In this comprehensive hands-on handbook to this vital role in the operation of a hotel, the author uses her own experiences from both her industry experiences with Oberoi hotels and her academic teaching to create this user friendly and practical guide. With insights from international industry experts and real-life case studies, it provides the reader with a comprehensive how-to guide to all elements of this essential role as well as the theoretical foundations and operational techniques. It covers issues and areas such as: budgeting and controlling expenditure; managing personnel, including contracts and outsourcing; guestroom types, design and trends; sustainability issues including ecotels and energy conservation; and hotel housekeeping software and analytics.