hi all.

I am wondering, anyone here works in the Hotel before? For what i know, their salary comprises of base salary + 3/4 points. This points is actually the service charge or hotel performance. The more tenants or business for the company, the more value for the points.
Here's the tricks. Company save the EPF contribution due to the low base salary. Staff no need to pay for the income tax. Bonus wise is based on the base salary. So even the hotel declares 3 month bonus, the staff will be getting RM600+ only which is ridiculous. Furthermore, working hours is 6 days per week.

But still, so many people are working in the hotel. So i was wondering, what is so good in there other than free meals? Even after retired, the EPF that you and the company contribute won't last the staff for 1 year. How to survive?

What you mentioned above are mostly for service staffs. I'm not too sure regarding their pay but you know, they get a lot of tips especially when they meet with generous guests. In coffee house (from experience) they share the tips. All the tips given by customers are placed in a 'basket' and at the end of the shift, it will be divided among themselves. In one day each person could rake in between RM 10-25 (or more) and they hardly get anything less.

If you work extra time, you get OT too.

And for those who work in Room Service, it's even better. You don't have to share the tips! If you bring the food up, the tip belongs to you. Same goes with concierge and housekeeping. When housekeepers bring ironed clothes or help with cleaning services, some guests leave them with generous tips.

Is it good taking hotel management course... ? and also is it easy to find a job in hotel industry... ?

Yes.

I'm quite scared because my cousin graduate from tourism course didn't get a job until now...

There is no definite answer to questions like these. It depends on many factors.

First of all, what prompt you to take Hotel and Tourism? Interest? Which portion are you most interested in? Do more research on them.

In H&T, it is somewhat expected that the graduate work in either industry. Assuming you work in a hotel - which department do you suppose you will apply for? There's Front Office, Concierge, Housekeeping, F&B (coffee house, Chinese restaurant, Japanese restaurant, bar, room service etc), Sales, Marketing etc

In Hotel line, everyone starts low. Even though you may be a Degree holder, you will still need to service customers. For example you enter F&B. You are expected to work as a waiter (perhaps rotated between coffee house, japanese & chinese restaurants etc) for at least 2-3 years before being promoted (that also depends on performance and vacancy).

Same goes with other departments. It is necessary to understand the basic operations before moving up.

On another note, if you work in an international chain like Hilton, JWW Marriott, Sheraton, Shangri La etc chances of climbing up to General Manager or Director position someday is pretty low. Reason being these Directors are from the Group itself, sent over all around the world by their HQ. Usually every 5years they will bring in a new Director from another country.

Tourism is alright I guess but what sort of position are you looking into? Is your cousin choosy about it? When you opt to work for a travel agency, you will also need to start from below. It could be sales, admin, ticketing, tour guide, marketing etc and then slowly move up to business development positions (if that's in your field of interest). Usually these agencies are opened as SMEs and are pretty limited unless your cousin join Reliance Group with branches around and all.

Thanks for the info...

why people taking up jobs like that? Cause maybe if business is good, the earnings will be good since pay per point is higher.

Cause it's better than working as floor measuring expert (jobless) at home? Cause it's better than working as floor sweeper? Better than working as pyramid scheme conning people? working as construction worker?

Cause in the end of the day, that's a proven salary scheme for hotel owners and at least it is transparent and no hanky panky fraud scheme.

The Hotel industry like many is not just for everyone who wants a job.

Working in a Hotel actually requires you to really really like people and really really like serving people and put a smile on every customer that walks in at the end of the day.

It is not about the free food you get to eat etc etc etc...it is about the good experience that you can give to others, in which at the end of the day, you will feel good about yourself. And that is what keeps most of us working in a Hotel despite having to work long hours, irregular hours and "low pay". It is the satisfaction that counts.

Yah we work like hell at time especially on peak season, events here and there...blablabla...stress here and there what sort not...but at the end of the day..when you found out the promo is doing well or everyone loves the event...you will feel that its all worth it and the feeling of happiness and content will last a whole day and everyone remembers.

The industry needs passionate ppl. If you are not and you work in a hotel. You will naturally be under alot of stress and wont last long.

If you talk about starting pay..don't care whether you are in Service line or HR or Sales. What really makes a pay diff is whether you are under Management or Rank & File.

Rank & File are paid with a small basic and point system. for example Basic RM400 + 3points = RM1.5k. Sales personnel or HR personnel or what ever post you have, if you are under Rank and File that will be your pay. of cos...you get OT.

On the other hand, if you are known as Management like PR Boss...Sales Exe etc etc...you have a steady basic without OT. Meaning, you can be a Sales Exe in Management but you can still earn RM1.5k no OT. Why? Because to the Hotel..your basic RM400 (Rank & File)has been increased to RM1.5k basic. lol~!!!!

Job promotions in a Hotel is very very rare. Most hotel will not promote their own staff. But there are few Hotels which are kind enough to do so. They view it as grooming future leaders who truly understand the particular hotel work culture. Giants like Hilton, Shang etc etc etc are even rare in in-house promotion. So if you want to get promoted or raise up in this industry, you have to constantly hop from one hotel to another. This is the only way to succeed in the industry. Of cos, each time you hop, make sure you are offered a higher position. Sometimes you will need to hop back to your previous hotel for a higher post. Dont worry and dont feel a shame. This is all normal in Hotel. It would be even better if you have good human relations.

My boss always say "The Hotel Industry is so small. People always talk. So where you go and what you do aso people know. We might be competitors, but there are certain things that we Hotels do share among our-self." Which i think is pretty true due to some problematic staff cases, ruin their 1 reputation in 1 Hotel, spread like wild fire to the other Hotel..kesian the fella also ler hardly can work in Hotel nymore.

Anyway, if you work with the Giants, you will get a chance of being transferred to their numerous property worldwide that is if you are seriously damm good and holds high position. And when you reach this level, yup. Pay are good. No worries d.

Do take note that when comes to pay, for entry level job or most job the pay among star rating hotels are almost the same. The difference between a 5 star pay and 4 Star pay is that 5 star gives you lower basic but higher Points. And 4 star gives you higher basic but lower points. but all in all your total monthly pay for rank and file is almost the same.

Management staff side, will depends on how you bargain in your interview and how much they are willing to offer. Besides diff of pay, the level of stress is also different and the exp gained is also different. You go figure out yourself. Ahahaha

I think thats all that you need to know, The rest you need to exp it yourself.

Good Luck! ^^

Ok then finally something i could contribute at..
I'm from hospitality idustry and still i... one of the internatioal hotel mention above.. hotel industry is somehow low pay is actually ur interest and passion..I have work in this industry for 3 years and now a service leader in front office.. current pay is 6++ + 3 and half point.. so average my pay is 1.4-1.6k in penang. but because he can do sales call up selling.. i usually earn up from 400-1500 commision.. ( cox i'm top sales every month)
but still it's actually consider low because if that particular month is a dead month with no traveler... then prepare to get salary like 1.4k even for a supervisor like me...

I been to interview last year and this year for my next level position (service manager/Duty manager) but i rejected cause the pay cant cope with my expenses.. the pay wise for the entry level manager is somehow within 1.8k-2.2k which is totally freak out ~ i got offer recently only for 1.9k.. imagine a manager with 1.9k salary that is why i'm still stuck as service leader

bottom lines... a hotelier is expected to earn low pay during starting.. then when u climb up to supervisor level u should have a medium range salary then the next level entry manager u earn peanuts.. then to senior manager considerable pay.. then department head only ok ok abit then director only can think of holiday once a year...


entry level - service associate - basic + point (usually 1 point to start with) = around 800-1.2k ( still can earn comm + tips)
supervisor - service leader - basic + point ( 3-4point) = around 1.4k - 1.6k ( still can earn coom + tips)
entry manager - service manager - basic = 1.8k - 2.2k
senior manager - asst department head - basic = 2.4k - 3k
department head - division manager - basic = 3k - 4k
Director - e.g. DOR - basic = 4k - 6k
Senior D - area director - basic - 6k - 8k


this is the salary report base on international hotel and penang area, area like KL might have additional 300-600 different but not more than that so i think at least i took the person minimun 8years - 10 years to be a director of xxxxx which i believe is already fast like rocket star

hotel job i can say it's all over the floor...even in my place we have still 5-8 opening for various department and reason been a single hotel occupied 300+ employee... mine is roughly 360 employee.. so i think if u have no interest or passion for this line.. please dun take H&T management... waste time & ur parents money... and very true they dun recognize cert.. the only advantage u have is when a promotion comes around the corner u will able to add a + into ur application.. other than that u start from the bottom and climb ur arsee up like me ( i'm dip holder )

Kelvin, That's means if people that have more experience in Hotel Industry can apply higher position...?? i'M STILL CONFUSED What course shud I take..........

This post has been edited by xpole: Mar 6 2010, 04:45 PM

erm.. sounds like that la.. i got 3 years exp & got offer for duty manager, training executive & senior reservation supervisor, the reason i rejected it because all need to be relocated and some pays me lower than what i earning right now.. they said dun think bout the money think bout the future.. they actually right but just that i cant cope up with my expenditure :cry:but if u pick up this course u must bare witht he pay wise as it's expected to be low compare to other industry.. and the only thing to get pay rise is only hopping from one to another like what others have mention to you but must sure ur commitment are not high, e.g. like me i got car instalment 380, broadband 96, house rental, 300 phone bill 90, insurance 180, cigi 200+ and girlfriend unlimited zzzzzzzzzzzzzz


not including food my expenses exceeding 1k, food around 600-800.. i eat like pig so i can say working enviroment is quite fun & challenging but pay wise & benefit cant compare to other industry except u are somewhat reginal director / area director or GM u will be earning 15k above with bangolow + personal driver + high end car + unlimited call + dinning credit in hotel but mostly this post will only be for the white guys.. as i can c in my MNC even the change every 5 years ppl coming are still white guys

so think twice.. if it's for the passion go for it, other wise think again

Kelvin, where do u work now??

DON'T EVER study hotel management course!!! people who work for 9years and at last become assistant manager with starting 2.5k per month.... imagine that when ur age is like 35 and u still earning peanut(equal to starting salary of a degree holder)...zzzzz

I DAMN REGRET ALREADY!!!!but is too late for me...

Malaysia average salary is 3k only, what do you expect..?

*Those who work in travel agent even worse, RM700-800 for graduate.... Even if you are experience worker, most of all also RM1200-1350 only. Except those who work in ticketing department and bringing tour, I have a friend who frequently bring group to europe, he can easily earn 5k++ per trip..

that's why, i seriously think the hotel workers in Malaysia is really underpaid. Not just the salary, even working hours is 6 days. I mean is kinda waste of time studying hotel management and getting peanuts salary. I know a friend of mine who studied hotel management and end up selling handphones.

get a tour guide license. my frd started 1 yr ago n she earned 10K+ 1 mth..
Basic guide fee is 150rm p/day. the rest r comm. fr getting the tourist to buy bateks, pewters, chocolates, watches, genting shows etc. + fat fat TIPS somemore.......................

This post has been edited by jeffW: Mar 9 2010, 07:19 AM

hi guys, can i know how to get the tour guide license????

hard to get????

*average salary in malaysia is 3k. SO YOU WAN TO BECOME THE AVERAGE PERSON WITH AVERAGE SALARY??

I have to say, when I pick up the course it was because I had profound interest in it. But during the course it kinda became boring... and then when internship comes, it was all hell and no play. Realized I didn't like service line and took a different course in my Degree. I would not say I wasted money in my Diploma because I learnt and experienced many different things.

On another note, turning it into full time job - that would not be my choice.

Yeah the hotel that I had training - was a 5 star hotel. The GM and his family occupies one of the top floors (and I mean, whole floor - not just 1 or 2 rooms). He dines and wines in the hotel, under company expenses and has a chauffeur. Whenever his wife wanted to cook, all she needs is to ask the kitchen to bring some ingredients up (she don't even need to go to the market!)... there's also housekeeping to keep their place clean and do their laundry. How convenient is that?!


+1. Couldn't agree better.

The pay is low, extremely long working hours and you'll have to put up with customer tantrums/ complaints. Thus most of them are right, one really needs much passion to pull through the harshness of the industry.

Looks like I have to take another course....