Hotel receptionist
Be the first port of call for guests when they arrive at a hotel – taking bookings and giving people the keys to their room.
About the job
What it's like
Are you a friendly, organised person who excels at customer service? If so, a career as a hotel receptionist may be perfect for you.
You'll take bookings and give guests the keys to their room when they arrive. People will come to you for advice about the hotel's facilities and services. For example, guests may ask you where breakfast is served or when the gym is open.
A hotel receptionist must always be friendly and professional. You'll often look after several areas at once, so you need to stay calm under pressure.
You'll work as part of a team and may be responsible for one specific area. For example, you may be in charge of managing telephone reservations or guest check-outs.
Your tasks might include:
dealing with bookings made online, by phone or face-to-face
helping guests check in and check out.
allocating rooms and giving guests their keys, telling them about facilities and services they may be interested in
dealing with special requests from guests, like booking theatre tickets or storing valuable items
handling complaints and comments from guests when they arise
taking messages and passing them on to guests
In smaller hotels, your duties may extend to other tasks such as showing guests to their rooms and serving drinks in the bar.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Career Scope – explore careers in hospitality, leisure and tourism
Like the sound of this career?
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Hotel receptionist'
Select qualification level(s)
Other careers that you might like
-
Receptionist
Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
-
Tourism and hospitality
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- reliable
- time management
- attention to detail
- respecting
- written communication
- verbal communication
- cooperating
- positive attitude
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
-
Administration and Information Technology
-
Business Management
-
Cantonese
-
English and Communication
-
French
-
German
-
Italian
-
Mandarin
-
Skills for Work: Hospitality
-
Spanish
-
Urdu
-
Modern Languages
There are a few routes into this career.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you secure a job. Useful subjects include:
Hospitality Operations
Travel and Tourism
Business Administration
Use the My World of Work course search to find HNCs or HNDs.
Work
You can become a hotel receptionist through applying directly with an employer or getting an entry-level job in a hotel and working your way up.
Use the My World of Work job search to look for job vacancies.
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You'll get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in Customer Service, Retail and Travel.
Volunteering in a hospitality or tourism-based role can help you build the skills and experience you’ll need to become a hotel receptionist. Search for opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
Knowledge of a foreign language is useful.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Hotel receptionist'
