A manager performs a variety of functions but is primarily responsible for managing the day-to-day running of the venue or specific area, and its staff and services.

The Hospitality Award covers managers performing a range of duties employed in a hotel (as defined), but doesn’t cover employees who undertake senior management duties, with responsibility for a significant area of an operation for one or more hotels.

Managers not covered by the Hospitality Award will either be:

• covered by the Miscellaneous Award, or
• award free.

When considering an employee’s award classification, it is important to consider the employee’s duties, responsibilities and qualifications rather than their job title. Learn more about how to work out an employee’s classification by following the steps at Award classifications.

Managers covered by the Hospitality Award

The Hospitality Award covers managers employed in hotels (as defined).

A hotel manager is an employee who doesn’t perform duties of senior management and:

• works under the direction of senior management
• is responsible for one or more areas, but not a significant portion of the hotel.

An example of a hotel manager is a sous chef working in a hotel. See Award coverage for a sous chef.

Definition of a hotel

The definition of hotel includes these venues:

• hotels
• resorts
• casinos
• taverns
• wine saloons
• wine and spirit merchants retailing to the general public and other retail licensed establishments.

For the purpose of classifying a hotel manager, the venue is, or is connected with, an accommodation venue that provides other services including:

• selling drinks
• preparing and serving food and drinks
• cleaning and attending to the premises, and
• all other associated services.

Salaries for managers under the Hospitality Award

Hotel managers who are paid 25% more than the minimum annual salary don’t get some award entitlements. These include allowances, breaks, penalty rates and overtime. This is called salary absorption.

Clause 25 of the Hospitality Award sets out the requirements for salary absorption for hotel managers.

Salary comparison to award entitlements

An employer isn’t required to compare a hotel manager’s salary absorption to what they would otherwise be paid under the Hospitality Award.

For more information see Annualised salaries.

Senior managers not covered by the Hospitality Award

The Hospitality Award doesn’t cover an employee who:

• perform duties of senior management or above, or
• is responsible for a significant portion of one or more hotels.

Depending on an employee’s duties and responsibilities, examples of job titles that may exclude an employee from coverage can include:

• regional manager
• industrial relations manager
• financial controller
• chief accountant
• human resources manager.

Managers of other hospitality venues

If a manager in the hospitality industry isn’t employed in a hotel, they will either be:

• covered by the Miscellaneous Award, or
• award free.

An example of manager in the hospitality industry but not covered by the Hospitality Award is Award coverage for motel managers.

Miscellaneous Award

The Miscellaneous Award doesn’t cover senior managerial or professional employees.

The Miscellaneous Award can cover an employee holding a job title of manager depending on their duties and responsibilities performed. They would generally work under the direction of senior management and have limited responsibility.

The employee’s classification will depend on their experience and qualifications.

Employees may wish to seek independent advice on their own situation.

Award free

An employee who is not covered by the Miscellaneous Award is award free.

They’re entitled to the national minimum wage and the National Employment Standards.