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 General Manager is ultimately the person responsible for making an establishment successful. 

General Managers make sure that the establishment lives up to a standard of service the guests expect, deal with customer feedback, and ensure that relevant laws and business procedures (accounting, for example) are followed. General Managers also develop high-level strategic decision-making, staff training and the management, ensuring they comply with hygiene, health and safety regulations.

In larger establishments, there might be a number of managers and/or assistants reporting to the General Manager, such as a front office manager, or a personnel manager. Together they have regular management meetings, in which they discuss challenges and possible solutions.

The General Manager checks progress on projects that other managers are doing and authorises any special actions that need to be taken. He/she gets a good idea of how well the business is doing through regular meetings with staff, and from talking to guests. Big Hotel chains with many Hotels usually have a head office where business strategies, policy and planning are overseen. General Managers in these Hotel Groups are then responsible for making sure that the Head office business plan is carried out effectively.

In a smaller Hospitality business, the General Manager might have to take a more hands-on approach. This may involve policy and strategy matters, recruiting, training and supervising staff, checking and ordering stock, and managing upkeep.

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.

Further Information

• General Manager - Hospitality - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• General Manager - Hospitality - from: GradIreland

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 need quite a lot of relevant work experience to be considered for a General Manager position. Although an academic qualification can boost your chances of getting the job, it is not always required on entry.This can be worked towards over time in tandem with experience. 

Typically, General 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 some time, but can be developed by studying Business, Hospitality operations & Management, or Marketing.

Some of the advantages of ‘working your way up’ is that you get great insight into different roles within the Hospitality sector. You also have a better understanding of the staff that you manage if you have worked in those roles yourself. 

Training & Development

FET Centre PLC Courses: Travel & Tourism, Hospitality Management. Business Administration & Marketing NFQ Level 5-6 Search PLC Courses 

Higher Education CAO Entry: Travel & Tourism, Hospitality Management. Business Administration & Marketing NFQ Level 6-8 Search CAO courses 

Post Graduate Course Options: Travel & Tourism, Hospitality Management. Business Administration & Marketing NFQ Level 9 Search Springboard Courses 

Professional Development 

As a General Manager, you need to have broad knowledge about: Staff management and Financial Administration, Health and safety regulations. It is important to keep yourself up-to-date on all these areas through some form of training and development.

Some Hotels offer structured training programmes for staff, and others may recommend specific courses. Professional organisations sometimes also offer Training or Networking opportunities: 

Irish Hospitality Institute

Irish Hotels Federation

Failte Ireland 

As a General Manager, you can develop your career further by progressing to manage more than one Hotel, as an area manager, or you may even decide to open your own Hotel one day!

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €80k - €140k

Salaries vary by employer, duties, role, experience, and location. Salaries may also be supplemented by performance bonus.

Data Source(s):
Excel Recruitment/ indeed/ Glassdoor

Last Updated: August, 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

• Irish Self Catering Federation

  • +353 (0) 47 32042
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here