Due to readily available jobs and the economic benefit to the community, hospitality is an important industry. It is tremendously varied so whether you choose to work in hotels, catering, events or nightlife, there are hundreds of roles on offer, with many candidates choosing to stay in this sector long term. In order to be successful in this industry there are a core set of skills that you will need to possess as hospitality is all about providing outstanding service and leaving customers with a smile on their face.
The most important of these skills is excellent customer service. Above all else, the one thing that can make or break you in hospitality is your ability to meet customer expectations. Whether you are simply serving drinks or running an entire hotel, it is your role to ensure that your customers are happy with the service they are receiving and having a great time. Being polite, professional and positive are the key elements of good service.
If you plan on working in a front-facing role in hospitality, then you’ll be required to interact and assist people on a regular basis. For this reason, you must possess interpersonal skills such as empathy, active listening, negotiation and conflict resolution. These social skills will prove very useful when you’re dealing with distraught or angry customers, as they will allow you to de-escalate difficult situations and address their concerns in a way that will result in customers feeling satisfied with the outcome.