Hospitality Job Description: Titles & Skill Sets

Key Takeaways

• Understanding hospitality job titles like “Travel Customer Service Representative” or "Guest Relations Manager" helps you target positions that match your career goals and experience level.
• Pay attention to specific language in hospitality job postings to fully understand the role's expectations and required qualifications.
• Developing essential hospitality skills including communication, problem-solving, and technical systems knowledge will make you a stronger candidate for those relevant roles.
• TTEC offers a variety of hospitality and customer service positions, making it easier to find a role that matches your unique skill set and experience level.

Hospitality & Customer Service Jobs Are on the Rise

The hospitality and customer service world is buzzing again - hotels, restaurants, and support centers are hiring like crazy. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were over 1.6 million job openings in leisure and hospitality alone, as of early 2025.  

With travel and spending going up, companies need friendly faces and helpful voices more than ever. If you’re a people person, it’s a great time to jump in!

10 Common Hospitality Job Titles

Now, let’s check out some of the common hospitality job titles and what they entail: 

1. Concierge 

If you love being the go-to person, this job’s for you. As a concierge, you’ll help guests get the most out of their stay—whether that’s scoring last-minute dinner reservations, recommending local hotspots, or arranging airport transfers. 

2. Hotel Manager

Oversees all hotel operations, including staff management, budget administration, policy implementation, and ensuring guest satisfaction and optimum customer service across all departments.

Hotel managers oversee everything—from front desk to housekeeping to budgets, staff, and starting new customer service policies. Your job is to make sure guests have a smooth, enjoyable stay and that the whole team is working in sync.

3. Executive Housekeeper

You’ll lead the housekeeping team and keep everything spotless. It’s your job to make sure rooms, lobbies, and common areas meet cleanliness standards, supplies are stocked, and guests walk into a fresh, clean space every time.

4. Travel Customer Service Representative

Think of this role as being a virtual travel consultant . You’ll help travelers book trips, make changes to their plans, handle insurance questions, and solve issues if anything goes wrong.

For example, as a Dutch-English Travel Customer Service in support of Booking.com working on-site at TTEC Athens, you’ll be a part of creating and delivering amazing customer experiences.

5. Food and Beverage Director

You’re in charge of all things food and drink—restaurant service, catering, in-room dining, you name it. You’ll manage staff, budgets, and vendors while making sure everything served lives up to high standards.

6. Chef (various levels)

Whether you’re prepping meals or designing the entire menu, as a chef, you’re the heart of the kitchen. You’ll lead the culinary team, ensure food safety, and create dishes guests can’t stop raving about.

7. Restaurant Manager

This role’s all about keeping things running smoothly. From scheduling staff and managing supplies to making sure guests are happy and coming back for more—you’re the one making the restaurant tick.

8. Event Coordinator

Love planning? As an event coordinator, you’ll organize weddings, conferences, parties, and more. You’ll work closely with clients and vendors to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.

9. Revenue Manager

You’ll be the numbers person behind the scenes, analyzing trends and setting room prices to bring in the most revenue. It’s all about knowing when to raise or lower rates to keep bookings flowing and profits high.

10. Guest Relations Manager

If you’re great with people and problem-solving, this is your jam. You’ll handle guest feedback, smooth over complaints, and come up with new ways to make the guest experience even better.

Check out all the hospitality and customer service jobs that are available at TTEC.

Essential Skill Sets in Hospitality

Interpersonal Skills

Connecting with people is a big part of the job – being friendly, patient, and a good listener goes a long way. Here are a few key interpersonal skills you’ll need:

• Communication: Clear verbal and written communication across diverse audiences, from guests to colleagues.
• Empathy: Understanding guest needs, sometimes before they're explicitly stated.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Respectfully interacting with guests from various cultural backgrounds.
• Conflict Resolution: Diffusing tense situations and finding acceptable solutions.
• Active Listening: Paying full attention to understand guest requests and concerns.
• Emotional Intelligence: Reading social cues and responding appropriately.
• Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with colleagues across departments.
• Adaptability: Adjusting approach based on guest personality and preferences.

Technical Skills

You don’t need to be a tech wizard, but knowing your way around booking systems and POS tools makes life easier. Here’s what to focus on:

• Property Management Systems (PMS): Proficiency in hotel management software
• Point of Sale (POS) Systems: For food service and retail operations
• Reservation Systems: Understanding booking platforms and distribution channels
• Revenue Management Software: For pricing optimization
• Digital Marketing Tools: Social media management and online reputation monitoring
• Financial Literacy: Budget management and financial reporting
• Foreign Languages: Particularly valuable in tourist destinations
• Food Safety Knowledge: Fundamental for food service positions
• Security Protocols: Understanding emergency procedures and security systems

Crisis Management Abilities

Things go wrong sometimes - being calm and quick on your feet helps you solve problems without stressing out guests. Here are other crisis management abilities you should have:

• Calm Under Pressure: Maintaining composure during emergencies
• Quick Decision-Making: Resolving issues promptly with limited information
• Resource Allocation: Prioritizing actions during high-demand situations
• Emergency Response Knowledge: Understanding protocols for medical emergencies, natural disasters, or security threats
• De-escalation Techniques: Calming distressed or angry guests
• Contingency Planning: Developing backup plans for events or service disruptions
• Communication During Crisis: Clearly conveying information to guests and staff during emergencies

Join TTEC: A Global Leader in Customer Experience

TTEC is a customer experience innovator, we operate across 6 continents in countries such as Greece, Poland, and India, and employ over 55,000 individuals fluent in 50 languages. 

Our commitment to excellence is evident in our award-winning culture - from Stevie Awards to being certified as a Great Place to Work.

• A Shared Purpose:  You’re part of something bigger—our mission brings teams together and gives meaning to the work we do every day.
• Personal Growth: With access to over 10,000 training courses (yep, you read that right!), you’ll always have room to grow and level up.
• Deeper Connections: Work alongside awesome teammates who support each other, celebrate wins, and actually make work fun.
• Well-being: From mental health resources to wellness perks, your health—physical, emotional, and financial—is a real priority here.
• Agile Flexibility: TTEC offers agile work options so you can find that sweet spot between work and personal time.
• Engaging Environment: You’ll get everything you need—from helpful tech to an engaging workspace—to do your best work and feel confident doing it.
• Your Voice: Ideas, feedback, and fresh perspectives are always welcome. At TTEC, you're heard—and that really makes a difference.

Check out exciting hospitality job opportunities at TTEC and apply today!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are entry-level hospitality job titles?

Entry-level positions in hospitality include roles such as Front Desk Agent, Housekeeper, and Server. These positions often serve as stepping stones for more advanced roles within the industry. 

How can I transition from another industry into hospitality?

Focus on transferable skills like customer service, communication, and problem-solving when applying. Highlight relevant experience dealing with people, managing schedules, or handling high-pressure situations. 

Consider starting with positions that leverage your specific background—finance professionals might target revenue management, while those with retail experience could excel in customer services or sales roles.

What certifications are most valuable for hospitality career advancement?

Certifications from organizations like the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) or the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) can significantly boost your resume. 

For management-track positions, consider pursuing a Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) or Certified Hospitality Supervisor (CHS) credential. 

Language certifications and specialized training in areas like wine knowledge, event planning, or revenue management can also create advancement opportunities.

How flexible are hospitality work schedules typically?

Hospitality schedules vary widely by position and employer. Customer-facing roles usually require weekend and holiday availability, often with rotating shifts. 

However, many companies now offer compressed workweeks, fixed schedules, or self-scheduling options to improve work-life balance. 

Back-office positions like sales, marketing, and finance typically follow more standard business hours, while management roles often require flexible availability.

What types of hospitality and customer service careers does TTEC offer?

TTEC provides diverse hospitality and customer service roles like customer service reps and travel support consultants.