Some Must Read Books for Hoteliers
Hospitality industry is constantly changing especially with the emergence of new technologies, new trends and customer preferences as well as global changes. Moreover the industry is highly competitive and challenging. That is why it is critically important for hoteliers to stay on top of hotel management and customer handling techniques. They need to continually hone their expertise.
Even in this fast changing world, there are many hospitality practices are timeless, and many brands have been built on these concepts and ideas, constructed in past. There are few top quality books in the market which can give hoteliers deep insights and previous knowledge.
Hoteliers need to take the time to read useful books related to their industry. Doing so can put them far ahead of many of their competitors. Books can inspire you, teach you great things, help you gain new perspectives and provide you ideas and solutions for some of your most pressing challenges and problems.
Even though everyone agrees about the importance of books and the vast sea of precious knowledge contained therein, the difficult part is to separate the wheat from the chaff; to identify the books which are worth reading and those which may not be as useful.
So we have tried to make your work a little easier. We have sorted through different titles and recent publications to bring to you a list of worthy hospitality books which can reframe your mindset and alter your whole approach.
You are sure to appreciate the quality insights found within these pages. So let us begin our list of must-read hospitality books.
Book #1:
A Wealth of Insight: The World’s Best Luxury Hoteliers on Leadership, Management, and the Future of 5-Star Hospitality.
A book by Rahim B. Kanani
This Book is true to its title — it’s a treasure trove of knowledge gleaned from a global study of premium hospitality. Kanani talked with over 35 of the world’s top luxury hotels to obtain content for this book. He is a journalist who frequently interviews high-profile CEOs, entrepreneurs and hoteliers for major media houses. This book is must read for all aspiring and established hotel owners, managers and marketers to gain an insight on significant trends, hotel marketing, technology branding, staff recruiting and personalization.
Book #2:
The New Gold Standard: 5 Leadership Principals for Creating a Legendary Customer Experience Courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
A Book by Joseph Michelli
Part of Marriot International’s luxury division, The Ritz-Carlton amplifies the lavishness of travel with astounding properties, fine banqueting, and unique guest experiences. They deliver such an unforgettable customer service that guests sing their praises and keep coming back and generate a strong word of mouth thereby making it into a highly recognizable hotel brand.
This leadership book is about empowering the employees and leaving guests feeling special; the most remarkable thing about Ritz Carlton is the independence they grant their staff, ensuring incredible service to the guests, and significance of incredible leadership in management as well.
Book #3:
7 Easy Ways to Show Your Employees You Care! A Booklet for Hotel Managers and Others.
A Book by Jakima Hiller
We highly recommend this book to any hotelier or manager. While doing business we tend to forget to show our employees how valuable they are to us. Lack of appreciation is one of the major reasons employees leave their job.
This booklet will help you realize importance of employees in hospitality business. The author shares her real-life experience in this handy guide shows attentiveness, compassion, and empathy towards employees.
Book #4:
Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business.
A Book by Danny Meyer
We recommend this book to proprietors because its innovative, valuable insights can be applied to any organization or business of any size. This book helps any hotelier or manager of an organization to become more productive.
Danny Meyer is one of the most successful restaurateurs in USA; this book explains his secret to success in the hospitality industry. You can get an insight about dynamic philosophy of ‘Enlightened Hospitality’ which focuses on providing customer satisfaction, and building strong in-house relationships.
Book #5:
The Heart of Hospitality: Great Hotel and Restaurant Leader Share Their Secrets.
A Book by Micah Solomon
One of the ways to be more successful is to study those who are more successful in your industry and try to learn from them. You may adapt their strategies to suit you, but the general guidelines should still apply and work for you.
The Heart of the Hospitality shares customer-service procedures with which hoteliers can connect to their customers. While amenities and good setting helps a hotel, what’s most vital for every hotel is to have a “Heart”. In this book Solomon says forming and maintaining that ‘heart’ entails attending to a lot of minor details to ensure your guests enjoy exceptional customer experiences.
Book #6:
Without a Reservations: How a Family Root Beer Stand Grew into a Global Hotel Company.
A Book by J.W.”Bill” Marriot, Jr.
This book is a specific example of how a business can grow from small family-run enterprise to a leading international company. The author is Marriot Jr. who learned from his fathers, the founder of Marriot International. The book is extremely insightful for hoteliers as it maps out how the family has triumphed in the hotel industry.
Bill Marriott passes on his father’s industry knowledge as well as hospitality advice to subsequent generations. This book is full of practical advice and management tips for anybody who manages a property or company.
Book #7:
Down and Out in Paris and London.
A Book by George Orwell
This is a classic book for two reasons. Firstly, you’ll find a story here that reveals the journey of working your way up through the hospitality ladder. Secondly, it forces you to think about all the levels of staff and its dynamics, thereby making you reflect on how hotel functions like a machine with many busy and independent components.
Book #8:
Contagious: Why things catch on.
A book by Jonah Berger
There have been several occasions throughout human history where something has spread incredibly rapidly. Humans have a unique capacity to share with one another, whether it’s a real illness or the next wild trend.
In this book, Berger delves into the science of word-of-mouth marketing as well as how to get your hotel become known and famous.
Book #9:
Be our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service.
A Book by Disney Institute
Be our Guest is a film about Walt Disney World’s charm and how every guest is made to feel it via outstanding customer service. This book explains the Disney strategy to surpass customer’s expectations, including behind-the-scenes tactics, processes, and philosophies.
Even genuine Disney Institute cast employees believe that this book reflects the true spirit of Walt Disney World’s amazing customer service. As a hospitality worker you’ll discover new ways to provide excellent service using principles that aren’t often seen in the office.
It will show you how everything should be of the greatest quality and done with the demands of the client in mind.
Book #10:
100 Tips for Hoteliers: What Every Successful Hotel Professional Needs to Know and Do.
A Book by Peter Vension.
This is a best-seller that is already regarded as a must read by industry professionals. Vension has had a colourful life, having worked in the hotel industry for almost three decades. Beginning in his adolescence, he enrolled in a hospitality school. Soon After, he began working his way up from the bottom, eventually becoming the CEO of some of the most prominent corporations.
He merges these experiences with his ardent travels, and provides a robust set of advices and ideas for any hotelier to take and adapt for their own property.