One can enter this field by direct entry or through hotel management institutes. For direct entry the vacancies are generally advertised in the newspapers and the minimum prescribed qualification is graduation with 50% marks. They are trained by the hotels themselves. But Qualified personnel's are always given a higher preference. 

Educational: Minimum qualification required to go for a course in hotel management is 10+2. For certificate, diploma and bachelors courses 10+2 is sufficient. Duration of certificate courses is six months to one year. Bachelor and diploma courses are of duration one and half to three years. Those with graduation can go for post graduate diploma courses the duration of which is one year. 

Selection to most government recognised institutes is based on common entrance test. Test consists of English, Reasoning, General Science and General Knowledge. The test is of two hour duration and is held around April every year. The test is followed by a group discussion and interview, in which a person's personality and confidence is seen. Private institutes also conduct tests of their own, the pattern of which is almost the same.

Some of the prominent schools that conduct courses in this area are: The Oberoi centre for Learning and Development, 1 Sham Nath Marg, New Delhi- 110054; Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Rauza Bagh, Aurangabad- 431001; Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Valley View Hotel, Manipal- 576119, National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Pusa, New Delhi. 

Course areas include food processing, Food and beverages service, Accommodation operation or front office, hotel accountancy, Business communication, French language, hotel engineering, computer, nutrition and food service, Hotel laws, Principles of management, sales and marketing management, Human resource management. 

Personal attributes: They should have a good organizational background, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, strong commitment and self-discipline. One must be an extrovert, co-operative, polite and respectful to the guests, have patience to deal guest criticism even when you know you are right, willing to work hard even at odd hours and yet be cheerful.