The hospitality industry in South Africa is faced with challenges such as increased competition –
nationally and internationally – economic recession, downsizing, the need to work smarter and not
necessarily harder, but most of all, the challenge of managing diversity. The aim of this study was to
determine the skills profile of the supervisor according to their own experience. A survey research
approach was followed and research was conducted through self-administrated questionnaires that
was based on competencies (core performance dimensions) related to the managerial aspects of a
supervisor, namely – managing others (operational). Convenience sampling, comprising a population
of hospitality supervisors working in hotels in South Africa was used. Six major hotel chains
participated in this study. Responses were received from 141 hospitality supervisors. The researcher
relied on descriptive and inferential statistical procedures to analyse the quantitative data. Results
show that the performance dimension Guest and relationship is ranked as the most important
performance dimension/attribute. This is not surprising as the responsibilities of the hospitality
supervisor include a guest-focused culture