Guest House Management Courses

Guest House Management courses are ideal for students who want to manage and set-up a guest house. It is ideal for students of the hospitality industry.

Our Guest House Management Courses

Guesthouse Management Courses-01

Guest House Management Short Course

Our Guest House Management: Short Course will give you the necessary skills you need to work as a Guest House Manager or start your own ...
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Guesthouse Management Courses-01

Guest House Management Certificate Course

A Guest House Management course equips students with the skills and knowledge on how to run and manage a guest house at a professional level.
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Guesthouse Management Courses-01

Guest House Management Comprehensive Course

uest house comprehensive management course equips students with the skills and knowledge to run and manage a guest house. With it, you can also work ...
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Guest House Management Courses are courses that allow students to get the necessary skills and knowledge to manage a Guest House or own a Guest House business. With a Guest House Management Course, you will learn these skills:

  • How to manage a Guest House
  • How to start your own Guest House business
  • How to communicate with customers and people in the Guest House industry

What Are Guest House Management Courses?

Guest House Management Courses are courses that allow students to create a safe and comfortable environment for guests to overnight and many times stay for weekends or a few weeks. These courses can take anywhere from 4 to 16 months to complete, you can start with a Short Course or head straight in with our Comprehensive Course.

Guest House Management: Short Course

Programme Type: Provider Programme
Award Type: Short Course in Guest House Management
Award Issued By: Skills Academy
Accredited By: Not Applicable
Course Duration: 4 – 8 months

Entry Requirements 

Course Subjects 

You only have to complete these (3) three subjects to get your Guest House Management: Short Course:

  • Face-to-Face Communication
  • Introduction to Business English
  • Introduction to Guest House Management

Face-to-Face Communication: In this subject, you will learn how to communicate with people in person. This includes verbal and non-verbal communication. This is an important skill to have when you work in the Guest House Management industry. You will communicate with people every day.

Introduction to Business English: This subject will teach students about communicating professionally. You will learn how to give good customer service as well as communicate with other people in your industry.

Introduction to Guest House Management: In this subject, you will learn the basics of Managing a Guest House.

Guest House Management: Certificate Course

Programme Type: Provider Programme
Award Type: Certificate Course in Guest House Management
Award Issued By: Skills Academy
Accredited By: Not Applicable
Course Duration: 8 – 12 months

Entry Requirements 

Course Subjects 

  • Customer Care in the Guest House
  • Face-to-Face Communication
  • First Aid Concepts
  • Introduction to Business English
  • Introduction to Guest House Management
  • Customer Care in the Guest House: This subject allows our students to take care of guests. This includes:
  • Making sure that breakfast is prepared
  • Making guests feel comfortable
  • Any other needs the guests may have

Face-to-Face Communication: In this subject, you will learn how to communicate with people in person. This includes verbal and non-verbal communication. This is an important skill to have when you work in the Guest House Management industry. You will communicate with people every day.

First Aid Concepts: This subject allows students to learn about the safety of their guests, as well as for themselves and other staff members. These are important skills to learn because you are responsible for the safety of your guests.

Introduction to Business English: This subject will teach students about communicating professionally. You will learn how to give good customer service as well as communicate with other people in your industry.

Introduction to Guest House Management: In this subject, you will learn the basics of Managing a Guest House.

Guest House Management: Comprehensive Course

Programme Type: Provider Programme
Award Type: Comprehensive Course in Guest House Management
Award Issued By: Skills Academy
Accredited By: Not Applicable
Course Duration: 12 – 16 months

Entry Requirements 

Course Subjects 

  • Customer Care in the Guest House
  • Face-to-Face Communication
  • First Aid Concepts
  • Introduction to Business English
  • Introduction to Guest House Management
  • The Business Of Guest House Management
  • Starting and Owning Your Guest House

Customer Care in the Guest House: This subject allows our students to take care of guests. This includes:

  • Making sure that breakfast is prepared
  • That guests feel comfortable
  • Any other needs the guests may have

Face-to-Face Communication: In this subject, you will learn how to communicate with people in person. This includes verbal and non-verbal communication. This is an important skill to have when you work in the Guest House Management industry. You will communicate with people every day.

First Aid Concepts: This subject allows students to learn about the safety of their guests, as well as for themselves and other staff members. These are important skills to learn because you are responsible for the safety of your guests. 

Introduction to Business English: This subject will teach students about communicating professionally. You will learn how to give good customer service as well as communicate with other people in your industry.

Introduction to Guest House Management: In this subject, you will learn the basics of Managing a Guest House.

The Business Of Guest House Management: This subject allows students to learn about the business aspect of Guest House Management. This means that you will learn how to manage and learn how the finances of a Guest House should be managed.

Starting and Owning Your Guest House: In this subject, you will learn about business plans and how to start up your own Guest House business. You will also learn what to do next after you have accomplished your goal of starting up your Guest House business.

NOTE: 

We run our Short Courses in partnership with Skills Academy. We provide Short Courses via Skills Academy. We are partner Colleges, and therefore we can offer Short courses  through Skills Academy.

What Is Guest House Management?

Guest House Management is when an individual or individuals manage and maintain a Guest House. This type of Management generally falls under hospitality, which means that you cater to the needs of your guests. It also means that you will meet new people every day, nationally and internationally. 

Guest Houses are considered homier than any other type of accommodation for people that are on vacation. This means that the rules and regulations are not as strict. Picture going to a chalet at the beach compared to a top tier hotel room in the city, a Guest House would generally be compared to the chalet than the top tier hotel.

How Do You Become A Guest House Manager?

You can become a Guest House Manager by:

  • Gaining work experience in a:
    • Hotel
    • Chalet
    • B&B
    • Guest House
  • Starting your own Guest House business
  • Study a Guest House Course 

Which Type Of Course Is The Best In Guest House Management?

The best type of course in Guest House Management is one of our Guest House Management Courses:


What Is A Guest Relations Job Description?

A Guest Relations job Description is as follows:

  • Ensure that guests and staff members understand one another
    • E.g a Housekeeper that should only clean the guests’ room at a certain time (11:00 am for example)
  • Ensure that guests know about certain amenities such as special occasions, breakfast time etc.
  • Have excellent customer service skills
  • Welcome new guests and show them to their rooms
  • Adhere to administrative tasks such as booking appointments as well as creating financial reports


How Do I Become A Guest Relations Officer?

You can become a Guest Relations Officer by gaining necessary work experience in these fields:

  • Customer relations
  • Hospitality
  • Retail
  • Tourism

Or you can gain one of the following qualifications:


What Is The Role Of A Guest House Manager?

The role of a Guest House Manager is to oversee all the departments within the Guest House. He or she will also be responsible for hiring, training, supervising and motivating staff.


What Do Guest Experience Managers Do?

Guest Experience Managers work in the hospitality and tourism industry. These managers manage staff and ensure that staff are following policies that they have created. They are also responsible for managing customer complaints and promoting their services through different Marketing channels. 

Most companies employ Guest Experience Managers based on their work experience or based on the qualifications they have obtained.

What Type Of Business Is A Guest House?

A Guest House falls under the tourist accommodation industry. This type of business is usually in private residential areas and is similar to Bed and Breakfast accommodation. Guest Houses can be considered comfortable accommodation for people that are on vacation. As a result, people tend to feel more at home than they do in hotel accommodation.

What Does A Guest House Offer?

A Guest House offers the following services:

  • Accommodation
  • Breakfast
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Fresh towels, linen, soap etc.

This depends on the type of Guest House you choose. Some Guest Houses offer more than the above-mentioned. Whereas other Guest Houses offer less.

What Is The Future Of Guest House Management?

With the emergence of COVID, many people have preferred staying indoors, but many businesses are now implementing safety measures and many tourists want to visit different countries and get accommodation that gives them the feeling of being at home. A Guest House can make anything from R 60 000 to R 85 000 per month. This depends on the size of your Guest House. You could charge anywhere from R300 to R600 per person. The more rooms you have, the more money you make.

How Do I Start A Small Guest House?

You can start a Small Guest House by turning your home into a Guest House. Alternatively, you can make a loan from the bank and buy property to start your own Small Guest House. You can also buy an already well-known Small Guest House.

However, you do need the qualifications to know how to start and manage your own Guest House business. Here are some of our Guest House Courses that you can complete:

What Is The Salary Of A Guest Relations Manager?

Here is what a Guest Relations Manager earns per month in South Africa:
R 25 590 per month The average salary for a Guest Relations Manager is R 25 590 per month in South Africa.

How Much Does A Guest House Manager Earn In South Africa?

Here is what a Guest House Manager earns per month in South Africa:

R 13 724 per month

The average salary for a Guest House Manager is R 13 724 per month in South Africa.

Benefits Of Studying At Matric College 

Here are some of the reasons you should choose Matric College to complete a Guest House Management Course:

  • Register for our Guest House Management Courses any time of the year – There are no due dates for registration
  • Only submit assignments – You will not write any final exams
  • COVID friendly – All of our courses are completed through distance learning, which means that you do not have to attend any classes or interact with any students or lecturers in-person
  • Do not pay extra for study material – Your study material is included in your course fee, which means that you will not have to pay extra for study material. All your study material will be sent to your doorstep.

Tutor Assistance – If you need any assistance with your studies, we have tutors that can assist you

How Do Guest Houses Work?

Guest Houses are exactly what the title says. It is a house where guests stay, which means that it is accommodation for tourists and local people. This type of accommodation is more relaxed and for people who enjoy a home feel type of accommodation. Most of the time, the setting it more intimate than hotels and other types of accommodation.


What Makes A Guest House Good?

Here are the factors that contribute to making a Guest House good:

  • The customer service
  • The services offered at the Guest House
  • The affordability
  • The location of the Guest House


What Should A Guest House Include?

A Guest House should include the following:

  • A comfortable bed with a lot of linen for guests to choose from. The linen should also be clean.
  • A clean bathroom area
  • A power outlet should be included in the guest room. This is for guests’ cell phones and laptops.
  • Basic toiletries such as shampoo and soap as well as clean towels
  • Enough space for the guest’s clothes. This could be cupboards, drawers or hanging space.

Extra’s: Wi-Fi and TV

What Are The Requirements To Open A Guest House In South Africa?

Here are the steps that you need to take to open a Guest House in South Africa:

Step 1: Get a Business Permit or Trade license
Step 2: Buy a Guest House, turn your home into a Guest House or build your own Guest House
Step 3: Open your Guest House business

What Skills Do Guest House Managers Need?

Guest House Managers need to acquire the following skills:

Communication Leadership
Critical Thinking Problem-solving

Do Guest House Managers Clean?

Yes, Guest House Managers do sometimes clean. This depends on how big the Guest house is and how much staff is required. Sometimes Guest Houses are short on staff and Guest House Managers need to step in.

What Is Another Name For A Guest House Manager?

  • Customer Service Manager
  • Front House Manager
  • Guest Experience Manager
  • Guest Relations Manager
  • Guest Service Manager

How Do I Become A Good Guest Service Manager?

You can become a good Guest Service Manager by:

  • Having great communication skills
  • Having great customer service skills
  • Enjoy working with people
  • Motivating your staff
  • Delegating jobs to the best candidates for the job
  • Working as a team instead 

Is A Guest House A Commercial Property?

Yes, a Guest House is commercial property. Basically, commercial properties are properties where you receive an income and offer specific services to guests.

Are Hotel Managers In Demand?

Yes, Hotel Managers are in demand. This is because the tourism industry is extremely successful. In the tourism industry, people tend to flock to destinations considered to be “getaway spots”.

How Much Can I Earn In Hotel Management?

Here is how much you can earn in Hotel Management:

R 21 876 per month

The average salary for a Hotel Manager is R 21 876 per month in South Africa.

Can I Turn My House Into A Guest House?

Yes, you can turn your house into a Guest House. All you need is:

  • A business permit or trade license
  • Your Guest House should be in an attractive location

Why Choose To Study Guest House Management Via Distance Learning

You should choose to study Guest House Management via distance learning for these reasons:

  1. Apply any time of the year
  2. Easy Access
  3. Get affordable education
  4. Save money
  5. Work and study

Apply Any Time Of The Year

We are a distance learning college, which means that you can apply for our Guest House Management Courses any time of the year. There are also no examinations or “class tests” that have to be completed. You only have to submit assignments through email. 

Apply throughout the year at Matric College there are no due dates for registration which makes it convenient for all of our students. You can make the decision at your own pace.

Easy Access

At Matric College, we believe that everyone should gain access to education, no matter where they live, or what their educational background is. This is why the entry requirements for our Guest House Management Courses are to understand, read and write English and to be at least 16 or older.

No matter where you are, you can study at Matric College. Get the Guest House Management Qualification that you desire by contacting any of our friendly Course Experts:

Christa Algera WhatsApp Number: 067 979 8751 Email Address: [email protected] Grace Makume WhatsApp Number: 060 488 0895 Email Address: [email protected] Tatum Jansen WhatsApp Number: 079 544 5215 Email Address: [email protected]
Tebogo Setsetse WhatsApp Number: 078 640 2271 Email Address: [email protected] Lindiwe Molekoa WhatsApp Number: 081 722 1268 Email Address: [email protected]

Get Affordable Education

Distance learning education is much more affordable than courses that are completed at university level. Research shows that students who complete a course at university pay more than double the amount for a course that students who study at a distance institution.

This means that you save more than double the amount of money with a distance learning course

Save Money

As a distance learning student, you do not have to attend physical classes or attend classes that are provided online. This means that you will save on transportation costs, and with the emerging petrol costs rising, you will and can save a lot of money.

Work And Study

The beauty of distance learning is that it does not interfere with your work. You can work and study at the same time. Our Guest House Management Courses also do not require you to write exams, which means you will only submit assignments via email. Do not miss time out on work because of your studies. Work and study at the same time.

What Is Guest Relations Assistant?

A Guest Relations Assistant is someone that assists a Guest Relations Manager. Their duties usually include accommodating guests to the best of their abilities. 

How Do I Market My Guest House Business?

You can market your Guest House Business by learning new Marketing skills. At Matric College, we offer (4) four Marketing Management Courses that will help you gain the necessary skills:
  1. Marketing Management: NATED N4 National Certificate
  2. Marketing Management: NATED N5 National Certificate
  3. Marketing Management: NATED N6 National Certificate
  4. Marketing Management: NATED N6 National Diploma

Is A Guest House Profitable?

Yes, a Guest House can be profitable if you are situated in the correct location and have great marketing strategies for your Guest House.

What Services Do Guest Houses Offer?

Guest Houses offer the following services:
  • Breakfast services
  • Beverage services
  • General cleaning services
  • Laundry on request services
  • Wi-Fi services

NOTE:

Each Guest House has its own services, and it is up to you to decide which services you would like to offer

Does A Guest House Add Value?

Yes, a Guest House does add value because it is different from any other accommodation services for tourists or people that are on vacation.


How Small Can A Guest House Be?

A Guest House can have at least three bedrooms. This all depends on your setting. Some Guest Houses are considered to be just right for one person. A Guest House is all about the atmosphere.


Why Do People Have Guest Houses?

People have Guest Houses for the following reasons:

  • To work with their partners
  • To work with people
  • To earn extra money
  • They are passionate about hospitality
  • It is part of their retirement plan

What Is The Difference Between A Lodge And A Guest House?

Lodge Guest House
The owner of the Lodge will live by their own house and own the lodge separately. The owner of the Guest House will sometimes live on the same premises.
It is located in a rural area such as a forest, near the beach, or near mountains. It is located in urban and rural areas.

What Is The Difference Between A Guest House And A B&B?

Guest House Bed and Breakfast (B&B)
People generally stay for more than one night. People generally only stay for one night.
A Guest house is a larger property with more than one room. A B&B is generally for one person.

What Is The Difference Between A Guest House And A Hostel?

Guest House Hostel
A Guest House has more space than a Hostel, and the space is shared with people you know. A Hostel has less space and is generally shared with other people you do not know.

What Is The Difference Between A Hotel And A Guest House?

Hotel Guest House
A Hotel is much more luxurious. A Guest House is more intimate and private.
A Hotel has way more staff. They can have up to 100 staff members. A Guest House has very few staff members, in fact, the owner and only a few other members are part of the staff.

Career Opportunities with a Guest House Management Qualification

  • Assistant Restaurant Manager – R 16 000 per month 
  • Guest House ManagerR 20 000 per month  
  • Front House ManagerR 10 000 per month  
  • Housekeeping ManagerR 6 000 per month 
  • Host Manager – R 30 000 per month  
  • Senior Guest Relations ManagerR 25 000 per month 

Assistant Restaurant Manager

The responsibility of an Assistant Manager is to help the Manager with his or her duties. When the Manager is not present, you will act as stand-in Manager. 

Responsibilities

  • You must greet and welcome guests
  • You must manage the stock intake
  • You must manage and delegate tasks to other staff members
  • You must be able to respond to customer complaints
  • You must complete the duties of other staff members while they are absent. An example of this is if one of the Housekeepers are not there, you should be responsible for their job for the day, especially on busy days.

Guest House Manager

Guest House Managers, deal with the day-to-day operations of a Guest House. This can be anything from administrative tasks to physical work such as maintenance or cleaning.

Responsibilities

  • You need to book appointments for guests
  • Once the guests arrive, you should greet and welcome them
  • You need to inform guests about all the important information such as safety measures, when breakfast is served, etc.
  • You need to delegate and make sure staff are completing their daily tasks
  • You must complete the duties of other staff members while they are absent. An example of this is if one of the Housekeepers are not there, you should be responsible for their job for the day, especially on busy days.

Front House Manager

The Front House Manager, is someone who manages the front house team. This means that he or she is the face of the company. They are the first point of contact when guests arrive and can give a good or bad impression on guests. Therefore, you should always look and feel your best when you are working as a Front House Manager.

Responsibilities

  • Answer incoming calls and respond to emails
  • You have to welcome arriving guests
  • Make sure that guest’s sleeping arrangements have been booked
  • Deal with payments and any appointment booking problems
  • You must complete the duties of other staff members while they are absent. An example of this is if one of the Account Clerks are not there, you should be responsible for their job for the day, especially on busy days.

Housekeeping Manager

The Housekeeping Manager is responsible for the cleanliness of the Guest House. He or she will also manage a team of cleaners.

Responsibilities

  • You have to make sure that you and your team have prepared clean rooms for the guest
  • You have to ensure that guests receive clean bedding and clean facilities such as toilets and showers
  • You have to make sure that rooms are cleaned on a regular basis and that COVID protocols are followed. This includes buying and taking stock of cleaning supplies such as sanitising stations.
  • Train and hire new employees in the housekeeping team
  • You must complete the duties of other staff members while they are absent. An example of this is if one of the Account Clerks are not there, you should be responsible for their job for the day, especially on busy days.

Host Manager

These individuals are responsible for reservations. They work between the front office and other departments. Their main goal is to ensure that guests get all the information they need as well as feel welcome.

Responsibilities

  • Ensure that guests are getting the best quality service
  • Ensure that if there are any repairs, they are handled in a timely manner
  • Monitor and complete daily reports
  • Understand all departments to ensure that you give guests all the valid information
  • You must complete the duties of other staff members while they are absent. An example of this is if one of the receptionists are not there, you should be responsible for their job for the day, especially on busy days.

Senior Guest Relations Manager

This type of Manager is responsible for one of the head Managers, and he or she deals with any guest related queries. This means that he or she will ensure that communication is clear between guests and staff members.

Responsibilities

  • You have to make sure that you meet all the guest’s needs
  • You have to hire new staff, train new staff and supervise different departments within the Guest House
  • You have to handle all the guest’s complaints and ensure that your staff have all the resources that they need to complete their jobs.
  • You have to analyse the feedback from staff and improve in areas where you and the team lack
  • You must complete the duties of other staff members while they are absent. An example of this is if one of the hosts are not there, you should be responsible for their job for the day, especially on busy days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the questions students ask:

  1. How can I become a Property Manager?
  2. How do you check if a Guest House is good?
  3. What is the average size of a guest house?
  4. What Do You Do When A Guest Stays Too Long?
  5. What do you call a small Guest House?
  6. What do people use a Guest House for?
  7. Which is cheaper, a hotel or a Guest House?

You need to complete a course in business or real estate.

You can check online for reviews or ask people that been there before.

The average size of a Guest House has 3 or more bedrooms.

Guests should be informed in a professional manner when their stay is over and when it is time for them to leave.

A small guest house is still referred to as a Guest House.

People use Guest Houses to:

  • Go on vacation with family and friends
  • To have team buildings

It depends on the location and the type of accommodation, but Guest houses are cheaper than hotels.

Author: Jesmé Africa
Editor: Connor Bergsma
Date Published: April 22, 2022