Hotel Bellhop

What is a Hotel Bellhop?

Duties

A hotel bellhop has the following responsibilities and essential job functions among others:

• Create a positive experience for guests, visitors, vendors and owners by identifying and anticipating the personalized service they require.
• Offer information pertaining to all available hotel facilities and features for arriving residents including appliances in the kitchen area, night lock, washer or dryer, media panel and temperature control system.
• Carry baggage to and from a guests’ vehicle to the hotel and store any storage boxes or items as requested in the reception.
• Follow valet parking norms and secure or retrieve any vehicles within and from the parking facilities.
• Call transportation for guests or transport them personally to locations near the hotel premises or local attractions, via car or motorized cart.

Day In The Life

As a bellhop, you start your day with personal greetings to guests upon their arrival, to create an intimate sense of ‘welcome’ unlike any other. You will offer to carry their luggage, take them to their rooms and ensure that everything in the room is in working order such as ventilation, heating, lights, etc. You are also proactive about pointing out the amenities included with the hotel room, whether it is showing how the air conditioner works or how to access room service using the telephone. If there are issues with equipment in the room, you quickly contact the maintenance department for immediate repairs.

Much of your work will revolve around addressing any requests from guests or hotel owners, efficiently and accurately. Having up-to-date knowledge of surrounding areas near the premises, available transport options, and other tourist activities. Guests might ask you about any special events happening in the area, restaurant hours or where to buy good souvenirs and even grab a quick meal.

If there are facilities like golf outings or spa treatments, the bellhop should be able to advise on the day’s schedule, what kind of outfit to wear and when best to make an appointment. When a hotel is short-staffed, you might have to take on additional duties such as room service deliveries or billing a delivery to guests’ rooms.

Work Schedule And Typical Hours

You can enjoy a flexible work schedule when you take on work as a bellhop. Usually, you will make your own schedule, picking eight hour shifts that are preferred whether it is over weekends, weekdays or holidays. Most hotels have a maintenance staff for overnight shifts so those are rare.

Workwise, you have to be comfortable with exhausting tasks such as lifting and carrying heavy luggage and standing on their feet all day. You will be wearing a uniform and stay well-groomed during working hours.

Growth Of The Job

Over 2014-24, jobs in this career path will grow at 8%, about as fast as average compared to other professions in the country. The hotel, motel and resort industry has great potential, with more large hotels to be built over the years to accommodate tourists and other travellers. You can easily advance to other jobs like a desk or mail clerk if you have good clerical skills. You could also become a bell captain with enough experience at a wide range of hotels.

Typical Employers

Bellhops generally work at large hotels, casinos and resorts, rather than motels. You can find employment with Westgate resorts, Fairmont Heritage Place, Hotel Indigo Atlanta Downtown, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort, Homewood Suites Washington, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg and Seven Springs Mountain Resort.