Post by Vani Bhatnagar

After 10 years in hospitality, I am making a significant career shift to sales. For the past decade, hospitality has defined my professional journey. I spent 6 years as a Front Office Manager and 2 years managing sales alongside front office operations. Being a Front Office Manager goes beyond just greeting guests at the reception. It involves: - Handling guest complaints - Managing team issues - Staffing and audits - Coordinating VIP arrivals - Overseeing billing and reviews - Collaborating with every department - Monitoring revenue and budgets - Training staff - Ensuring the hotel operates smoothly. The responsibilities are immense, the hours are long, and the pressure is relentless. What is most disheartening is when you are not allowed to perform the role you were hired for. There is a misconception that young female managers can handle every task. This often leads to: - Spending the entire day at the reception - Taking on responsibilities meant for Guest Relations Executives (GRE) - Showing rooms to every guest - Performing operational tasks that should be delegated to the team - Being constantly available in the lobby. After dedicating my day to tasks outside my core role, I am then questioned about business performance: "Where is the business?" "Why didn't you achieve the budget?" "What have you done this month?" If a Front Office Manager is expected to operate like a GRE all day, who is left to focus on revenue, guest retention, business development, team planning, departmental strategy, and budget achievement? Leadership is not about doing everyone else's job; it is about ensuring that each person fulfills their responsibilities. Unfortunately, this mindset leads many dedicated professionals to doubt their capabilities. Organizations may unintentionally demotivate talent by evaluating them on results while denying them the authority to perform their roles effectively. This experience has not weakened me; it has clarified my path. I refuse to expend energy proving my worth in a role that does not align with my potential. I am choosing sales, where conversations create opportunities, strategies foster growth, and performance is assessed by the value delivered—not by the number of unrelated tasks taken on. Hospitality taught me resilience. Front office experience taught me leadership. And this journey has highlighted the importance of selecting a workplace that honors both. Changing careers is not about escaping; it is about refusing to settle for a position that stifles potential. #Harsh #reality #Hospitality #FrontOfficeManager #Sales #Leadership #WomenInLeadership #CareerGrowth #HospitalityProfessionals #WorkCulture #RoleClarity