The hospitality sector offers more and more career opportunities and unfilled vacancies. Furthermore, working in hotels is no longer just a seasonal option.

There are more businesses and establishments looking for professionals throughout the year. The reason is due to the lack of workers in the sector, combined with the growth in the number of tourists in the country.

There is a shortage of around 15 thousand hotel workers, according to the Portuguese Hotel Association. On the other hand, Portugal registered 27.7 million guests and 76 million overnight stays in the first 10 months of 2023 – a growth observed through INE data.

Working in hotels has become an advantage for those looking for guaranteed employment, growth prospects and a challenging experience.

Why work in hospitality?

In addition to high employability, working in hotels guarantees a gateway for professionals without training or experience. 

Although there are roles that require specific qualifications, many jobs in the field accept candidates without technical experience and offer initial training. 

Another advantage of working in hospitality is the possibility of combine with another activity. Whether it's to finish your studies, earn extra income or take a break in search of new opportunities.

Furthermore, the continuous expansion of the sector brings more career opportunities, greater variety of professions and growth prospects to retain professionals.

As a result, many companies are betting on improve working conditions. Some strategies include increasing salaries, offering accommodation to employees, ensuring training and investing in a good work environment.

What are the main requirements for working in hotels?

The focus of the hotel industry – be it an inn, resort or country house – is to provide a unique and pleasant experience for its guests. 

Therefore, this career encompasses a wide range of skills, qualifications and experiences. 

Culinary professionals, welcoming hosts, engineering experts, animation artists – they are all important in elevating the quality of service.

Some requirements and characteristics needed to work in hospitality include:

• Mandatory minimum education or higher education;
  
  
• Basic notions of IT;
  
  
• Knowledge or fluency in languages;
  
  
• Good communication and presentation;
  
  
• Interpersonal skills;
  
  
• Proactivity and adaptability;
  
  
• Know how to work as a team;
  
  
• Good conflict management;
  
  
• Empathy and customer orientation;
  
  
• Attention to the details.

9 professions with the highest employability in hospitality 

The best thing about working in hospitality is that, regardless of the position you start in, there is enormous potential to move up the career ladder. Discover the professions in the sector that are worth investing in!

1. Receptionist

Given the need to welcome guests and mediate their interactions, receptionists are normally present in hotels of all sizes and other accommodation.

This professional is responsible for serving guests at the hotel reception, carrying out check-ins and check-outs, providing information about services and responding to requests. Its objective is to guarantee guest satisfaction and comfort.

2. Waiter

The demand for waiters for tourist service is constant these days. It is a seemingly simple role, but very challenging and, therefore, increasingly valued.

The waiter is responsible for serving food and drinks to customers in the hotel's restaurants or dining areas. 

3. Chamberlain

With the ongoing need to keep rooms clean and pleasant, housekeepers are essential in any accommodation establishment.

Housekeepers are responsible for cleaning and tidying the rooms, replacing amenities and taking care of the general presentation of the accommodation spaces.

4. Maintenance Technician

Facilities maintenance is crucial and qualified professionals are always needed to ensure the proper functioning of equipment and infrastructure.

That is why maintenance technicians are so important to carry out repairs and preventive maintenance in the hotel's physical facilities, ensuring the proper functioning of equipment and systems.

5. Chef

This is one of the most attractive professions for those who want to work in hospitality. This is because there is a high demand for talented chefs, especially in high-quality restaurants, which results in better salary conditions and career prospects being offered. 

A chef is responsible for managing the kitchen, planning menus, coordinating the kitchen team and ensuring the quality of the dishes served.

6. Bartender/Barwoman

Many hotels and accommodations have bars and are looking for bartenders to offer memorable experiences to guests.

A bartender (or barwoman) is responsible for preparing and serving drinks at the hotel bar, taking customer orders and, if necessary, guiding and explaining the composition of the drinks. This professional’s mission is to create an environment of relaxation and good energy.

7. Head of Room

Efficiently coordinating a restaurant service is vital to ensuring a smooth and positive dining experience. The room managers are a key player in achieving this harmony.

In addition to supervising the operation of the restaurant, they coordinate the team of waiters and ensure the quality and efficiency of the service.

8. Booking Agent

With increased competition, these professionals are increasingly sought after to boost sales and manage hotel and accommodation reservations.

A reservation agent is responsible for leading the sales strategy, which means managing reservations and optimizing the establishment's occupancy. To do this, they must develop marketing actions, analyze the market, collaborate with other departments and negotiate partnerships. 

9. Event manager

There are also hotels and accommodations with spaces and auditoriums for events. In fact, this can be a significant source of revenue for many businesses.

An events manager organizes and coordinates events held at the accommodation facilities, from business meetings, conferences to weddings or other festive events.

Do you already know about the opportunities in hospitality on the Employment Exchange?

Recently, the Employment Exchange, with +7 years of experience in job fairs in the areas of Tourism and Hospitality, took a leap into digital and created a Online Recruitment Platform.

The objective remains the same: to bring candidates closer to recruiters, without communication obstacles or bureaucracy in the way. The only difference is that we now offer opportunities in the sector 365 days a year through our platform, where you can:

• Contact recruiters by message;
  
  
• Receive notifications of the latest vacancies;
  
  
• Monitor the application.

Search for the latest vacancies in hospitality on the Employment Exchange platform!