Course Overview.
A hotel can be described as a commercial establishment providing meals, accommodations and other services for travellers and tourists on a paid short term basis. A restaurant a closely related term can be described as a place or business where people pay to sit and eat meals that are cooked and served on the premises. Hotel and restaurant management therefore can be described as a profession concerned with management of hotels and restaurants. Professionals in this field may be referred to as hotel managers or restaurant managers among other titles. Hotel & restaurant managers oversee the management of hotels and restaurants to ensure efficient operation and that customers are satisfied with the quality of food and service they receive. Their work entails overseeing all aspects of running hotels and restaurants, from housekeeping and general maintenance to budget management and marketing among other areas.
Bachelor of Technology in Hotel and Restaurant Management is a four year programme that has been developed to train internationally competent practitioners and managers in the hotel industry. Students of the course will be equipped with management skills, financial knowledge and problem-solving abilities required to oversee the staff and ensure efficient and smooth operations at hotels and restaurants. In addition students will be trained on other core topics which include; food preparation methods & techniques, hotels & restaurant menu design & management, hotel front desk management, fundamentals of accounting, strategic marketing among other areas. Upon successful completion of the course, the graduates will have the skills and knowledge to manage hotels and restaurants establishment. Career opportunities open to graduates of the course include working in; Resorts, Management of Hotels, Restaurants, County Clubs, Lodges, Entertainment Clubs, Airline Services, Hospitals, Cruise Ships, Education and Research Institutions among other areas. Graduates can also start their own businesses.
Entry Qualifications.
For self sponsored students, at least a mean grade of C+ in KCSE. For Government sponsored students, the minimum cut point which is announced annually applies. The students should in addition have good performance in the following cluster subjects; Subject 1 ENG/KIS, Subject 2 MAT A / MAT B, Subject 3 any GROUP II or any GROUP III, Subject 4 a GROUP II or a GROUP III or any GROUP IV or any GROUP V.
Becoming a Restaurant Manager.
If you are passionate about the food service industry and that good food combined with great service is important to you, then pursuing this course might be a good choice for you. In addition, you should be prepared to develop skills that can enable you grow and succeed in this profession.
Hotel and restaurant managers have got excellent motivational skills that enable them to motivate and manage staff for efficient operation of hotels. Hotel managers must have good customer-service skills when dealing with guests as satisfying guests’ needs is critical to a hotel’s success and helps to ensure customer loyalty. Working in this field may require working odd hours besides the urgency to meet strict deadlines, managers in this field must therefore have the ability to keep calm under pressure. Good budgeting skills are equally important as hotel managers must have the ability to work accurately with figures and manage a budget.
These professionals also have good leadership skills to establish good working relationships with others and ensure a productive work environment. They are also good communicators with good interpersonal skills as they are constantly greeting and speaking to guests, managing staff members, making phone calls and addressing any complaints or problems. Good Listening skills are crucial to enable the manager’s address the needs of clients and to take the appropriate course of action, ensuring guests’ satisfaction.
Work environment.
Graduates of this course may work in hotels and related establishments working around the clock, morning, evening and weekend.
Career opportunities
Graduates of this course can find employment in the hotels and tourism industry. They can take leading roles in; Resorts, Management of Hotels, Restaurants, County Clubs, Lodges, Entertainment Clubs, Airline Services, Hospitals, Cruise Ships, Education and Research Institutions among other areas. They can also start their own businesses.
You may explore these courses
Bachelor of Technology in Institutional Catering and Accommodation
Bachelor of Catering & Hotel Management
Bachelor of Science in Food Service and Hospitality Management
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality & Tourism Management
Bachelor of Travel and Tours Operations Management