Staatlich geprüfter Assistent/Staatlich geprüfte Assistentin für Hotelmanagement

Assistants in hotel management receive school-based training. Learning locations are vocational schools (classroom instruction) and practical training companies. These can be office and operational premises of hotel, restaurant, and tourism businesses both domestically and abroad.

The profession is an Ausbildung (vocational training) occupation. The type of training is school-based at Berufsfachschulen (vocational schools) (regulated by Bundesland (federal state) law). The training duration is 3 years. Learning locations are the Berufsfachschule and the practical training company. What does one do in this profession? Assistants in hotel management handle commercial-organizational tasks in hotel and gastronomy businesses. For example, they calculate overnight stay prices and prepare duty rosters. Furthermore, they organize purchasing and storage of goods, advertising and marketing measures, or work in the reception area. They plan activities in the various areas of the establishment and control the efficiency of processes. When planning events or banquets, they are the contact person for customers and advise them, for example, regarding procedures, decoration, premises, and prices. Planning and designing tourist offers can also be part of their activities. Where does one work? Employers: Assistants in hotel management...

Job title: Assistant in Hotel Management. Occupation type: Berufsfachschule (vocational school) profession. Training duration: 3 years. Entry requirement: Usually a secondary school leaving certificate or Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification). What does one do in this profession? Assistants in hotel management handle commercial-organizational tasks in hotel and gastronomy businesses. For example, they calculate overnight stay prices and prepare duty rosters. Furthermore, they organize purchasing and storage of goods, advertising and marketing measures, or work in the reception area. They plan activities in the various areas of the establishment and control the efficiency of processes. When planning events or banquets, they are the contact person for customers and advise them, for example, regarding procedures, decoration, premises, and prices. Planning and designing tourist offers can also be part of their activities. Where does one work? Assistants in hotel management...

3 years

Berufsfachschulen (vocational schools) select applicants according to their own criteria. Generally, importance is placed on an average grade of at least 3.5 in German, English, and Mathematics.

Distribution of hours (example): Compulsory lessons: 1. General Learning Area: French or Spanish: Lower level 2 hours/week, Upper level 2 hours/week. English: Lower level 2 hours/week, Upper level 2 hours/week. German and Rhetoric: Lower level 2 hours/week, Upper level 2 hours/week. Total general learning area: Lower level 6 hours/week, Upper level 6 hours/week. 2. Profession-Specific Learning Area: Business Management: Lower level 3 hours/week, Upper level 3 hours/week. Accounting: Lower level 3 hours/week, Upper level 3 hours/week. Tourism: Lower level 3 hours/week, Upper level 3 hours/week. Legal Studies: Lower level 2 hours/week, Upper level 2 hours/week. Data Processing: Lower level 2 hours/week, Upper level 2 hours/week. Technical Operating Equipment: Lower level 1 hour/week, Upper level 1 hour/week. Design Theory: Lower level 2 hours/week, Upper level 2 hours/week. Food and Beverage Technology including Nutrition Economy: Lower level 6 hours/week.

Ausbildung (vocational training) at public schools is generally free of charge for students, but admission and examination fees may apply. Private schools, on the other hand, usually charge tuition fees. Additional costs may also arise, for example, for learning materials, work clothing, travel to the training location, or external accommodation. Under certain conditions, students participating in vocational training may receive funding under the Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz (BAföG). More information: The BAföG: all info at a glance.

During theoretical and practical lessons, knowledge is imparted in areas such as service, event management, destination knowledge, foreign languages, market-oriented business processes, management processes, technical operating resources, accounting, economics, and law. General subjects such as German and mathematics are also taught during the Ausbildung. During practical internships, theoretical content is implemented and applied in hotels both domestically and abroad. Students gain insight into business operations, gather experience in typical professional working methods, and obtain an overview of the structure and operational organization of the business. Depending on the offerings of individual schools, additional knowledge may be provided that enables the acquisition of the Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification).

One should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements: In theoretical lessons, there is classroom instruction, possibly project work, and reviewing content at home. In school-owned classrooms and during practical internships, practical work is performed (under guidance), for example, taking reservations, ordering goods for hotel operations, or assisting with the planning of events and banquets. The environment involves changing workplaces (office, guest, storage rooms, at the reception). Work clothing is required. Working hours often include weekend and shift work, and seasonal peak times. Requirements include commercial thinking and negotiation skills (e.g., calculating accommodation prices, negotiating quantity discounts with suppliers), communication skills and customer and service orientation (e.g., advising customers on the sale of tourist services), organizational skills and flexibility (e.g., planning weddings or conferences, adapting to changing work requirements), and intercultural competence.

For an Ausbildung abroad, the following options are available: In Austria, training offers can be found via AMS Ausbildungskompass (e.g., with the search term 'Hotelmanagement') and WIFI Österreich (e.g., with the search term 'Hotelmanagement'). In France, training offers are available in the onisep - French training database (e.g., via free text search with the term 'hôtellerie').

No remuneration is paid for this Ausbildung.

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects are good prerequisites for a successful Ausbildung: English and other foreign languages (e.g., to communicate with international guests), German (e.g., to write business letters), Economics (e.g., to handle tasks in marketing and purchasing), and Mathematics (e.g., to calculate purchases and investments).

The following Ausbildung (vocational training) alternatives are available for the profession of assistant in hotel management: In the hotel and restaurant sector: Kaufmann/Kauffrau (businessman/businesswoman) for hotel management, Hotelfachmann/Hotelfachfrau (hotel specialist), Fachmann/Fachfrau (specialist) for system gastronomy, Staatlich geprüfter Gastronomischer Assistent/Assistentin (state-certified gastronomic assistant). Commonality: Handling purchasing and personnel planning, looking after guests. In the office and secretarial sector: Kaufmann/Kauffrau (businessman/businesswoman) for office management. Commonality: Performing commercial tasks such as correspondence, payment transactions, and cost accounting. In the tourism and leisure industry: Staatlich geprüfter Touristikassistent/Assistentin (state-certified tourism assistant), Kaufmann/Kauffrau (businessman/businesswoman) for tourism and leisure, Tourismuskaufmann/Tourismuskauffrau (Kaufmann/Kauffrau für Privat- und Geschäftsreisen) (tourism businessman/businesswoman for private and business travel). Commonality: Performing commercial and organizational tasks such as marketing, event planning, and selling services.

3 years

1989: School and examination regulations for Ausbildung (vocational training) and examination at Höhere Berufsfachschule'n (higher vocational schools) for the hotel, restaurant, and tourism industry in Saarland. 1997: Framework agreement on Berufsfachschule'n (vocational schools) by the Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK) (Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs).

3 years (2 years of school education and 1 year of internship, usually in two European countries)

During theoretical and practical lessons, knowledge is imparted in the following areas: Compulsory subjects: Religious education, German, foreign languages (English, second foreign language), mathematics, politics and society, scientific fundamentals, economics, management processes, market-oriented business processes, accounting, law, practical hotel and gastronomy skills, event management, tourism marketing, tourism processes. Elective subjects: Third foreign language, sports management, health management, cultural management, destination knowledge. Practical training: As part of the Ausbildung (vocational training), a several-week internship must be completed in a company in Germany or abroad.

Assistant in hotel management is a state-regulated school-based Ausbildung (vocational training) at Berufsfachschule'n (vocational schools). It lasts 3 years and leads to a state-recognized final examination. In addition, there are Ausbildung's (vocational training programs) that are conducted according to the internal regulations of the education providers.

During theoretical and practical lessons, knowledge is imparted in the following areas: Compulsory Area: General learning area, Foreign languages (French or Spanish, English), German with rhetoric. Profession-related learning area: Corporate management, Accounting, Tourism, Legal studies, Data processing, Technical operating resources, Design theory, Food and beverage technology including nutritional science, Applied business organization, Practical professional applications, Kitchen and restaurant. Internship (in suitable hotel, catering, or tourism establishments). Elective Area: Third foreign language (French or Spanish, Italian).

This Ausbildung (vocational training) is legally regulated only in the mentioned Bundesländer (federal states) and leads to the following qualification titles: Bavaria: State-certified Assistant for Hotel and Tourism Management. Rhineland-Palatinate: State-certified Specialist for Hotel Management. Saarland: State-certified Assistant for the Hotel, Catering, and Tourism Industry (HBFS). Alternatively, the Ausbildung can be carried out according to the internal regulations of the educational providers. The qualification titles may differ from those mentioned above.

Finding suitable employment after training: After their Ausbildung, assistants in hotel management primarily work in hotel establishments, as well as in holiday centers and other accommodation facilities. Securing employability: Through Anpassungsweiterbildung (adaptive further training), one can keep their specialized knowledge current or bring it up to date. The range of topics extends from management and administration in the hotel and catering industry to marketing. Career advancement: An Aufstiegsweiterbildung (advanced training for career progression) helps to advance professionally and achieve leadership positions. It is logical to take the examination as a Hotelmeister (hotel master). With a Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (university entrance qualification), one can also pursue a Studium (university degree) and, for example, obtain a Bachelor's degree in Hotel Management. Becoming self-employed: The step into self-employment is also possible, for example, with one's own hotel and gastronomy business.

3 years (2 years of school education and 1 year of internship; the internship should ideally be half in Germany and half abroad).

During theoretical and practical lessons, knowledge is imparted in the following areas: Compulsory subjects: Profession-related instruction, Foreign languages (first foreign language, second foreign language, third foreign language), Social studies/economic policy, Religion or ethics, Health education/sports, Project management. Learning areas in the subject 'profession-related instruction' include: Serving food and beverages, Preparing meals, Advising guests on food and beverage selection, Developing hygiene concepts, Organizing banquets, Organizing housekeeping, Receiving and looking after guests, Selling hotel services, Commercially managing and controlling businesses, Preparing business decisions, Procuring and storing goods, Using marketing instruments, Managing personnel, Final project. Elective compulsory subjects: Profession-related subject, Subject-specific data processing, Communication/presentation. Internship: An internship must be completed after the school education. This is done in hotel and catering establishments.

Regulation at the federal level: Framework Agreement on Vocational Schools (Resolution of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of 17.10.2013, as amended on 21.03.2024). The framework agreement of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs on Ausbildung at vocational schools is not directly applicable law. The individual Bundesländer regulate assistant Ausbildung in their school or vocational school regulations based on the framework agreement. Regulations at the state level: The Ausbildung is regulated by state law in the following Bundesländer: Vocational School Ordinance for Nutrition and Care, Child Care, Social Care, Hotel and Tourism Management, Informatics and Foreign Language Professions (Berufsfachschulordnung - BFSO) of 25.05.2023 (Bay.GVBl. S. 257), last amended by § 32a para. 1 of the Ordinance of 07.08.2025 (Bay.GVBl. S. 443). State Ordinance on the Higher Vocational School of 31.07.2019 (GVBl.Rh-Pf. S. 161). Ordinance - School and Examination Regulations - on Ausbildung and Examination at Higher Vocational Schools.

Generally, either a secondary school leaving certificate (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss) or a qualification for university of applied sciences entrance (Fachhochschulreife) is required. Further prerequisites may vary depending on the German Bundesland (federal state) and the educational program.

For educational background, a secondary school leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss) (with an average grade of at least 3.5 in German, English, and Mathematics) or eligibility to attend the upper secondary school (gymnasiale Oberstufe) is required.

For educational or professional background, a general university entrance qualification (Abitur) or a qualification for university of applied sciences entrance (Fachhochschulreife) is required. Admission is also possible with special professional qualifications: completion of vocational training (Ausbildung) in a relevant recognized training occupation and at least 4 years of full-time employment in the learned or a related profession, completion of professional further education in the relevant field, and successful participation in an aptitude interview.

For educational background, a qualification for university of applied sciences entrance (Fachhochschulreife) is required.