Power

A hotel is really like a small city, and you're its mayor. Well, sort of—nobody elects you, and everyone either does what you want or they're fired. So you're more like a city dictator. You get to boss around the chef. The front desk clerk has to do what you say. Even the pool cleaner has to use the chemicals and equipment that you approve of.

All right, so it's not Zeus-like power, but you're still at the top of your own Mount Olympus with a continental breakfast to boot.

More important than being bossy is actually getting things done. This means you'll need to exhibit the power to lead, which can be difficult if inspiring a team isn't your forte. From the concierge staff to the housekeepers to the maintenance team, every cog in this sleepover machine has to run smoothly so that guests have a pleasant experience—and you're the one with the verbal can of WD-40.

You also have the power to put your personal stamp on a hotel. While every hotel will have an owner choosing the overall style, you're the one who executes those imaginings. You even get to pick the wallpaper in the hallways, which is probably the most important responsibility you have. If we see one more flowered hotel hallway in America, we'll start renting RVs instead. There's no accounting for poor taste.