A manager in the Hospitality Award 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 who perform a range of duties and are employed in a hotel (as defined). It doesn't cover employees who undertake senior management duties, with responsibility for a significant area of the operations 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's 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
• directs staff to make sure they carry out their duties in the relevant part of the hotel
• puts in place policies, procedures and operating systems for the hotel.

Hotel managers need to have an appropriate level of training in business management or have experience working in the industry. This experience should include supervising staff in one or more areas of a hotel.

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

For more information about conditions for hotel managers, see Entitlements for managers in the Hospitality Award.

Definition of a hotel

Under the Award, hotel means hotels, resorts, casinos, taverns, wine saloons, wine and spirit merchants retailing to the general public and other retail licensed establishments in or in connection with accommodation, with the selling of drinks, preparing and serving food and drinks, cleaning and attending to the premises and all other associated services.

Senior managers not covered by the Hospitality Award 

The Hospitality Award doesn’t cover an employee who:

• performs 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 a motel manager. See 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 isn't covered by the Miscellaneous Award is award free.

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