Title: Maximising profits: Do revenue managers have the skills?

Authors: Kate Varini, Cathy Burgess

Addresses: Department of Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Management, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK. ' Department of Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Management, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK

Abstract: This paper explores the evolving role of the revenue manager and it will argue the need for a formal revenue management (RM) qualification. When RM is deployed ineffectively, this raises the financial risk inherent in the concept. Service firms need to clearly define RM roles and ensure those involved in RM have the right skill-set. With a view to regulating RM approaches, data was collected via surveys and scrutiny of current job descriptions, to identify the range of skills required to successfully deploy RM at the tactical and strategic level of the organisation. Some general trends emerged identifying the links between the RM and optimum performance, in service businesses. To ensure profit enhancement, the results of this research will be deployed to develop RM benchmark standards in conjunction with a RM certification programme.

Keywords: financial management; hotels; skills training; profit maximisation; revenue managers; formal qualifications; inherent risks; service firms; hospitality industry; skill-sets; job descriptions; optimum performance; profit enhancement; benchmark standards; certification programmes; UK; United Kingdom; revenue management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRM.2010.033021

International Journal of Revenue Management, 2010 Vol.4 No.2, pp.163 - 178

Published online: 06 May 2010 *

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