Steady growth in travel will provide average job growth and very good job opportunities for lodging managers. However, those seeking jobs at hotels with the highest level of guest services will face strong competition.

Employment change. Employment of lodging managers is expected to grow 12 percent from 2006 to 2016, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. Steady business travel and increased domestic and foreign tourism will drive job growth. The many new hotels being planned or built will need lodging managers to run them. In 2007 alone, over 600 new hotels will open. Many of these will be located in suburbs where population and business activity are growing fastest. Most of these new hotels, however, will offer limited services and will not have large staffs or need many managers, somewhat moderating job growth. Some lodging places also do not require a manager to be available 24 hours a day; instead front desk clerks assume some managerial duties at night. Still, there are expected to be a significant number of full-service hotels built, including resort, casino, and luxury hotels, which should generate many additional job openings for experienced managers and management trainees.

Job prospects. In addition to job openings from employment growth, additional job openings are expected to occur as experienced managers leave the labor force or transfer to other occupations, in part because of the long hours and stressful working conditions. Job opportunities are expected to be good for people with good customer service skills and experience in the food service or hospitality industries. People with a college degree in hotel or hospitality management are expected to have the best opportunities at upscale and luxury hotels.

Most lodging managers work in the traveler accommodation industry, including hotels and motels, although they can work for any business that provides room or shelter for people. Companies that manage hotels under contract also employ managers. Lodging managers held about 71,000 jobs in 2006. The majority of lodging managers—54 percent—were self-employed, primarily as owners of small hotels and bed-and-breakfast inns.

For information on careers and scholarships in hotel management, contact:

• American Hotel and Lodging Association, 1201 New York Ave. NW., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005.

Information on careers in the lodging industry and professional development and training programs may be obtained from:

• Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, 800 N. Magnolia Ave., Suite 1800, Orlando, FL 32853. Internet: http://www.ei-ahla.org

For information on educational programs in hotel and restaurant management, including correspondence courses, write to:

• International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education, 2810 North Parham Rd., Suite 230, Richmond, VA 23294. Internet: http://www.chrie.org