Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

The Work

The front office is ‘the face’ of the hospitality establishment and is plays an important role in ensuring guest satisfaction. The front office, or reception, is the first and the last part of the hotel guests see, and the staff in it may be the only staff some guests interact with during their stay. In other words, they have the opportunity to sell some of the services and facilities of the hotel to the guests, and they are the ones answering questions and dealing with any problems.

It is no wonder then that hotels employ a manager with responsibility for that area!

Some of the duties a Front Office Manager performs on a daily basis may involve creating a welcoming environment for guests, leading team meetings, training up new staff and ensuring that health and safety procedures are followed. You may also deal with customer complaints and complex queries.

As it is a management role, a large part of the work involves supporting a team in performing their duties. It may also involve recruiting staff, training them and scheduling rotas. You will also meet regularly with general management and managers from other departments, such as the restaurant housekeeping departments. Keeping updated records of expenses and costs and following a budget are typical management duties too.

In small hotels, reservations, reception and porter duties are usually performed by one small front office team. In larger hotels, there may be a separate reservations team in a back office, or even in a separate building. If you are located in a front of house office, you also meet and greet guests regularly, and you ensure that a front desk is tidy and has all necessary stationery and material.

Every member of staff who deals with customers’ 'personal data', such as names and addresses, or who process payment card transactions, need to have some knowledge of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). It is the responsibility of the employer to give job-specific information on GDPR in their organisation. You can read more about data protection in the workplace here.  

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Answer inquiries pertaining to hotel policies and services, and resolve occupants' complaints.
• Participate in financial activities, such as the setting of room rates, the establishment of budgets, and the allocation of funds to departments.
• Confer and cooperate with other managers to ensure coordination of hotel activities.
• Greet and register guests.
• Monitor the revenue activity of the hotel or facility.
• Manage and maintain temporary or permanent lodging facilities.
• Train staff members.
• Observe and monitor staff performance to ensure efficient operations and adherence to facility's policies and procedures.
• Coordinate front-office activities of hotels or motels, and resolve problems.
• Inspect guest rooms, public areas, and grounds for cleanliness and appearance.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

You will generally need quite a lot of relevant work experience to be considered for a front office manager position. Although an academic qualification can boost your chances of getting the job, it is not always required.

Typically, front office managers have experience from working in the hospitality sector at lower levels. Working your way up from an entry level job to a management job may take a few years, but can be helped by studying management courses.

Courses in hospitality management are the most common, where you can expect to study both general business courses and specialised hospitality courses.

Training & Development

FET Centre Traineeship: Full & Part time courses in Business, Hospitality, Customer service and Supervisory Management NFQ level 5-6 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Hospitality, Travel & Tourism, Business management NFQ Level 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Higher Education CAO Entry: Hospitality Management, Travel & Tourism, Culinary Arts, Business & Management Search CAO courses

Professional Development 

As a front office manager, you can develop your career further by progressing to positions of even more responsibility, such as Duty or General manager.

Your best chance to progress on from a Front Office Manager position is by building up experience and by undertaking additional qualifications and training. There are both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in hospitality management which can help you progress in your career.

Postgraduate Study Options Hospitality Management, Travel & Tourism, Business & Management NFQ level 9

Professional organisations sometimes offer training or networking events, so check out:

Failte Ireland

Irish Hotels Federation

Restaurants Association of Ireland 

Catering Management Association of Ireland

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €38k - €80k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, and duties.

Data Source(s):
Excel Recruitment / Brightwater / Morgan McKinley/ Sigmar/ Collins McNicholas

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Despite a lower than average employment growth rate for this occupation over the five-year period, employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022 with an additional 5,700 persons employed, surpassing 2019 levels. Approximately a third working in these roles were non-Irish citizens, above the national average, and employment permits issued related to roles for restaurant managers, hotel, duty and accommodation managers.

Advertised vacancies in the OVATE data grew strongly (by nearly a third), albeit from a low base. Vacancies advertised through DSP Jobs Ireland were primarily for restaurant managers but also for managers in catering, food and beverage and hotel. The future demand for hospitality managers will depend on the performance of the different segments of the hospitality sector, with a greater requirement for restaurant managers likely compared to accommodation-related managers.

• Fáilte Ireland

  • Amiens Street, Dublin 1
  • (01) 884 7700
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish Hotels Federation

  • 13 Northbrook Road, Dublin 6
  • 01 497 6459
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish Hospitality Institute

  • 12 Priory Office Park, Stillorgan Rd, Co. Dublin
  • (01) 662 4790
  • Click Here