Top Hospitality Cover Letter Examples

While a resume provides a concise overview of your qualifications and work experience, a cover letter allows you to tell your unique story and provide context for your career journey. 

It enables you to address any gaps in your resume, explain your motivations for pursuing a career in hospitality, and highlight any relevant achievements or experiences that may not be immediately apparent from your resume alone.

Here are some tips on how to write a cover letter for hospitality.

• Research the company.
• Follow a professional business letter format.
• Use the best standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman.
• Keep your font size between 10-12 points.
• Maintain consistent margins.
• Address the hiring manager.
• Be specific and avoid generalizations.
• Introduce yourself.
• Highlight your relevant skills and experience.
• Explain why you are the right fit for the position.
• Close with a call to action.
• Proofread and edit.

Regardless of your level of experience or specialization within the hospitality industry, your cover letter format should include the following:

Header: At the top of your letter, include your name, address, phone number and email address.

Date: Include the date in your letter.

Hiring manager contact information: Include the name, title, company name and address of the person you are addressing the letter. Stay away from general phrases like “To whom it may concern.”

Salutation: Begin your letter with a salutation or greeting.

Introduction or opening paragraph: Remember the opening sentence of a cover letter acts as your elevator pitch. In this first paragraph introduce yourself and express your interest in the hospitality job you are applying for. 

Body of the letter: In two to three paragraphs expand on your qualifications and experiences. Use action verbs and keywords from the job description to write the body of the letter. 

The body of your letter offers you the opportunity to display your core competencies, skills and interest in the specific role and the space to explain how your skills could bring value to the company. Make it count!

Closing and call to action: In the final paragraph, summarize your interest in the job and thank the employer for considering your application. Remember to add a call to action. This is your chance to persuade the hiring manager to take the next step in the hiring process.

Signature: End your letter with a professional closing, such as “Sincerely,” and sign your name.

Make the writing process easier by using a professionally designed cover letter template and our Cover Letter Generator.

Just like with your functional resume, if you are a recent graduate or don’t have experience in hospitality you can focus your cover letter on your skills, passion and willingness to learn.

When writing a hospitality cover letter with no experience, it’s important to focus on transferable skills, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. If you are starting in this field with no experience, begin with a strong opening statement expressing your interest in the position and eagerness to learn about the industry. Highlight skills such as attention to detail, problem-solving abilities and customer service. 

You can also showcase any apprenticeship, volunteer work, extracurricular activities or accomplishments that demonstrate work ethic and commitment to hospitality. Emphasize your willingness to learn and go above and beyond to provide exceptional service.

Your cover letter offers you a great opportunity to emphasize your soft and hard skills. Some of the most sought hospitality skills are:

• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Customer service
• Attention to detail
• Time management
• Teamwork
• Adaptability
• Technical skills
• Cultural awareness
• Sales
• Food and beverage knowledge
• Event planning
• Language proficiency

The salary expectations for hospitality jobs are determined by various factors, including location, level of experience and specialization. For example, an entry-level hotel and hospitality professional can have a starting salary of around $18,500 per year. On average, you can expect a high salary range of around $89,500 per year.