We already know how essential technology is in this digital era! However, no matter how sophisticated a technology is, it still needs human force in its integration and daily operations. Hence, it is inevitable that jobs in the technological area will always be needed by industries that utilize technology in their operations, including the hospitality industry.
Today, all hotels integrate technology with their services to improve the guest experience. In order to ensure the seamless delivery of those services, hotels are supported by an IT department, a professional team responsible for every technological aspect of the hotel.
Hotels’ IT department handles everything about or related to technological systems and equipment in a hotel, such as computer networks and hardware devices. They work together with other hotel departments to ensure positive guest experiences by implementing technology into the hotel’s daily operations and coming up with solutions to solve technological issues!
The hotel’s IT department is an interesting team, and there is more to them than meets the eye. Our article today will give you a close-up look at the IT department in hotels, starting from their organizational structure, job positions, and even the salaries. Come take a seat and scroll down our article to learn more!
About Hotel IT Department’s Organizational Structure
An organizational structure makes any task more efficient by distributing duties and optimizing procedures. Just like in other hotel departments, the hotel IT team uses an organizational structure to assign and coordinate tasks among staff members. When creating the structure, there are several aspects that are considered by the management, which include resources, skills, goals, and business objectives.
By applying organizational structure to a hotel’s IT department, several benefits can be gained. Below are some of the advantages of the organizational structure in the IT department:
It can be a working guideline for staff members;
- It helps new employees understand to whom they need to report their work;
- It provides opportunities for development by defining each staff member’s role.
- It provides opportunities for development by defining each staff member’s role.
General Organizational Structure of Hotel IT Department.
Every company has different IT needs, but their organizational structures are usually similar. In general, an IT department’s organizational structure, including the hotel’s IT, covers these areas:
- IT support
- Cybersecurity
- Enterprise architecture
- Network administration
- Development operations (DevOps)
The Crucial Role of Hotel IT Department
An Illustration of a Hotel IT Department Staff Writing a Code.
As the frontline of hotel technology, the IT department shoulders a great deal of responsibility for the implementation and integration of technology in hotels. Their roles involve the installation, configuration, and service of every IT system for employees and hotel guests.
Additionally, the IT team is also responsible for making new software recommendations and overseeing IT system upgrades or installations. In hotels with business centers for guests, an IT employee is also required to provide direct support to solve the guests’ technical problems.
Interesting IT Department Positions and the Salaries
The IT department in hotels has various interesting positions with bright career prospects and is a great choice for those who are looking for a stable job with a rewarding salary. Here, we have compiled some of the most common and interesting IT jobs in hotels, along with their respective salaries!
1. IT Support Specialist
A Hotel’s IT Support Specialist Working on His Duty.
The responsibilities of an IT support specialist cover the planning and delivery of technical support services, which include installation, consultation, troubleshooting, and user assistance. They work hand in hand with fellow IT team members to solve guests’ problems directly or refer them to the appropriate hotel department.
The average base salary for IT support specialists in Thailand is ฿746,391 or around $21,862, with an average annual bonus of $763, which makes the IT support specialist a recommended starter job to enter the IT field in the hospitality industry!
2. Web Administrator
A Web Administrator of a Hotel.
A web administrator develops, maintains, and troubleshoots the hotel’s website. They ensure a safe and efficient user experience by implementing security protocols, creating backups, along with solving website and software problems.
Moreover, web administrators also optimize the website’s performance and online visibility to generate more visitors and revenue! According to Salary Expert, the average salary for this position is $20,990 per year in Vietnam, which is considered high in the country.
3. Programmer
A Hotel’s Programmer in the Middle of Coding.
This position is among the most popular in a lot of industries! Programmers write code for computer programs and mobile applications used by hotels nowadays. Not limited to coding, programmers are also responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting hotel IT systems to ensure that everything is running smoothly.
Such popularity often makes the salary of programmer positions rewarding. In Hong Kong, a programmer can earn an average of $85,688 per year and an annual bonus of around $3,564!
4. Software Engineer
A Hotel’s Software Engineer on duty.
Software engineer is another interesting IT job that makes it to this list. The duties of a software engineer involve designing, constructing, and testing hotel or other hospitality applications that meet user needs by using software programming languages.
Many software engineers also specialize in specific areas, including databases, cloud computing, and operating systems such as iOS and Android. As listed in PayScale, the average annual salary for a software engineer reaches around $27,809 in Qatar, and the payment can go even higher the more experienced you are!
5. IT Director
An IT Director in a Hotel.
Every hotel’s IT department is led by an IT director. Overall, the IT director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the hotel’s IT systems, including business systems, office systems, computer networks, and telephone systems running within the hotel.
Moreover, they also provide IT staff training, maintain inventories of hardware devices and software licenses, as well as review maintenance agreements. As a prestigious position within the hotel IT department, an IT director in the United Arab Emirates can earn an average of $117,377 annually, which is a high salary!
Hotel IT Systems Used by IT Departments
Illustration of Hotel IT Systems.
Hotels use information technology (IT) systems to plan and manage their overall operations. The hotel IT systems involve all computerized systems used by hotels to gather data for internal and external purposes, which is a crucial aspect of hotels. There are many IT systems utilized by hotels and operated by the IT department, which we have covered for you to read below.
1. Transaction Processing System
This system collects, retrieves, and modifies transactional data to ensure it is accurate and timely. Some examples of transaction processing system operations in hotels include bill or invoice creation, booking entry, and employee payroll.
2. Point of Sale (POS) System
The POS system’s function is to track merchandise sales within hotels, such as those sales transactions that occur in the hotel’s restaurant, bar, or coffee shop, and generate useful records for accounting purposes.
3. Property Management Systems (PMS)
The use of property management systems allows hotels to automate important tasks, from online reservations to sales and marketing. This means that property management systems covered the operational duties of the staff as well, such as the front office and marketing departments.
4. Decision Support System
The IT department uses the decision support system to ensure all the hotel’s operations are functional and decisions are made in a timely manner. This system is based on the operational model of the hotel establishment, with some examples including price management of food items and demand planning for hotel rooms.
5. Global Distribution System (GDS)
In order to simplify processes for guests and hospitality companies, the global distribution system is used to integrate services, payments, and products into hospitality websites. Additionally, this system is also used to link hospitality products across the hospitality industry.
Wrapping Up
Hotels’ IT department plays a significant role in all administrative and operational activities of hotels. Given its importance, the request for IT professionals in the hospitality industry has been growing throughout the years. The introduction of various IT positions in hotels might be the main reason why the demand continues to rise. Nevertheless, this is a good sign as there will be more opportunities available for those who are chasing a professional career in the industry.
In response to the surge in IT workforce demands in the hospitality industry, RMC Asia provides internship and management training opportunities for young professionals to work in the industry, with IT being one of the available departments.
Since 2014, our team has been committed to carrying out the mission of connecting fresh talents worldwide with prestigious hotels and resorts in Asia. Our programs help participants gain self-development, hands-on work experience, and cultural exposure in international environments that advance their career paths in hospitality!
Join the success of our participants and start climbing to the top of the hotel IT department career with us now!
Recommended: The Ultimate Guide to Technology in the Hospitality Industry
