Careers in the accommodation industry

Saskatchewan has more than 1,200 hotels, motels, bed and breakfast and campground accommodations throughout the province. Jobs available to those interested in the accommodation industry are varied and diverse. Jobs range from those in large full-service and accommodation-only hotels and motels in many communities to small bed and breakfasts, campgrounds and lodges in remote communities.

Sample Careers

Lodge Owner/Manager

The lodge manager is responsible for maintaining the smooth operation of a lodge complex. This may mean a fly-in only, all-inclusive experience where self-sufficiency is the norm or a more accessible hunting, fishing or eco experience where guests drive in.

Lodge managers provide leadership to staff, maintain lodge facilities, ensure safety standards and provide an exceptional level of hospitality to meet and exceed customer expectations. Essential aspects of the job include customer relations, financial management, sales and marketing, operations management and administration. Lodge management may be a seasonal position in the summer months, although sales and marketing activities continue all year.

A high school diploma or equivalent, combined with several years of experience working in different areas of a lodge complex, is a minimum requirement. A degree, diploma or certificate in hotel administration, hospitality, marketing, tourism or business is an asset.

Training and certification:

• emerit Small Business Owner / Operator
• Tourism Saskatchewan - Customer Service Training (Service Best)
• Saskatchewan Polytechnic – Business Certificate
• University of Saskatchewan, Edwards School of Business – Business Certificate / Degree
• St. John Ambulance and Red Cross - First Aid, CPR, Wilderness First Aid
• Saskatchewan Health - Food Safe or approved safe food handling program
• WHMIS
• Other programs in outdoor recreation, hotel management and business.

Campground Operator

Campground operators manage federal, provincial, regional and private campgrounds in a safe and professional manner. The duties of campground managers are diverse, requiring both people skills and mechanical know-how. Much of the work is outdoors and the seasonal nature of campgrounds generally allows for different opportunities during the off season. Some operators take the winter off, some have a different winter career and others operate their campgrounds in winter.

A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Post secondary programs in tourism or business are an asset and in some cases are required. First aid, wilderness first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other safety-related training are highly recommended and sometimes mandatory.

Training and certification:

• Tourism Saskatchewan - Customer Service Training (Service Best)
• Saskatchewan Polytechnic – Business Certificate
• University of Saskatchewan, Edwards School of Business – Business Certificate/ Degree
• St. John Ambulance and Red Cross – First Aid, CPR, Wilderness First Aid
• WHMIS
• Other programs in parks and recreation management

Bed and Breakfast Owner/Operator

An owner/operator of a bed and breakfast directs and manages all the daily and long-term operations required to meet customers’ needs. This position offers the opportunity to work flexible hours and meet new people. The number one priority of bed and breakfast owner/operators is ensuring the enjoyment and comfort of customers and owner/operators have the ability to do this creatively in their homes.

A diploma or degree, or experience in business, tourism, marketing or hotel management is useful. Training in first aid, food safety and small business management are all assets.

Training and certification:

• emerit Small Business Owner / Operator
• Tourism Saskatchewan - Customer Service Training (Service Best)
• Saskatchewan Polytechnic – Hotel and Restaurant Management Diploma
• Saskatchewan Polytechnic – Business Certificate
• University of Saskatchewan, Edwards School of Business – Business Certificate / Degree
• St. John Ambulance and Red Cross - First Aid and CPR
• Saskatchewan Health - Food Safe or approved safe food handling program
• WHMIS
• Other programs in business and hotel management

Hotel General Manager

Hotel general managers need to excel at motivating employees, while constantly monitoring, evaluating and adjusting all aspects of daily hotel operations. Effective hotel general managers ensure that business runs smoothly and generates profit. Hotels come in many sizes, service levels and locations, requiring hotel general managers to be flexible and willing to fulfill multiple roles when required.

A university degree or college diploma in hotel management or other related discipline is usually required for managers employed by hotel chains or large accommodation properties. Several years of experience within the hotel industry are usually required and may substitute for formal education requirements.

Training and certification:

• emerit Hotel General Manager
• Tourism Saskatchewan - Customer Service Training (Service Best)
• Saskatchewan Polytechnic – Hotel and Restaurant Management Diploma
• WHMIS
• Other programs in hotel management and hospitality

Director of Housekeeping

Directors of housekeeping coordinate teams of attendants to thoroughly clean bedrooms and public spaces to deliver high quality customer experiences. They adopt strategies to reduce energy and water consumption. They implement strategies to optimize the operation of the properties while meeting customers’ expectations. Calm, courteous, organized and hardworking by nature, housekeeping supervisors are also excellent communicators. They recruit, hire, train and retain qualified, committed employees.

A high school diploma or equivalent is usually required. A certificate, diploma or degree in hospitality management, hotel management or business administration is an asset.

Extensive experience working in the housekeeping department may substitute for formal education requirements. Most directors of housekeeping obtain their job skills through experience as housekeeping room attendants.

Training and certification:

• emerit Director of Housekeeping
• Tourism Saskatchewan - Customer Service Training (Service Best)
• Saskatchewan Polytechnic – Hotel and Restaurant Management Diploma
• WHMIS
• Other programs in hotel management and hospitality

Housekeeping Room Attendant

Housekeeping room attendants are key players in any accommodation property’s success. They provide for the comfort of customers in hotels, motels, resorts and lodges by ensuring that public areas are clean and properly presented. A housekeeping room attendant promotes a positive image of the property to customers and knows how to quickly clean and sanitize a room. Happy customers mean good reviews, repeat visits and positive word of mouth advertising.

A high school diploma or equivalent is preferred.

Training and certification:

• emerit Housekeeping Room Attendant
• Tourism Saskatchewan – Customer Service Training (Service Best)
• WHMIS
• St. John Ambulance and Red Cross – First Aid and CPR

Front Desk Agent

Front desk agents provide many customer services. Often a customer’s first impression is the result of the front desk agent’s skills and abilities. Front desk agents work in the lobby or reception areas of hotels, motels and other accommodation facilities. The position is challenging and varied and offers the opportunity to work flexible hours and meet many new people. Front desk agents are knowledgeable about their property and amenities as well as tourism attractions in the surrounding area. The way front desk agents interact, engage with and support customers can turn good visits into great experiences.

A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Post secondary training in tourism or hotel management is an asset.

Training and certification:

• emerit Front Desk Agent
• Saskatchewan Polytechnic – Hotel and Restaurant Management Diploma
• Tourism Saskatchewan – Customer Service Training (Service Best)

Front Desk Manager

The front desk manager directly supervises all front office personnel and ensures proper completion of all front office duties. The front desk manager directs and coordinates the activities of the front desk, reservation, customer services and telephone areas. The front desk manager prepares daily and monthly reports and creates the budget for the front office department.

A high school diploma or equivalent is usually required. A certificate, diploma or degree in hospitality management, hotel management or business administration is an asset. Extensive experience working as a front desk agent may substitute for formal education requirements. Most front desk managers obtain their job skills through experience working various positions within the front office.

Training and certification:

• emerit Hotel General Manager
• Saskatchewan Polytechnic – Hotel and Restaurant Management Diploma
• Tourism Saskatchewan - Customer Service Training (Service Best)
• Other programs in hospitality and hotel management

Sales Manager

A sales manager develops and fosters business through proactive direct sales, marketing, telemarketing, direct mail, appointment calls and tours of the hotel. A sales manager develops strategic action plans for hotels to drive measurable, incremental sales revenue.

A high school diploma or equivalent is usually required. A certificate, diploma or degree in hospitality management, hotel management or business administration is an asset. Extensive experience working in a hotel property may substitute for formal education requirements. Many sales managers obtain their job skills through experience working various positions within the front office.

Training and certification:

• emerit Sales Manager
• Saskatchewan Polytechnic – Hotel and Restaurant Management Diploma
• Tourism Saskatchewan - Customer Service Training (Service Best)
• Various programs outside of Saskatchewan in hospitality and hotel management

Reservation Sales Agent

Reservation sales agents assist customers with booking hotel rooms, car rentals, flights and a host of other services typically in the hospitality, entertainment or transportation industries. They interact with customers in person, online or by telephone to answer questions, make suggestions and book reservations. These agents work flexible schedules that often include evenings, weekends and holidays due to the round the clock nature of the industry.

Reservation sales agents usually report to a manager but perform most of their work with minimal supervision. People with positive, friendly attitudes who love to multi-task and stay organized make successful reservation sales agents.

A high school diploma or equivalent is usually required. Employers often provide on-the-job training, but experience working with the public or in sales is preferred. Some agencies require a college diploma or certificate in hospitality or tourism. The ability to speak more than one language is an asset. Organizational and communication skills are required. Patience, problem-solving skills and computer skills are required.

Training and certification:

• emerit Reservation Sales Agent
• Tourism Saskatchewan – Customer Service Training (Service Best)

Guest Services Representative Journeyperson

Guest Services Representative journeypersons are highly trained and qualified front-line professionals. They are capable of performing all of the duties of a front desk agent and reservation sales agent as well as taking a broad range of responsibility as supervisors, workplace mentors and job coaches.

Guest Services Representative journeypersons require 3,600 hours of workplace experience for completion of trade certification with the following industry credentials:

• Two Professional Certifications – Front Desk and Reservation Sales Agent
• Service Best customer service training or an equivalent customer service program that includes testing
• Tourism Visitor Information Counsellor - performance review
• Housekeeping Room Attendant – performance review
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) certification
• 100 night audit hours
• Workplace Trainer
• Standard First Aid and CPR “A”

Training and certification:

• emerit Front Desk Agent, Reservation Sales Agent, Performance Reviews
• Tourism Saskatchewan - Customer Service Training (Service Best), Workplace Trainer
• WHMIS
• St. John Ambulance and Red Cross – First Aid and CPR
• All certifications required for trade certification are available in Saskatchewan

Need more information?

Tourism Saskatchewan's Guide to Tourism Careers in Saskatchewan provides detailed descriptions of 45 career opportunities out of the hundreds of occupations available in all five industries that make up the tourism sector of the economy. Each industry, covered in its own module, includes an overview, career profiles, main duties, recommended education and training. Each career description includes a personal feature about someone in Saskatchewan who is doing that work. A bonus module provides links to tourism training and post-secondary programs that support the professional development of tourism employees. Information is provided on programs available from Tourism Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Regina Industry Education Councils, Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Regina, as well as private colleges and trainers. This guide includes infographics showing the career progression journeys that are possible in culinary, international special events and hospitality.

Explore Tourism Careers is an interactive online presentation that provides teachers, career counsellors and high school students with an overview of the career opportunities available in the tourism sector in Saskatchewan. This short presentation explores four areas that answer students' and teachers' most-asked questions about building a successful tourism career.

These online resources always contain the most up-to-date information and are revised regularly.