Guest House Management Course

Planning To Open And Manage Your Bed & Breakfast, Guest House or Boutique Hotel or Convert Your Airbnb or Residential Property? This course will give you all the necessary tools to be successful in managing your business.

Despite the negative impact that the Coronavirus (COVID_19) pandemic caused to many businesses including the Tourism and Hospitality sector, we anticipate that after all has been dealt with, tourism will bounce back like never before and that there will be many opportunities for the Guest House / Bed and Breakfast businesses to prosper—if it is managed well. This 6-month distance learning course will help you navigate through and best manage your Guest House or small Hotel, thus turning your dream into a successful story.

B&Bs and Guesthouses are an important contributor to the local economy of any region, as they attract both local and international tourists to provide them with a taste of local food and hospitality. This creates much-needed job opportunities and revenue for local regions. As the successful managing and running of a guest house have its own set of challenges, this course intends to provide a practical guide to assist both guest house owners and managers in effectively managing their establishments.

We have packaged all the critical information and tools you need to open and run a successful accommodation business, in one course! Enroll in our bed and breakfast management distance learning course and see your dreams of running a profitable B&B become a reality. This course is designed by experienced hospitality professionals for both aspiring and current guest house owners/ managers. 

Who Is This Course Aimed for?

This course is aimed at individuals interested in owning or managing a guest house/bed and breakfast/boutique hotel and those who are already in the business. This course will help you run a successful business. 

Which Modules Does The Bed & Breakfast/ Guest House Management Course Cover?

Our bed and breakfast/guest house management distance learning course covers the following modules:

• Module 1: Knowledge and understanding of the B&B, Guest House, and Boutique Hotel industry sector.

• Module 2: Management principles for starting or managing a B&B / Guest House / Boutique Hotel.

• Module 3: Developing a business management strategy for a B&B/ Guest House / Boutique Hotel.

Knowledge and Understanding of the B&B, Guest House, and Boutique Hotel Industry Sector

It is important to be clear about the business that you want to start. This module will help you understand better the requirements needed to start your own B&B/ Guest House or Boutique Hotel. It contains the following elements:

• Choosing the correct business structure - Whether to start from scratch or buy an existing bed & breakfast or guest house or convert a residential house into a bed and breakfast/guest house.

• Land-use zoning

• Licensing and registration

• Legal aspects regarding signage

• Payment of Value Added Tax (VAT)

• South African Revenue Service (SARS)

• South African Labour Law

• Insurance

• Health and safety regulations

Specific Outcomes

Acquire knowledge and understanding of the B&B, Guest House, and Boutique Hotel industry sector.

Assessment Criteria

• Describe the guest house and B&B industry sector.

• List and describe key role players (stakeholders) in a guest house/ B&B business.

• Describe the major trends influencing guest houses/ B&B’s in South Africa.

• Identify legislation and regulations related to the hospitality sector and accommodation establishments.

• Describe basic start-up funding models for small to medium businesses to start or own a guest house/ B&B.

Management principles for starting or managing a B&B / Guest House / Boutique Hotel

Whether you will manage your business yourself or you will employ a manager, you must understand how the accommodation business works. This module will give you the skills you need to manage it properly. This module contains the following elements: 

• Planning, organizing, leading & managing your bed & breakfast/guest house business

• Skills and competencies of a hospitality manager

• The importance of service excellence

• Implementing a customer-centric concept and ensuring that your establishment is unique from your competitors.

• Keeping your employees happy and motivated

Basic Financial Management

The B&B/ Guest House business needs to be managed properly and be financially viable. This module contains the following elements:

• Budgeting for a bed & breakfast/guest house business

• Forecasting start-up income and expenses

• Forecasting day-to-day income and expenses

• Record keeping

• Value Added Tax (VAT)

• Tax

Sales & Marketing For Bed & Breakfast / Guest House Business

Sales & Marketing is the most important aspect of the B&B, Guest House, or Boutique Hotel. Without proper Sales & Marketing strategies, you will struggle to put bums on the beds. This module contains the following elements:

• Market research for a bed & breakfast, guest house, or boutique hotel

• Marketing plan in the hospitality industry

• Sales and marketing for bed and breakfast business

• Identifying potential sources of guests and analyzing your competitors

• Designing a mission and objectives for your establishment

• Formulating a unique service concept for your establishment

• The 5Ps of Marketing (Marketing Mix) – Product, Price, Promotion, and People

• Essential sales strategies to increase occupancy and revenue

• Selecting a booking system for your website

• Rates – Rack Rates, Corporate Rates, STO Rates

• Working with Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) to optimize bookings

• Travel agencies, telephone sales calls, site inspections

• Advertising, Promotions and using Social Media Marketing strategies

• Branding and Marketing Collateral – Brochures, etc

Accommodation (Housekeeping and Front Office Management)

This module contains the following elements:

• Property management system suitable for small accommodation establishments

• Telephone etiquette

• Reservations and bookings

• Developing systems for housekeeping and front office

• Staff uniform

• Formulating daily tasks for Front Office and Housekeeping

• Rules and regulations for front office and housekeeping

• The guest cycle

• Cancellation policies

• Lost and found procedure

• Types of rooms

• Check-in and check-out procedure

• Health and safety

• Stationery

• Guest feedback, reviews, and guest letter (e.g. confirmation, welcome letters, etc)

• Beds and bed sizes

• Linen

• Developing a cleaning procedure

• Commonly neglected cleaning areas in the guest rooms

• Guest room cleaning agents and cleaning equipment

• Guest room cleaning frequency schedule

• Exterior cleanliness and standard checklist

• Pest control

• Laundry operations and laundry flow

• What to look for when selecting housekeeping cleaning equipment

Planning Your Breakfast Menu

Breakfast can either make or break your business. This module will get you to make sound decisions about what kind of breakfast to serve. This module contains the following elements:

• Planning your breakfast menu

• Costing your breakfast

• Correct equipment to provide excellent & efficient service

• Managing stock levels

• Health and hygiene in food production areas

• Setting up the dining room

• Food & beverage service

• Considering nutritional value in your meals

• Planning for guests’ special requirements

• Selecting the best suppliers for your establishment

Specific Outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of management principles for starting or managing a  B&B, Guest House, or Boutique Hotel.

Assessment Criteria

• Identify and describe the four management principles (plan, organize, lead, and control).

• Describe the management functions to start or manage a guest house/ B&B (Business Management, Human Resource Management, Finance, Marketing, and Operations).

Business Management

• Identify business management principles.

• Describe basic business management guidelines.

• Compile a business management framework.

HR Management

• Identify roles and functions of staff working at a guest house/ B&B.

• Describe the characteristics of an effective team of staff working at a guest house/ B&B.

• Compile a staff organogram for a guest house/ B&B establishment.

• List and understand applicable HR employment legislation (Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Labour Relations Act, Employment Equity Act).

Finance

• Identify basic financial management principles (financial record keeping) for guest houses/ B&B establishments.

• Compile a basic budget for a guest house/ B&B establishment.

• Control and manage the budget of a guest house/ B&B.

Marketing

• Identify appropriate marketing channels to market a guest house/ B&B.

• Describe what is meant by a target market.

• Describe the basic components of a marketing plan to market a guest house/ B&B.

• Design a marketing plan for a guest house/ B&B.

Operations

• Identify effective client service practices for a guest house/ B&B.

• Describe the day-to-day operations of a guest house/ B&B.

• Compile a service blueprint for a guest house/ B&B.

Developing a business management strategy for a  B&B / Guest House / Boutique Hotel

Specific Outcomes

• Apply knowledge and understanding of the guest house/ B&B industry sector and management principles to develop a management strategy.

Assessment Criteria

• Identify components of a needs analysis to inform the management strategy of a guest house/ B&B.

• Develop a business management strategy for managing a guest house/ B&B.

• Develop a business plan to start and manage a guest house/ B&B.

Will I sit for an Exam?

No, you will not sit for an exam. You submit assignments via email. 

How Do I Enrol?

Enroll now for our Bed and Breakfast / Guest House Management Distance Learning Course and get all the skills to run a successful bed and breakfast, guest house, boutique hotel, or small lodge. Study in the comfort of your own space. 

What is the Duration of the Guest House Management Distance Learning Course?

Whether you are looking at converting your residential property or your Airbnb to a fully-fledge B&B, Guest House or Boutique hotel, this course will help you learn how to manage it professionally. Enroll today and finish withing 6 months. This B&B management distance learning course takes up to 6 months to complete. You study in the comfort of your own space. This is a distance learning course. You receive your notes online/ via email submit assignments online/ via email. 

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