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Gerry MacPherson

Have you ever thought about opening your own hotel, resort or inn?

Do you know where to start?

If you are like many aspiring hospitality property owners, you hope to have a property that can operate like a well-oiled machine.

Well, opening a hospitality property (hotel, resort or inn), like any new business, can be more difficult than it might seem at first, especially if the international hotel industry is new to you and you lack the time or the technical skills to systematize your new property.

Read more

Have you ever thought about opening your own hotel, resort or inn?

Do you know where to start?

If you are like many aspiring hospitality property owners, you hope to have a property that can operate like a well-oiled machine.

Well, opening a hospitality property (hotel, resort or inn), like any new business, can be more difficult than it might seem at first, especially if the international hotel industry is new to you and you lack the time or the technical skills to systematize your new property.

  • I’ll take you through the process of finding the right location.

  • Show you how to design your management strategy.

  • Help you develop an operation manual and show you how it works.

  • And what you need to know about outsourcing?

  • Other business to take care of when opening a hotel, resort or inn

I have also included a “How to Open a Hotel, Resort or Inn” quiz, to ensure you get the most out of these tutorials.

The techniques you learn in these tutorials WILL save you many future problems, time and money.

These Tutorials include:

Easy to follow, step-by-step video tutorials, downloadable audio & PDF files, and any checklists applicable.

Do you want to operate a successful hotel, resort or inn? Then don’t hesitate. Sign up now.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Where to start when opening an independent hotel
  • You will learn how to choose the right location
  • How to set up an organizational strategy
  • How to create an operations manual

Syllabus

Learn how to set up a organizational strategy for a hotel, resort, or inn.
Who We Are
Where to Start
Your Organizational Strategy
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Guides learners through the process of finding the right location, which is a critical first step in launching a successful hospitality business
Shows learners how to design a management strategy, which is essential for the smooth operation of a hotel, resort, or inn
Helps learners develop an operations manual, which is a key tool for standardizing processes and ensuring consistency in service delivery
Explores the concept of outsourcing, which can be a valuable strategy for managing costs and accessing specialized expertise in the hospitality industry
Includes a quiz to ensure learners get the most out of the tutorials, reinforcing key concepts and promoting active learning
Requires learners to handle other businesses before opening a hospitality property, which may require additional research and preparation

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Reviews summary

Practical guide to opening a hospitality business

According to learners, this course provides a highly practical, step-by-step guide for aspiring hotel, resort, or inn owners. Students appreciate the focus on core operational elements, noting that the course helps them understand where to start and how to develop essential components like an operations manual. While the course offers a solid foundation, some reviewers suggest it could benefit from covering topics like marketing or financing in greater depth, indicating it's a strong starting point but may require additional study for a comprehensive business plan.
Provides a solid foundation for beginners.
"This course is an excellent introduction for anyone new to the idea of owning a hospitality property."
"As a beginner, I found the information accessible and easy to digest, giving me confidence to take the next step."
"It covers the essential basics well and serves as a strong foundation before diving into more complex areas."
Highlights the importance of key operational manual.
"Learning how to create and implement an operations manual was incredibly valuable and often overlooked in other resources."
"The section on the operations manual was a standout; it provided clear guidance on a crucial business document."
"Understanding the components of an operations manual and how it functions was a major takeaway for me."
Offers actionable steps for starting a business.
"The course lays out the process in a very practical, step-by-step manner that makes a daunting task feel manageable."
"I appreciated the logical flow from location to operations manual; it felt like I was being guided through the actual process."
"This course gave me the practical tools and strategies I needed to understand where to even begin opening my property."
Could expand on marketing or financial topics.
"While great on operations, I felt it didn't delve enough into crucial aspects like marketing or financing."
"It would be even more comprehensive if it included modules on securing funding and attracting guests."
"Needed more detail on the business plan side, beyond just the operational structure."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How to Open a Hotel, Resort or Inn with these activities:
Review 'Setting the Table' by Danny Meyer
Understand the importance of hospitality and customer service in the hotel industry.
View Setting the Table on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book 'Setting the Table'.
  • Identify key principles of hospitality discussed in the book.
  • Reflect on how these principles can be applied to your hotel's organizational strategy.
Review Basic Accounting Principles
Strengthen your understanding of financial management, which is essential for running a hotel.
Browse courses on Cost Accounting
Show steps
  • Review basic accounting concepts like balance sheets and income statements.
  • Practice calculating key financial ratios.
  • Familiarize yourself with hotel-specific accounting practices.
Develop a Sample Operations Manual Section
Gain practical experience in creating an operations manual, a key deliverable from the course.
Show steps
  • Choose a specific area of hotel operations (e.g., front desk, housekeeping).
  • Research best practices for that area.
  • Write a detailed section of the operations manual, including procedures and standards.
  • Get feedback from experienced hotel professionals.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a SWOT Analysis for a Hypothetical Hotel
Apply strategic thinking to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing a hotel.
Show steps
  • Choose a type of hotel (e.g., boutique hotel, resort).
  • Research the market and competitive landscape.
  • Identify the hotel's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
  • Document your analysis in a clear and concise report.
Attend a Hospitality Industry Conference or Webinar
Learn from industry experts and network with other professionals in the hospitality field.
Show steps
  • Search for upcoming hospitality conferences or webinars.
  • Register for an event that aligns with your interests.
  • Attend the event and take notes on key takeaways.
  • Connect with other attendees and speakers.
Review 'The Heart of Hospitality' by Micah Solomon
Deepen your understanding of customer service and leadership in the hospitality industry.
Show steps
  • Read the book 'The Heart of Hospitality'.
  • Identify key strategies for delivering exceptional customer service.
  • Reflect on how these strategies can be implemented in your hotel.
Develop a Checklist for Opening a Hotel
Consolidate your learning by creating a practical checklist for opening a hotel.
Show steps
  • Review the course materials and identify key steps in opening a hotel.
  • Organize the steps into a logical sequence.
  • Create a detailed checklist with specific tasks and deadlines.
  • Share your checklist with other aspiring hotel owners for feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete How to Open a Hotel, Resort or Inn will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Hotel Manager
A hotel manager is responsible for the daily operations of a hotel. This includes overseeing staff, managing budgets, and ensuring guest satisfaction. This course helps you address the specific challenges of launching a new property, which is valuable preparation for a hotel manager. Learning how to create an operations manual and choose the right location are crucial components of the course perfectly aligned with a manager position and its demands, which include systematizing the operations and making sure the property runs smoothly. If you wish to become a hotel manager, this course can provide you with insights on how to start from the ground up.
Resort Manager
A resort manager oversees all aspects of a resort's operations, from guest services to facility maintenance. This role requires the ability to develop comprehensive operational strategies, which is a focus of this course. A resort manager needs to create a smooth workflow, much like the course teaches about well-oiled operations. By learning about organizational strategy and operations manuals through this course, the aspiring resort manager can gain the confidence to manage the many moving parts of a resort. This course can help you develop and implement operational protocol.
Innkeeper
An innkeeper manages the daily operations of an inn, often with a hands-on approach that includes guest relations and overseeing staff. The skills learned in this course, such as location selection and developing an operations manual, are fundamental for anyone aspiring to be an innkeeper. An innkeeper needs to be able to systematize and make their business run smoothly. This course provides a detailed process for systematizing your property. If you wish to be an innkeeper, this course may give you valuable tools to create efficiency at your property. The course helps to develop a plan for running your inn from the ground up.
Operations Director
An operations director is responsible for overseeing the day to day activities of an organization, ensuring efficient and effective procedures. The course's focus on developing an operations manual, as well as management and organizational strategies, is directly relevant to the work of an operations director. Specifically, the course's quiz is designed to ensure that learners retain the material, just as an operations director must maintain oversight on operations. If you plan on being an operations director, the step-by-step process taught in this course can help ensure your success.
Operations Manager
An operations manager is responsible for overseeing the daily activities of a company, making sure that everything is running smoothly and efficiently. The course's focus on creating a detailed operations manual, and its focus on systems, speaks directly to the heart of the job of an operations manager. The course’s discussion of operational strategy makes it particularly useful for an aspiring operations manager. An operations manager can benefit from the course's comprehensive approach to systematizing operations. If you are planning on becoming an operations manager, this course may help you gain the necessary tools for success.
Property Manager
A property manager oversees the daily operations, maintenance, and administration of a property, ensuring it runs smoothly and efficiently. The course’s focus on creating an operations manual and developing management strategies directly applies to this role. Specifically, the course discusses how to systematize a new property, which is crucial for a property manager whose responsibility it is to ensure efficiency. By offering the tools to create smooth operations, a property manager should consider this course as a starting point. When you want to be a property manager, consider this course to help your operation succeed.
General Manager
A general manager is charged with overseeing all aspects of a business, which includes strategic planning, financial management, and operational efficiency. The course focuses on the process of opening a hospitality property, including how to develop a management strategy and an operations manual. This can be beneficial for an aspiring general manager as the course delivers practical advice for operating a hospitality property. The course systematically addresses the core features of hotel management, thus preparing any future general manager for the role's demands. If you hope to be a general manager, consider this course to advance your skill set.
Business Owner
A business owner is responsible for the overall management and success of their business. This includes strategic planning, financial oversight, and operational management. This course, by focusing on the process of launching a hospitality property, provides a strong starting point for anyone keen on becoming a business owner in this sector. The course addresses key aspects of starting a business, including location strategy and operational guidelines. If you are considering becoming a business owner in the hospitality industry, this course may give you the tools you need to start.
Regional Manager
A regional manager provides oversight and support to multiple locations within a region in order to achieve business goals and ensure uniform execution of operational strategies. This course, which focuses on systematizing a new property, offers strong background for regional managers who seek to ensure consistent operations across multiple properties in their region. The course also focuses on creating operations manuals, which is a key part of the regional manager's purview, in that a good regional manager ensures that each location operates systematically. For a future regional manager, this course can show you how to approach a new region and set up a strategy.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an individual who creates and manages their own business, taking on the risks and responsibilities of their venture. This course, centered around opening a hotel, resort, or inn, provides practical, step-by-step guidance for any aspiring entrepreneur in the hospitality sector. The course discusses location selection, organizational and management strategies, and the creation of an operations manual. By giving an entrepreneur all the tools to open a hospitality property, this course is well-suited for anyone wishing to start a business in this industry. If you want to be an entrepreneur in the hospitality field, consider this course to help you prepare.
Hospitality Consultant
A hospitality consultant provides expert advice to hotels, resorts, and inns on various aspects of their business including operations, management, and strategy. This course may be helpful to an aspiring hospitality consultant. It offers a foundational understanding of how to organize a new hospitality business. The information this course gives on location selection, management strategies, and operations manuals may assist a consultant in assisting their clients. This course may give you practical information that you can then utilize in your consultancy practice.
Project Manager
A project manager plans, organizes, and manages resources to bring about the successful completion of specific project goals and objectives. The process of opening a hospitality property involves managing multiple areas, each of which resembles a project, such as set up, operations, and launch. This course may be helpful for project managers who seek to learn about the specific needs of a hospitality business. If you wish to become a project manager, especially in the hospitality sector, this course's step-by-step instructions and the comprehensive approach will help in project management.
Business Development Manager
A business development manager is responsible for identifying new business opportunities and creating strategies for growth. This course, focused on launching a hotel, resort or inn, may be helpful to a business development manager looking for new opportunities in the hospitality sector. The course's emphasis on operational strategies and setting up a new property can help the business development manager better identify opportunities. Specifically, the information on systematizing an operation can help the manager evaluate a property's potential. If you wish to become a business development manager, this course may assist you in identifying strong opportunities in the hospitality sector.
Real Estate Developer
A real estate developer is responsible for overseeing the process of land acquisition, construction, and development of properties. This course may be helpful to an aspiring real estate developer who intends to develop hospitality properties. The course focuses on choosing the right location, which is obviously relevant to a developer. The course also discusses how to design a management strategy for a new property, which will improve a real estate developer's perspective. This course may give you some insight to help you better develop a hospitality property.
Franchise Owner
A franchise owner is responsible for managing a business that operates under the brand and system of a larger company. This course might be useful for an aspiring franchise owner who wishes to operate a franchise in the hospitality industry. The course walks learners through systematizing a new property, including location strategies, development of an operations manual, and other relevant elements. The course's emphasis on creating efficient operations might benefit a franchise owner as it is a key part of any successful franchise. This course may be useful for any aspiring franchise owner in the hospitality space.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in How to Open a Hotel, Resort or Inn.
By renowned restaurateur Danny Meyer explores the importance of hospitality in creating a successful business. It emphasizes the significance of customer service, employee relations, and creating a positive work environment. This book provides valuable insights into building a strong organizational culture and delivering exceptional guest experiences, which are crucial for any hotel, resort, or inn.
Offers insights from top leaders in the hotel and restaurant industries on how to deliver exceptional customer service. It provides practical strategies for creating a culture of hospitality and building strong relationships with guests. This book is valuable for understanding the nuances of customer service and leadership in the hospitality sector, offering real-world examples and actionable advice.

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