With over 1,200 hotels worldwide, Holiday Inn is one of the most recognizable hotel chains Landing a job with this hospitality giant can provide tremendous opportunities to advance your career in the industry. However, navigating the Holiday Inn interview process takes preparation and insider knowledge
In this article, we dive into the 15 most common Holiday Inn interview questions along with proven strategies to wow hiring managers and boost your chances of getting hired.
Overview of Holiday Inn
Founded in 1952 and headquartered in Denham, UK, Holiday Inn operates hotels under various brands including Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, and Candlewood Suites. It is part of the IHG global hotel group.
Holiday Inn prides itself on delivering reliable, family-friendly lodging and amenities. The company culture focuses on providing warm welcoming service while maintaining brand consistency across locations. Employees praise the professional work environment and potential to take on leadership roles.
Now let’s look at what to expect during the interview process at Holiday Inn.
Front Desk Interview Questions
For front desk roles, interview questions will focus heavily on assessing your customer service skills and ability to represent the brand. Be prepared to answer:
Q1. How would you handle an upset guest complaining about our hotel facilities?
The interviewer wants to see empathy, professionalism and problem solving. A strong answer would:
- Listen actively without getting defensive
- Apologize for their negative experience and assure you will address it
- Ask questions to understand the exact issue and their expectations
- Present solutions within your authority like room changes, discounts, complimentary services
- Involve a supervisor if needed to resolve the matter to their satisfaction
- Follow up to ensure the issue is resolved completely
Stay calm and focus on turning complaints into opportunities to recover the guest.
Q2. Describe a time you exceeded a customer’s expectations. What did you do and what was the outcome?
Share a specific example that highlights your commitment to exceptional service such as:
- Noticing a guest’s special occasion and arranging a surprise gift or upgrade for them
- Going above and beyond to fulfill an unusual guest request promptly
- Identifying guests’ unstated needs based on cues and proactively addressing them
- Handling busy check-in times seamlessly without making guests wait
Emphasize actions you took and the delight experienced by the guest.
Q3. How would you promote our hotel’s loyalty program to guests?
Winning responses should demonstrate sales skills along with knowledge of the program’s benefits such as:
- Describing program perks like free nights, room upgrades, exclusive member rates etc.
- Highlighting special offers and partnerships specific to the guest’s needs
- Explaining ease of earning and redeeming points
- Registering them on the spot to get started and experience benefits immediately
- Following up with enrollment confirmations and targeted promotions
Be enthusiastic and focus on relevant perks based on the guest profile.
Housekeeping Interview Questions
For housekeeping jobs, you’ll be judged on how hard you work, how quickly you do your job, and how well you can deal with guests. Expect questions like:
Q4. How would you handle cleaning a room with a “Do Not Disturb” sign?
Solid answers include:
- Noting the sign and coming back later to check for availability
- Calling the room to tactfully inquire when housekeeping service can be provided
- Ensuring superior discretion and privacy when servicing rooms
- Being quick and minimally invasive of guests’ space
- Leaving a courtesy card apologizing for any inconvenience
Highlight respect for guests’ needs while also completing your job duties.
Q5. What measures would you take to protect guest belongings from damage during cleaning?
Top strategies to mention:
- Staying attentive and moving carefully to avoid bumping into items
- Asking guests at check-in about any special objects needing care
- Using caution in handling irreplaceable items like electronics and jewelry
- Ensuring fragile objects are safely stored while cleaning
- Moving breakables to a secure location like a counter or closet
- Reporting any pre-existing damage immediately to avoid blame
Demonstrating care for guests’ property builds trust.
Q6. How would you handle discovering a prohibited item left by a guest like drugs or weapons?
Strong responses include:
- Staying composed and leaving the prohibited item untouched
- Immediately notifying a supervisor discreetly
- Calling security staff to remove the item properly
- Ensuring minimal contact with the item to avoid tampering evidence
- Writing a detailed incident report documenting the event
- Keeping the matter confidential to protect guest relations
Show you understand the importance of following protocol in sensitive scenarios.
Management Interview Questions
Holiday Inn leadership roles involve strategy, team building, optimizing operations and representing the brand. Expect questions like:
Q7. How would you exemplify our brand values of being warm, welcoming, reliable and family-focused?
Good answers include:
- Greeting guests enthusiastically and making them feel at home
- Sharing local tips and family-fun attractions with guests
- Ensuring prompt, dependable service across guest touchpoints
- Leading by example with a gracious, hospitable attitude
- Cultivating camaraderie and team spirit among staff
- Empowering employees to deliver personalized care
Share specific examples of how you would promote these values daily.
Q8. How would you drive hotel sales during a slow season?
Strong responses would:
- Analyze historical trends to predict downturns and prepare tactics
- Partner with marketing to launch targeted promotions and packages
- Work with distribution channels to lower rates selectively and fill rooms
- Negotiate corporate and group deals to generate bulk bookings
- Encourage frontline staff to upsell guests on upgraded room types and amenities
- Track performance data to refine strategies week-over-week
Demonstrate strategic sales planning beyond just discounting.
Q9. How would you handle underperforming associates not meeting quality or productivity standards?
Great answers would highlight:
- Meeting 1:1 to understand factors impacting their performance
- Providing coaching and training to help them improve
- Setting clear objectives, check-ins and providing feedback frequently
- Removing roadblocks to their success across policies, resources, etc.
- Praising small wins and progress to encourage desired behaviors
- Reviewing solutions like duties reassignment if performance remains unimproved
Focus on empathy, development and teamwork before disciplinary action.
Questions About You
Lastly, expect personal questions assessing your professionalism, self-awareness and fit with the company values:
Q10. Why do you want to work for Holiday Inn Hotels specifically?
Stress your passion for the brand values and delivering excellent hospitality such as:
- Belief in providing reliable, welcoming, and spirited guest service
- Admiration for their commitment to family travelers
- Appreciation for their distinguished brand reputation
- Interest in growing your career in hospitality with an industry leader
Back up your points with specific examples of why the brand resonates with you.
Q11. What are your weaknesses?
Be honest while positioning your weakness positively:
- Share a minor job-related flaw like attention to detail
- Provide examples of recognizing the weakness and taking steps to improve
- Discuss how you leverage your strengths to compensate when needed
- Pivot to a positive like being proactive about continuous skills development
Stay authentic while reassuring the interviewer this weakness won’t severely impact your job performance.
Preparing intelligent, thoughtful responses to questions like these will prove to Holiday Inn interviewers that you have the customer service orientation, work ethic and professionalism to excel on their team. Use these tips to polish your interview skills and launch an exciting hospitality career with this trusted global brand. Best of luck!
Use the STAR method
If an interviewer asks you to give specific examples of things you’ve done in the past (for example, “Tell me an example of something you did that you were proud of? “), try to set up your answer using the STAR format. This approach makes it easier for the interviewer to digest your answers. Share more about your Actions, and only brief context on your Situation, Task and Results.
Give the background and context details of your example.
Describe your responsibilities in the situation.
Explain the steps you took to address the situation.
Share what was achieved through your actions.
Top 5 Holiday Inn Interview Questions and Answers
FAQ
Why do you want to work at Holiday Inn Express?
Why do you want to work for IHG?
Why do you want to work at this hotel?
How do you prepare for a Holiday Inn job interview?
To help you prepare for a Holiday Inn job interview, here are 32 interview questions and answer examples. Who would you say inspires you? Your life’s inspiration can come from a book, a mentor, your family, a celebrity, author – literally anyone! Talk to the interviewer about who has inspired your life and why. 1. Who would you say inspires you? 2.
What is it like to stay at the Holiday Inn?
Beds were large and very comfortable and most rooms had their own bathroom which was perfect for a large group. Kitchen was well equipped and big enough that we weren’t getting in each others way whilst cooking Christmas lunch. The grounds are lovely with views across the country side and the hot tub is fabulous.
What is Holiday Inn’s philosophy?
At Holiday Inn, our desire is to be socially responsible by supporting causes that matter to our world. What charities or causes are you supporting and why. 28. At Holiday Inn we put our customers needs first. What is your customer service philosophy? 29. Are you currently interviewing with any direct competitors of Holiday Inn? 30.
What education do you need to work at Holiday Inn?
31. At Holiday Inn we prefer to hire those with a business, hospitality, or tourism related diploma or degree. Walk me through your post-secondary education. How has it prepared you for this role?
