Traits of a Successful Hospitality Professional

In a fast-paced and dynamic industry with change as its only constant, hospitality professionals are at the frontline of any commercial service-oriented company.

In a fast-paced and dynamic industry with change as its only constant, hospitality professionals are at the frontline of any commercial service-oriented company.

Singapore’s tourism and hospitality industry is valued annually by the billions. As an industry that brands Singapore to the rest of the world, its revenue contributes significantly to the nation’s economy.

Here are four traits all successful hospitality professional should possess in order to thrive in this multi-fascinated sector.

Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills are practically a pre-requisite for any service-oriented professional. As most hospitality professionals interact with guests face-to-face, it is important that intentions are communicated effectively to avoid misunderstandings. Even during tense situations, hospitality professionals need to exercise proper conflict prevention skills and continue to provide excellent customer service.

Team Player
As this industry is heavily customer-driven, team work is essential to ensure every aspect of a guest’s experience is well taken care of. You should be able to follow instructions, pull one’s own weight, handle feedback and understand your role in a collaborative environment. This can drive the overall success of the organisation and in providing service excellence.

Versatility
For the hospitality sector, plans can and more often than not, need to be realigned and changed within an instant. Thus, versatility is a much needed trait in this industry. Hospitality professionals need to be able to adapt quickly to situations and regroup to ensure events go on without a glitch and guests are kept happy.

Organised Multitasker
With so many things going on, it is essential to stay on top of things. The hospitality industry is not for the faint of heart. In fact, it requires one to be an efficient multitasker considering the multitude of tasks constantly being added to the to-do list. On a typical day, a hospitality professional might have to tackle guests’ requests and complaints, attend briefings, negotiate supplier contracts and file administrative paperwork – all while keeping a smile on their face when attending to guests.