Vancouver’s hospitality industry is booming — and the numbers back it up. In 2024, Vancouver International Airport recorded the second-highest passenger count in its history at 26.2 million travellers, and BC’s hotel sector hit a record-high occupancy rate of 82.2% in August 2024 (Destination BC). With over 332,000 people employed across BC’s tourism and hospitality sector and more than 500 hotel job postings active across the Lower Mainland at any given time, opportunity is real — but so is competition.
Whether you’re switching careers, newly arrived in Canada, or a recent graduate exploring your options, breaking into Vancouver’s hotel and resort industry requires more than a strong resume. This guide walks you through exactly what employers are looking for, which roles are in demand, and how to position yourself to get hired.
1. Understand Vancouver’s Hotel Landscape
Vancouver’s hotel scene is diverse — from luxury five-star properties like the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa (rated #1 hotel in Canada by TripAdvisor in 2024) and Shangri-La Vancouver, to international chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Sheraton, to boutique independents like Opus Hotel and The Loden. Each property has its own culture, service standards, and hiring preferences.
Understanding this landscape matters because your application strategy should be tailored. A luxury brand looks for formal hospitality training and impeccable communication. A boutique property may value personality and adaptability. A large chain often has structured onboarding and clearer entry pathways for candidates without prior hotel experience.
Pro tip: Research each property’s TripAdvisor rating, Michelin Key recognition, and Google reviews before applying. Hotels that receive consistent guest praise for staff are more selective — and more rewarding to work for.
2. Know Which Roles Are Actively Hiring
The hotel industry spans a wide range of departments. In Vancouver’s current market, the following roles see consistent demand:
- Front Desk Agent / Guest Services Representative — the most common entry-level opening, paying $15.50–$26.50/hour (Government of Canada Job Bank)
- Front Office Manager / Supervisor — mid-level roles averaging $47,000–$89,000/year in Vancouver (ERI Economic Research Institute)
- Guest Relations Manager — senior guest-facing roles averaging CAD $82,000/year
- Housekeeping Supervisor and Food & Beverage roles — steady demand year-round
- Hotel General Manager — experienced leadership roles reaching CAD $184,000 annually
For newcomers and career changers, front desk and guest services are the most accessible entry points. These roles develop the core competencies — property management systems, upselling, conflict resolution, multi-department coordination — that create a foundation for advancement into supervisory and management roles.
3. Build the Skills Employers Actually Ask For
A review of active hotel job postings across Vancouver reveals a clear pattern in the skills that hiring managers prioritize. Beyond customer service fundamentals, employers are increasingly specific:
Technical Skills
- Property Management Systems (PMS) — Oracle Opera, Lightspeed, and similar platforms are listed in most front desk postings
- Microsoft Office Suite — Excel, Outlook, and Word for reporting, communications, and administrative functions
- Micros POS — commonly required for food and beverage roles
- Basic accounting and cash handling — standard for front desk and night auditor positions
Soft Skills & Professional Qualities
- Multilingual communication — Mandarin, French, Spanish, and other languages appear frequently in Vancouver postings, reflecting the city’s international guest base
- Conflict resolution and problem-solving under pressure
- Attention to detail and a service-oriented mindset
- Flexibility across shifts, including weekends and holidays
According to the go2HR BC Workforce Profile (2024), education level is a growing differentiator in hospitality hiring. Candidates with formal diplomas in hospitality management are increasingly preferred for front office and supervisory roles, particularly at four- and five-star properties.
4. Tailor Your Resume to the Hotel Industry
A generic resume will not stand out at competitive Vancouver hotels. Here’s how to approach it strategically:
- Use hotel-specific language. Reference guest satisfaction, revenue per available room (RevPAR), occupancy management, and service recovery in your experience descriptions.
- Quantify your impact. Instead of ‘managed front desk,’ write ‘managed front desk operations for a 200-room property handling 80+ check-ins daily.’
- Highlight transferable customer service experience. Retail, healthcare reception, call centres, and event coordination all develop skills directly applicable to hotel roles.
- List any PMS or scheduling software experience prominently. Even familiarity with tools like Square or Lightspeed signals tech readiness.
- Include language fluency clearly. Vancouver’s international guest demographic makes bilingualism a genuine competitive advantage.
5. Leverage Networking and Industry Events
In Vancouver’s hospitality market, who you know still matters. Many hotel positions — especially supervisory and management roles — are filled through referrals and internal pipelines before they’re publicly posted.
Practical steps to build your network:
- Connect with hotel hiring managers directly on LinkedIn — search by company and role
- Attend industry events hosted by the Hotel Association of Canada, go2HR, and the BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference
- Explore co-op and practicum programs that place you directly inside hotel operations — these create pathways to job offers that bypass the standard application queue
- Follow hotel brands on social media; some share open roles there before listing them on job boards
Granville College’s Hospitality Management program includes a 480-hour co-op component — placing students in working hotel environments and dramatically accelerating the transition from training to employment.
6. Invest in Formal Training
The most consistent differentiator between candidates who get hired quickly and those who don’t? Formal hospitality training. Hiring managers at Vancouver’s top properties increasingly look for diplomas or certificates when shortlisting for supervisory and guest-facing roles.
A structured hospitality program equips candidates with:
- Industry-standard service protocols aligned with AHLEI (American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute) frameworks
- Real-world practicum experience that builds your portfolio before your first paid role
- Business fundamentals: revenue management, event planning, food and beverage operations
- Career services support — resume coaching, interview prep, and direct industry connections
Granville College’s Hospitality Management with Co-Op Diploma (Vancouver and Surrey campuses) is built around exactly this framework — combining 1,200 hours of classroom training with a 480-hour co-op placement, delivered in-class or blended format to suit working adults and career changers.
7. Nail the Interview
Hotel interviews typically involve behavioural questions rooted in real scenarios. Common frameworks include STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) responses. Prepare for questions like:
- “Tell me about a time you handled a difficult guest complaint.”
- “How would you manage a situation where a guest’s room isn’t ready at check-in?”
- “Describe a time you had to work across departments to resolve a problem.”
Beyond responses, presentation matters. Dress to the standard of the property — a luxury hotel expects polished, business-professional appearance. Research the brand’s service philosophy and guest experience awards in advance. Knowing that the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa holds Relais & Chateaux membership, or that Shangri-La is known for its Asian hospitality philosophy, demonstrates genuine interest.
One more thing: follow up with a brief thank-you email within 24 hours. It’s a simple gesture that very few candidates make — and one that hiring managers consistently mention as memorable.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I need prior hotel experience to get hired in Vancouver?
Not necessarily. Many entry-level roles at hotels — particularly front desk and housekeeping — welcome candidates with strong customer service backgrounds from retail, healthcare, or food service. A formal hospitality diploma significantly improves your candidacy, especially at four- and five-star properties.
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What’s the best way to find hotel jobs in Vancouver?
VancouverHotelJobs.com, Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor are the primary job boards. Applying directly through hotel career pages (most large properties have dedicated careers sections) also yields results, especially for roles that aren’t publicly posted on aggregators yet.
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How long does it typically take to advance from front desk to management?
At most Vancouver hotels, a motivated front desk agent with a hospitality diploma can move into a supervisory role within 12–18 months. Management-level positions (Front Office Manager, Guest Relations Manager) typically require 3–5 years of progressive experience or a combination of formal education and accelerated performance.
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Is hospitality a stable career in BC?
Yes. Tourism contributed $9.7 billion (3.1%) to BC’s GDP in 2023 — more than mining, oil and gas, or agriculture (Province of British Columbia). With cruise tourism rebounding to record levels in 2024 and 2025, and international arrivals at Vancouver Airport near historic highs, the long-term employment outlook for BC hospitality professionals is strong.
Ready to Start?
Vancouver’s hotel industry rewards candidates who come prepared — with the right training, a tailored application, and the confidence to back it up. If you’re ready to turn that interest into a career, formal training is the fastest, most reliable route.
Granville College’s Hospitality Management with Co-Op Diploma is open for enrollment at our Vancouver and Surrey campuses — available in-class and blended delivery.
