Thinking About Becoming a Motel Manager? Read This First

A practical, beginner-friendly guide to understanding the motel manager role — written for people with minimal experience.

No selling. Just practical insight before you apply.

  • Not always. Many motel owners value attitude, reliability, and willingness to learn over formal management experience. In smaller

  • Yes, in many cases it is. Many motel managers start with little or no direct motel experience. Owners often look for people who are reliable, organised, good with guests, and willing to learn on the job. Smaller motels in regional areas are often the most beginner-friendly, as they provide hands-on experience across all parts of the business.

  • Most motel manager roles include on-site accommodation, particularly in regional locations. This varies by property and should always be confirmed before accepting a role. Accommodation arrangements can differ widely, so it’s important to ask clear questions during the hiring process.

  • Yes. Many people successfully enter motel management with limited experience, provided they are willing to learn and take responsibility across multiple areas. If you want a bit more confidence going into the application process you can complete our Motel Management Certificate Course.

  • Customer service, communication, organisation, basic computer skills, and willingness to learn operational systems are more important than formal qualifications. Learning a PMS like GuestPoint or RMS can help you into your first role.

  • t’s strongly recommended to understand the role and expectations first. Many first-time managers struggle simply because they didn’t know what the job involved.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Motel Management?

Running a motel isn’t just handing over room keys and smiling at reception — it’s a full-scale, behind-the-scenes operation that turns you into a multi-skilled, fast-thinking problem solver every single day.

A motel manager wears every hat. You greet guests, handle check-ins and check-outs, juggle room changes, calm late-night complainers, and turn frustrated travellers into happy repeat customers. One minute you're sorting a key card issue, the next you’re tracking down why Room 12’s air-con sounds like a lawn mower.

You’re part-time handyman too — tightening loose handles, fixing flat batteries in remotes, stopping mystery leaks, and knowing exactly who to call when the job is definitely above your pay grade. Plumbers, electricians, fridge techs, pool cleaners — you’re coordinating, quoting, budgeting, and keeping everything moving.

Then there’s housekeeping. Recruiting, training, supervising, checking rooms, and regularly jumping in to clean when someone calls in sick or quits on you — because nothing ruins a day of arrivals faster than dirty rooms and no staff.

Behind the desk, you’re balancing the cash float, closing the daily roll-over, double-checking that payments and invoices line up, following up unpaid accounts, and keeping the books tidy so nothing surprises you at month-end.

And it doesn’t stop there.

You’re coordinating group bookings, building quotes, and making sure wedding guests, sports teams, or corporate crews all get the rooms they need. You’re cleaning the pool so it sparkles, replying to online reviews, staying active on social media, and making your motel look alive online. Depending on the property, you might even be cooking breakfast, heating dinners, or running the odd plate of nachos to a very happy tradie.

It’s a big job — but it’s fun, chaotic, rewarding, and no two days are ever the same. A motel manager is part host, part problem-solver, part cleaner, part accountant, part marketer, part DIY hero… and somehow still the calm voice that keeps everything running smoothly.

If you enjoy variety, people, and solving problems on the fly, managing a motel isn’t just a job — it’s an adventure. And you’ll have stories for life.