Hotel receptionist
Career outlook for hotel receptionist
Average UK salary
£22,360
Currently employed in Scotland
19,200
"LMI for All" supplies our salary and employment status information. "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.
What's it like?
You would take room bookings and give guests the keys to their room when they arrive. You’d explain about the hotel’s facilities and services like where breakfast is served or when the gym is open.
You need to be friendly and professional at all times, be able to look after several things at once and always stay calm, sometimes under pressure.
You would:
- Deal with bookings by phone, email, letter, fax or face-to-face
- Complete the procedures when guests arrive and leave
- Allocate rooms and give the keys to guests
- Tell guests about hotel facilities and services
- Take, and pass on, messages to guests
- Deal with special requests from guests, like booking theatre tickets or storing valuable items
- Provide information about the surrounding area
- Prepare bills and take payments
- Deal with complaints or problems
In most hotels, you would use a computerised system to keep details of bookings and available rooms up to date.
You would work as part of a team and you may be responsible for one area such as managing telephone reservations or guest departures (also known as checkouts).
In small hotels, your duties may include other tasks such as showing guests to their rooms and serving drinks in the bar.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
UK employment status
Full-time
44%
Part-time
55%
Self employed
1%
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Find a jobTop skills
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- Positive attitude
- Cooperating
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
- Respecting
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Reliable
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Qualifications
Some employers may require National 4/5 qualifications (SCQF level 4/5) and Highers (SCQF level 6).
You can get into some Hospitality National Certificate or National Qualification courses (SCQF 2-6) with between two and four National 4/5 qualifications (SCQF level 4/5).
You can enter Higher National Certificate (SCQF level 7) or Higher National Diploma courses (SCQF level 8) with National 5 qualifications and one to two Highers or a relevant NC/NQ.
Useful subjects
- English (required by most courses and employers)
- Maths (required by most courses and employers)
- Modern languages
- Social studies
- Administrative subjects
- ICT subjects
- Business subjects
Helpful to have
Qualifications and experience that show industry knowledge, customer service skills and administrative/ICT skills such as Scottish Vocational Qualification in Front of House Reception (SVQ level 2) and Skills for Work Hospitality (SCQF level 4/5).
Knowledge of a foreign language.