Are You Acting Like the Owner of the Hotel?
#walklikeyouownthehotel
Walk like you own the hotel and you will never fail…..
#hotelsindustry #hhrr #peopleandcultute
Let me ask you a simple question: Are you acting like the owner of the hotel you manage?
or are you just checking boxes to get through the day?
Because there’s a world of difference between the two.
Owners don’t clock in and out; they live and breathe the success of their property. They look at every corner, every interaction, every dollar spent, and think, How can I make this better? If that’s not your mindset, you’re missing out on the magic of true leadership.
I’ll never forget the time I walked into a hotel lobby at 5 a.m., unannounced. The front desk agent didn’t even look up. I stood there for a good two minutes before she acknowledged me. Was she doing her job? Sure, technically. But was she acting like she owned that space? Not even close. An owner would’ve been alert, welcoming, and ready to serve, even at the crack of dawn.
Acting like an owner means you stop waiting for someone else to fix the problems you see. That broken coffee machine in the staff breakroom? You don’t wait for maintenance to get around to it. You call someone, or better yet, figure it out yourself. When I was managing a resort, I once grabbed a wrench and fixed a leaky faucet in a guest room myself because I knew it couldn’t wait. The guest left a glowing review—not for the fix itself but because they felt valued. That’s the owner’s mentality.
It’s also about the little things. Owners don’t walk past smudged windows or ignore a limp plant in the lobby. They see every detail as a reflection of their brand. I once spent an entire afternoon rearranging the furniture in the lobby to create a cozier flow because I noticed guests were always gravitating toward one awkward corner. Did anyone ask me to do that? Nope. But guests started lingering longer, and F&B sales from the lobby bar shot up 10% that month.
And let’s not forget about the people. Owners don’t just manage staff; they invest in them. I make it a point to know every employee’s name, their goals, and their challenges. I’ve had housekeepers tell me about their kids’ soccer games and front desk agents share their dreams of moving into management. That’s not small talk—it’s trust. And trust builds loyalty, which trickles down to the guest experience.
So, are you acting like the owner? Are you walking through your property with a sense of pride and accountability, or are you just crossing tasks off a list? Because when you start thinking and acting like it’s your name on the sign out front, everything changes. You stop being just a manager and become a leader. And trust me, everyone—from your team to your guests—can feel the difference.
The question isn’t whether you can think like an owner. The question is, why wouldn’t you? #OwnTheExperience
Victoria Meyers
House Manager UHNWI
4moBeautifully explained😊