Some hotel groups are geared towards the higher end of the market. They focus on offering premium luxury accommodations and services to the more discerning traveler. A certain amount of cache comes with working for a high-end hotel group, as well as better compensation and benefits. Here are some of the most luxurious hotel groups you can work for today.

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What is the Hotel Industry?

The hotel industry is part of the overall service industry. It’s the sector that deals with providing accommodations and lodgings. As well as hotels, the hotel industry also includes other types of accommodation, including motels, hostels, guest houses, and inns. To succeed in the hotel and hospitality industry, a hotel must offer comfortable accommodations and a positive overall experience. The decor, atmosphere, and services on offer must all meet the customer base’s needs and be in keeping with current hotel trends. For luxury hotels, that means providing the very best in every aspect of a guest’s stay. With a group, the parent organization needs to ensure that each branded hotel (whether directly owned or part of a franchise) meets its standards and is in keeping with the overarching brand identity. A business in the hotel industry relies on quality staff to maintain standards.

What is a Hotel Group?

A hotel group is an organization that operates or manages several different hotels. It can be a chain of hotels belonging to one company, or the hotels can operate as independent franchises under the auspices of a particular group. Hotels belonging to a group have marketing unanimity and a distinctive market presence. Hotels connected to a specific group also have strong brand recognition and consistent branding across multiple properties. In contrast, independent hotels are owned by individuals or companies not part of a group.

How to Apply for a Position With a Hotel Group

To apply successfully with a hotel group, you need to start with education and training. It’s certainly possible to secure an entry-level position in the hotel industry if you don’t have specific qualifications and work your way up. However, it will be much easier if you gain appropriate training and experience. This is especially true of positions with luxury hotel chains that need skilled staff. When seeking opportunities, you can look at hotel job boards for positions that are currently being advertised. You can also approach hotels directly via their websites. Some hotels advertise jobs on their sites, or you could try applying on spec. LinkedIn and other professional networking platforms can be good places to find jobs.

What Are Some Luxurious Hotel Groups to Work for?

Luxury hotel groups offer unique opportunities for their staff. Job satisfaction and benefits are often very attractive as well as the opportunity to work in a high-end environment. Opportunities for training and advancement also tend to be more numerous. Here are some of the best luxury hotel groups you can work for.

Marriott International

Marriott is one of the best-known hotel groups in the hospitality industry. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, it controls almost 8,000 properties across 138 countries and territories worldwide, under 30 top hotel brands. The Marriott group offers plenty in the way of advancement opportunities, including training and personal development programs. In the US, Marriott International is noted for employing many veterans. Although entry-level wages are not among the highest, compensation improves with advancement. The group is also recognized for offering generous parental leave pay and promoting a healthy work-life balance for employees.

Click here to visit the website of Marriott International.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts

The Hilton Hotels & Resorts group has become a by-work for luxury accommodation. They offer high-end accommodation and services at 6,700 hotels and resorts close to the most prestigious destinations on six continents. The Hilton Hotels name has a history spanning over a century, welcoming over 3 billion guests during that time. This group boasts over a million rooms in more than 100 countries. As well as holding a high place on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for five years, the Hilton group is also recognized as offering great places to work. It was one of the World’s Best Workplaces in 2021.

Click here to visit the website of Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

Jinjiang International

This Chinese hotel group is unusual in that it’s state-owned. The Jin Jiang hospitality and tourism group operates several hotels and chains based in Shanghai. They own various properties in Shanghai, including Park Hotel, Peace Hotel, Metropole Hotel, and their namesake Jinjang Hotel. They operate other hotel chains, including Magnotel, Bestay Hotel Express, and Jinjang Inn. Various acquisitions by Jin Jiang International Hotels Development Co. in the US, Asia, and Europe have transformed this group into one of the largest in the world. Jin Jiang International offers a range of different roles in many different countries. They provide training and advancement, including the Sino-Swiss Les Roches Jin Jiang International Hotel Management College, where operational staff and senior executives can receive specialized training.

Click here to visit the website of Jinjiang International.

Accor

The French-owned Accor hotel and hospitality group operates across 110 countries, with 5,200 properties and 10,000 food and drink venues. While the Accor group has focused more on the luxury sector, it also owns midscale and economy brands. The diversity of the Accor portfolio — taking in hotels, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs — creates an exciting range of career opportunities. Accor operates a comprehensive loyalty program that allows regular guests to enjoy various services and experiences. The group’s focus on ethics in business, responsible tourism, sustainability, and engagement with the community makes it attractive to many applicants, as does its stated commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Click here to visit the website of Accor.

Best Western Hotels & Resorts

The Best Western Hotel group (Best Western International, Inc.) owns the Best Western Hotels & Resorts brand. A franchise-based group, Best Western licenses its brand to over 2,000 properties in North America and more than 4,700 hotels globally. The franchise operates in more than 100 countries and includes 18 brands. It has operated since 1946, with hotels from more and more nations joining the system over the decades. The group launched Best Western Premier across Europe and Asia in 2002. Best Western’s hotels have won multiple awards, and the group prides itself on offering high-quality accommodation to travelers of all stripes.

Click here to visit the website of Best Western Hotels & Resorts.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is a franchise hotel group headquartered in New Jersey. With a portfolio incorporating 20 brands and over 9000 locations, Wyndham claims to be the world’s biggest hotel franchisor. Brands controlled by Wyndham include the budget Super 8, Travelodge, and Ramada Inn, and premium and luxury hotels such as Wyndham and Howard Johnson. As well as hotels, Wyndham also manages timeshare properties and provides vacation exchange services via its Club Wyndham, WorldMark, and Panorama brands. The Wyndham Travel + Leisure Group also offers travel products such as subscription travel services.

Click here to visit the website of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

Intercontinental Hotels Group

InterContinental Hotels Group plc. is a British hotel and hospitality group. It markets as IHG Hotels & Resorts. It is headquartered in Buckinghamshire, England, and maintains various overseas offices. IHG directly owns a handful of hotels, with the majority of the 5,600 plus IHG hotels operating as franchises and a small percentage independently owned. Operating across almost 100 countries and with nearly 843,000 guest rooms, IHG is one of the largest and most successful hotel companies worldwide. The workforce is huge, with some 350,000 employees. The company’s motto is “True Hospitality for Good”.

Video: InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG®) Corporate Movie

 

Click here to visit the website of Intercontinental Hotels Group.

Red Lions Corporation

Red Lion Hotels Corporation trades as RLH Corporation, a US hotel and hospitality group. They own, manage and franchise a range of hotels in the economy, midscale, and luxury tiers. They operate under eight different brands. RLH has more than 1,400 properties in over 900 locations throughout the US and Canada. Although they focus on affordability and convenience, they operate high-end accommodations under their Signature Inn brand. RLH offers nightly accommodation and extended stay options, catering for solo travelers and groups alike. Red Lion was acquired by Sonesta in 2020.

Click here to visit the website of Red Lions Corporation.

OYO Rooms

OYO Rooms, aka OYO Hotels & Homes, operates hotels, holiday homes, and other rental properties. It was founded in India in 2013, by Ritesh Agarwal. Traveling through India in his teens, Agarwal noted a dearth of affordable quality accommodation. OYO was founded to fill this gap in India’s hospitality sector. OYO originally focused on the budget hotel tier, then expanded into midscale, premium, and luxury accommodations. They now operate globally, with properties across more than 80 countries. They now offer a range of accommodations to suit many different types of travelers across various budgets.

Click here to visit the website of OYO Rooms.

Huazhu Hotels Group

Working with AccorHotels, the Huazhu Hotels Group has expanded its hotel franchise chain across mainland China, Mongolia, and Taiwan since 2014. By 2012 they had over 1,000 properties in China alone and now own around 4,300. The company started life in 2007 as Powerhill, becoming Huazu in 2007. The group’s portfolio now includes over 20 brands and is a major presence in the region’s hospitality sector. The founder, Jì Qí, has mentioned that he was inspired to start his company after reading a book about Accor. Operating with AccorHotels has been very favorable for the group, which has benefitted from AccorHotel’s expertise in accommodation and the travel industry.

Click here to visit the website of Huazhu Hotels Group.

Tips for Finding Hotel Manager Jobs

Have you ever dreamed of managing a hotel? Perhaps you’re already a hotel manager looking for new opportunities. In this article, you’ll learn how to find attractive positions and the ins and outs of becoming a successful hotel manager. You’ll discover the training and skills you need, what the job entails, and how to succeed in the role. In “Tips to Find Your Next Hotel Manager Job”, you’ll find out how to get the training you need, find openings, and craft the perfect application. Your next hotel manager job is waiting for you.

Find Your Next Hospitality Job

Are you interested in the hospitality industry but not sure where to start? It can be a little daunting when you first begin your job search. Whether you’re looking for a management role or simply seeking to get in on the ground floor with an entry-level position, this article will give you the head start you need. In “Hospitality Jobs: Overview of All Channels to Find Your Next Job”, you’ll gain useful background information on the hospitality industry. You’ll discover how to identify your dream role and which channels can help you discover openings in your desired location.

Novel hotel trends and new markets benefit luxury hotel groups, bringing in new visitors from many different parts of the world. Hotel marketing trends and customer bases may change, but the need for quality staff remains vital. Working for a luxury group can be rewarding and could be the perfect career for you.

More Tips to Grow Your Business

Revfine.com is a knowledge platform for the hospitality & travel industry. Professionals use our insights, strategies and actionable tips to get inspired, optimise revenue, innovate processes and improve customer experience. You can find all hotel & hospitality tips in the categories Revenue Management, Marketing & Distribution, Hotel Operations, Staffing & Career, Technology and Software.

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This article is written by:

Martijn Barten

Hi, I am Martijn Barten, founder of Revfine.com. With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, I specialize in optimizing revenue by combining revenue management with marketing strategies. I have successfully developed, implemented, and managed revenue management and marketing strategies for individual properties and multi-property portfolios.