Buildings of all shapes and sizes require maintenance, whether they are residential or commercial. This certainly applies to hotels and extended stay facilities as well. Maintenance – be that preventative or reactive when issues arise – is crucial for everyone’s safety and managing the building’s condition. With the need to consistently maintain extended stay properties, most employ at least one if not a team of maintenance personnel working to keep everyone safe.

Types of Maintenance Roles at Extended Stay Facilities

Most extended stay accommodations are large, and with that larger size comes a larger area to maintain. Keeping both rooms and common areas safe for guests and staff is a critical aspect of daily operations. Because of this, employers tend to have dedicated staff on-site daily to handle routine or emergency maintenance requests and situations.

Many employ a single Maintenance Technician or a team to provide a range of services to keep the establishment in good working order. Overall safety is a top priority, but these techs must also ensure compliance with government regulations and OSHA standards.

Responsibilities of maintenance techs generally include:

• Completing maintenance work orders.
• Inspecting work performed by outside contractors and vendors.
• Performing preventive maintenance in guest rooms, common areas, and on the building’s exterior.
• Maintaining and repairing the establishment’s facilities and systems – this includes, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing systems.
• Managing inventory of maintenance supplies, parts, tools, etc. 
• Keeping accurate records of all maintenance activities and repairs.
• Reporting and addressing unsafe conditions

Above all, a maintenance technician is on-site to ensure that the establishment remains presentable and safe. This type of role can be physically demanding, as it often entails lifting heavy tools and equipment and sometimes working with large systems for long periods. Also, the position does require excellent communication skills, as maintenance techs work closely with management and must convey issues or concerns appropriately. General knowledge of building systems is a huge bonus as it allows techs to fix minor issues without the need for an external contractor. Lastly, these employees often work a large part of their day independently, so someone who is both independent and brings strong critical thinking skills will be most successful.

Larger extended stay establishments that have multiple locations will also sometimes employ a Regional Maintenance Engineer to oversee maintenance activities across all or a group of sites. This role differs from a technician position in its managerial responsibilities. It often includes a large amount of travel between locations, as the role responds to needs at each property. Sometimes this means performing the work themselves, but often the regional employee collaborates with techs on-site as well.

Opportunities for Advancement in a Maintenance Role

For those currently working in a maintenance technician role, there is good news in terms of opportunities to advance within the industry. The skills, knowledge, and experience acquired through a few years of technician work often lead to these employees moving into a more senior-level role, such as a regional supervisor. Sometimes, these more senior roles require additional certification or credentials, but speaking to your manager or employer is a great way to figure out what is needed to become eligible.

Experience in a maintenance role can also help to eventually secure a role in hotel management. Having an in-depth knowledge of the systems and structures within an establishment is crucial when leading operations. Ideally, a hotel manager should know at least the basics of how to perform all roles at the facility to best provide support and direction for those working within its walls. Whether you’re hoping to advance within the maintenance side of the business or move into a management role for the entire establishment, expressing those intentions to management or the owner is the first step in turning them into a reality.

Securing that First Maintenance Role at an Extended Stay Accommodation

Relevant certification or training on major building systems is a huge plus for applicants looking to secure a maintenance role at an extended stay facility. However, many employers offer enough training on the job for most maintenance staff to be successful in the role. Above all, employers are looking for a few key characteristics in their techs, including reliability, attention to detail, and good communication skills. As maintenance duties directly affect the safety of both staff and guests, managers look for those candidates who exemplify these traits and are excited to contribute to a successfully and safely running operation. 

Obtaining a role as a maintenance technician is a great opportunity to enter the hospitality industry and gain experience, especially if your goal is ultimately to move up into management. Luckily, the industry as a whole is hiring techs at a high rate currently. There are opportunities throughout the United States for enthusiastic and responsible applicants to start their careers within the industry. Within our constantly updated database of positions, we make it easy to search for roles and then filter based on category, job type, and location. We make it incredibly easy to find roles near you that fit what you are looking for in your next position.

Applying is equally as easy and takes as little as a couple of minutes. If you’re looking for a new maintenance role at a hotel or extended stay accommodation, or if you are looking for opportunities to advance into higher-level maintenance roles, we encourage you to check out our current openings!