3 Business Traveler Insights From a Hotel Front Desk Clerk (2024)

Skift Take

While being nice can go a long way, so does being extremely loyal to a brand and having a healthy travel budget.

Jason Clampet

Most business travelers are at the mercy of their employer’s travel policies when it comes to where to stay.

But once you get to your hotel, you’ll need to impress a different power broker to make your visit as comfortable as you can: thefront-desk agent. With a few keyboard taps,these often-forgotten employees can control whether you stay ina noisy closet-size room or get a primo suite for the same price, according to Jacob Tomsky, a former hotel front-desk agent and author of Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality.

Getting these peopleon your side can lead to a better room, better perks, and far better service. “Hotels seem impersonal, but they are very personal, and you’re dealing with human beings who are making decisions about your stay,” said Tomsky. Here are his top tips for dealing with front-desk agents and getting their hotel to treat you like a VIP whether you’re a grunt on a sales visit or a top executive.

Call before you arrive:Chances are, you didn’t have any contact with the actual hotel when your room was booked. Even if a travel agent or assistant didn’t book your stay, third-party booking apps such asHotelTonight and such sites asExpedia have made the process almost as easy—and impersonal—as ordering an Uber.

According to Tomsky, actually calling the hotel the day you arrive or day before you arrive and making a human connection with an on-site agent can influence your stay, leading to more personal attention, possible perks, and the real likelihood of an upgrade.

“Call and say: ‘Hey, I’m arriving tomorrow and just want to check on my reservation and make sure everything is correct,’” Tomsky said. “You can also say: ‘Are you working tomorrow? I’d really like to thank you for taking care of my reservation.’ It’s an act of kindness, but it also makes the front-desk agent a little nervous in a good way, because it’s like, ‘Oh, this person is coming, and they’re going to make sure that I did a good job.’”

This phone call is also a good time to make any specific requests. If you need a room with a larger desk or a room suited for hosting meetings, mention it, Tomsky said. Also note: The number listed on most hotel sites leads to a centralized reservation line. To reach the front desk, Tomsky suggests looking up the property on Google Maps and calling the local number listed there.

Pro tip: Tip everyone:While most travelers know to tip a bellman or valet, few leave anything for the front-desk agent—despite their enormous power to influence the quality of your stay.

“The front desk isn’t a tipped position, so when you do tip, it makes them beholden to you,” Tomsky said. “It can be five dollars or twenty dollars, but it’s almost like they’re so grateful that they feel they have to earn the money, and there’s a lot of creative ways a front-desk agent can do that by making your stay better.”

Asmall tip can easily lead to simple perks,such asa late checkout, breakfast certificates, a bottle of wines, fruit baskets, or waived minibar charges—as well as major room upgrades that could be worth far more than the Jackson you threw down, Tomsky said.

Tomsky’s advice for slipping the bill: Place it on the counter along with your credit card and ID and say something simple, such as: “This is for whatever you can do, but I just appreciate all your hard work and hope you’re having a good day.” Do it casually, with a smile, and don’t be put off if the agent can’t actually give you that upgrade you’re hoping for.

Offer to wait:For a hotel’s staff, check-in time can be utter chaos. While housekeeping races to prep rooms for the hordes of incoming guests, front-desk agents have to deal with just-off-the-plane travelers who are more than happy to turn them into verbal punching bags for a long-haul flight’s worth of accumulated stress.

Tomsky says that subtly signaling that you’re on their side and won’t createtrouble can often lead to a better stay. While simply keeping your cool and offering pleasantries and a smile can go a long way, if things are particularly hectic and you’re not in a huge rush, letting the agent know that you’re happy to wait a bit can often lead to a much better room—especially if you’re staying for multiple nights.

“You want to be the 1percent of guests that the front-desk agent loves,” said Tomsky. “Say something like: ‘I’m in no rush, and I’m here for a week, so if anything better will be opening up later today, I’m happy to store my luggage and come back.” When you do, you might find yourself in a far nicer room.

©2016 Bloomberg L.P.

This article was written by Seth Porges from Bloomberg and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.

3 Business Traveler Insights From a Hotel Front Desk Clerk (1)

3 Business Traveler Insights From a Hotel Front Desk Clerk (2024)

FAQs

What do you do as a front desk clerk at a hotel? ›

A Hotel Front Desk Agent is a professional who is responsible for greeting guests in an efficient and courteous manner. As the first face that many see upon arrival, the Hotel Front Desk Agent checks guests in and out of their rooms, distributes room keys, answers questions and processes payments for hotel services.

What are the five issues every hotel front desk manager faces and how to solve them? ›

5 Issues Every Hotel Front Desk Agent Faces:
  • Reservations issues. ...
  • Loyalty programs. ...
  • Guest room issues. ...
  • Hotel services and amenities. ...
  • Billing questions.

What is the importance of a front desk clerk in building the hotel image? ›

The front office team plays a key role in planning the guest experience to help ensure that the hotel showcases all its best offerings effectively. As they regularly interact with the guests throughout their stay, they receive valuable feedback to help them with this key task.

What does a front desk clerk do in a day in the life of a hotel? ›

Front desk clerks greet arriving guests and check them into hotels and lodging facilities. They give them room keys and paperwork, and direct them to guest rooms and various areas of the hotel. They field questions throughout the guests' stay, and check guests out of the hotel when they depart.

What is the skill of front desk clerk? ›

Front Desk Receptionists must be highly organized, capable of multitasking, and managing time efficiently. Skills in this area include scheduling appointments, maintaining records, handling check-ins and check-outs, and coordinating with housekeeping and other services.

What are the basic responsibilities of the desk clerk? ›

Desk Clerks work directly with the public, especially in the hospitality industry or at the front desk of various organizations. Their duties include greeting visitors, updating records, making appointments, offering advice and information, maintaining the premises clean and organized, and solving various problems.

What is your weakness in the hotel industry? ›

Instead, choose a real weakness that is not a deal-breaker for the hospitality management role, but still shows that you are self-aware and willing to improve. For example, you could say that you sometimes struggle with time management, delegation, or conflict resolution.

What is the hardest part of being a receptionist? ›

Managing the increasing number of calls.

Managing incoming calls remotely adds another layer of complexity to a receptionist's day. Understanding the caller's query, deciding the best course of action to take, and who to direct or escalate the call to can be tricky under normal circ*mstances.

What is the main responsibility of front desk? ›

What Does a Front Desk Officer Do? Front desk officers are responsible for taking care of guests and customers. Their work mainly involves interacting with customers and business partners, either in person or through phone calls. They also assist in organizing work documents and firm logistics.

Why is front desk clerk important? ›

Front desk clerks provide services to guests throughout their stay, which may range from making restaurant reservations to arranging security for celebrity guests., Front desk clerks must tend to guests needs, so they may have to deal with difficult situations when a hotel guest has a complaint.

What are the two important functions of a front desk? ›

A Front Desk Representative's responsibilities are varied depending on the company. They are responsible for greeting and welcoming guests, receiving and delivering all incoming and outgoing mail and packages, answering all calls and directing as needed, scheduling meetings, and coordinating office activities.

What are the benefits of being a hotel clerk? ›

Here are 10 great reasons why you should consider a career in the hotel industry.
  • Endless opportunities for growth. ...
  • Diverse career paths. ...
  • Work anywhere in the world. ...
  • Job security. ...
  • Transferable skills. ...
  • Competitive salaries and benefits. ...
  • Creative job opportunities. ...
  • Teamwork and collaboration.
Jul 11, 2023

What does a front desk clerk do at a hotel? ›

Hotel Front Desk Clerks coordinate room reservations and confirm the details of a customer's visit prior to their stay. They maintain an up-to-date knowledge of room rates and housekeeping schedules, allowing them to provide prompt and accurate information to guests.

What is the main task of a hotel receptionist? ›

Welcome and check-in guests, making a warm and professional first impression. Kindly and promptly address guest inquiries, requests, and concerns. Provide information about hotel services, amenities, and local attractions. Coordinate with other hotel departments to fulfill guest needs and requests.

Is being a hotel front desk clerk hard? ›

Strong administrative skills are key for job seekers interested in working as a front desk agent. The position involves great organizational skills, from arranging room assignments, using a computer, and handling cash to dealing with a variety of customer service expectations and requests.

Is being a hotel receptionist difficult? ›

People can be very rude and very demanding. I can imagine it would be difficult to get a day off. You would be the first person they would contact if there were problems in the room and I've stayed in hundreds of rooms and there are problems.

What does the front office do in a hotel? ›

Front office is the first department of hotel which comes in guest contact, at the time of guest arrival and the last department when they depart from the hotel. This department performs the various functions like reservation, reception, registration, room assignment and bills settlement of a resident guest.

What do hotel front desk clerks wear? ›

Hotel concierge and front desk staff should look their best at all times and dressed in front desk hotel uniforms. Often, these employees' uniforms consist of clean button-up shirts, sharp blazers, and dress slacks or pencil skirts. Sometimes ties and neck scarves are also incorporated into this hotel uniform.

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