotel sector, helping professionals increase financial performance through better pricing and inventory management.
- Who It’s For: Hotel managers, revenue managers, and professionals in related fields looking to deepen their expertise in revenue optimization
- Topics Covered:
- Strategic and tactical revenue management
- Pricing strategies and demand forecasting
- Overbooking practices and distribution channel management
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: Detailed duration not provided, but includes multiple modules
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Information not specified
- Eligibility Requirements: Prior completion of specific related courses or equivalent experience is recommended.
- Price: $3750
- Take The Course: eCornell
6. Hotel Management- Food & Beverage and General Cost Control (Udemy)
Udemy offers this course focusing on cost control within the hotel management sphere, particularly in the food and beverage department, aiming to improve profitability and reduce wastage.
- Who It’s For: Hotel management professionals and those in the hospitality industry seeking to improve their cost control skills
- Topics Covered:
- Effective management of food and beverage operations
- Cost control techniques
- General hotel cost management
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Varies, often discounted
- Take The Course: Udemy
7. Hotel Management - Revenue Management for Beginners (Udemy)
This course provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of revenue management in the hospitality industry. It covers basic strategies and tools needed to understand and maximize revenue generation in hotels.
- Who It’s For: Beginners in the hospitality field or those new to revenue management
- Topics Covered:
- Fundamental principles of revenue management
- Basic strategies and applications in hospitality
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Varies
- Take The Course: Udemy
8. Hotel Valuation and Performance (Les Roches)
Les Roches provides this specialized course aimed at enhancing skills in evaluating hotel performance and valuation. This advanced hotel management course provides methodologies and tools for assessing hotel performance and valuation, which is crucial for financial analysts and hotel investors.
- Who It’s For: Senior hospitality managers, investors, and financial analysts involved in hotel valuation and performance assessments
- Topics Covered:
- Techniques for hotel valuation
- Performance metrics analysis
- Financial decision-making in the hotel industry
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 8 to 12 study hours per week; Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: Designed for professionals with experience in hotel management or investment
- Price: See the course page for the current pricing
- Take The Course: Les Roches
9. Hotel Front Desk (Udemy)
This course teaches comprehensive skills for managing hotel front desk operations, from guest check-ins to advanced communication tasks. It helps hotel managers understand financial statements, providing skills to analyze financial health and make informed business decisions.
- Who It’s For: Front desk personnel and hotel managers
- Topics Covered:
- Guest check-in procedures
- Room assignment and management
- Operational reporting techniques
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: Self-paced
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Varies
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Varies, often discounted
- Take The Course: Udemy
10. Hotel Management - Analyse & Interpret Financial Statementss (Udemy)
The course focuses on financial analysis and performance metrics in the hotel industry to improve fiscal management and profitability. It offers an overview of hotel operations, focusing on enhancing service quality and operational efficiency in the hospitality industry.
- Who It’s For: Hotel managers and financial analysts
- Topics Covered:
- Financial metrics analysis
- Revenue management
- Cost control strategies
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 3 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Varies, often discounted
- Take The Course: Udemy
11. Hospitality Management Studies - Hotel Operations Revised (Alison)
This online course is a great idea if you're thinking of becoming a hotel manager, offering foundational knowledge on the workings of hotel operations, emphasizing customer service and daily management tasks. This course introduces the fundamentals of budgeting and forecasting in hotels, teaching financial planning techniques to optimize profitability.
- Who It’s For: Beginners in hotel management
- Topics Covered:
- Overview of hotel operations
- Customer service techniques
- Daily management activities
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 1.5 to 3 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: Alison
12. Foundations of Hotel Budgeting and Forecasting (Starweaver)
This course provides an introduction to budgeting and financial forecasting within the hotel industry. It teaches essential skills for financial planning and analysis to optimize hotel profitability and efficiency.
- Who It’s For: Financial planners and hotel managers
- Topics Covered:
- Budgeting techniques
- Financial forecasting methods
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 9 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 3 weeks at 3 hours a week; Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free; certificate for a fee
- Take The Course: Coursera
13. Effective Service Innovation by Design in Hotel Management (Starweaver)
This course offers a deep dive into service innovation within the hotel industry, focusing on applying design thinking to enhance guest experiences. It integrates theoretical knowledge with practical applications to transform services in hospitality settings.
- Who It’s For: Hotel managers and service designers looking to innovate and improve guest satisfaction
- Topics Covered:
- Design thinking in services
- Techniques for service innovation
- Case studies from leading hotels
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 8 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 3 weeks at 2 hours a week; Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free for trial, with fee for a certificate
- Take The Course: Coursera
14. Mastering Hotel Financials (Starweaver)
This online course is tailored to provide a comprehensive understanding of financial management in the hospitality industry. It covers essential financial principles and practices to optimize hotel profitability and efficiency.
- Who It’s For: Hotel financial managers, accountants, and anyone involved in the financial operations of hospitality establishments
- Topics Covered:
- Financial statements analysis
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Revenue management
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 8 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 3 weeks at 2 hours a week; Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free for trial, with fee for a certificate
- Take The Course: Coursera
What's Next?
One of my most popular hotel management tips is: Look to experts to learn about new trends, technologies, and techniques. Reading hospitality management books is a great way to do this. You can learn about tried-and-true hotel management methods, pick up fresh and exciting trends and tricks, and even learn a new skill or further hone an existing one.
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