Hotel Front Desk Agent

Hotel Front Desk Agent

Hotel Front Desk

Los Angeles, CA

Male, 27

For the past two years I've worked the front desk at a boutique luxury beachfront hotel in Southern California. My job can range from simply checking guests in & out to many other duties, including: pretending I work in different departments so that behind-the-scenes chaos is never seen by a guest, shielding guests from stalkers that come looking for them, and picking up used drug paraphernalia from a trashed room. Ask me anything.

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Last Answer on November 24, 2013

Best Rated

Can the hotel you work for charge you if a guest does not pay?

Asked by Skip almost 11 years ago

Technically by law in most states, an employee's wages cannot be garnished to offset a loss unless the error in question causes a loss over a certain amount, and that generally has to have been done with malicious intent by the employee.  It all will have to be listed in the employee handbook (if available) as to what type of error that would be and what the limits are.  Generally like in California, an employee can be terminated at any time, as can they quit at any time, because California is an "at will" state.  However, any major error could result in being terminated at most hotels.  If the guest maliciously avoided paying the bill, such as skipping out after racking up a huge restaurant or room service bill or even using fraudelent credit cards, counterfeit bills, etc, and the hotel does not receive payment, then it's the former guest, NOT the employee, who is really at fault. 

i have this project about front desk .. what are those things commonly seen in the front desk ?

Asked by sheena almost 11 years ago

Printer/fax machine, phones, computers/monitors/keyboards/mouse, two-way radios & charges, possibly blank room keys and key reader/coding device. You will probably also see all of the things that guests ask for on a routine basis, such as basic toiletries, wine/bottle openers, playing cars, etc. Lastly, depending on how the hotel is set up, you may have a safe, files of registration cards, and a small bank of cash for making change, especially if there is a restaurant, bar, and valet parking operation on site.

im a hm student , i have this projects about front desk .. my question is what are those things commonly be seen inside the front desk?

Asked by sheena almost 11 years ago

Printer/fax machine, phones, computers/monitors/keyboards/mouse, two-way radios & charges, possibly blank room keys and key reader/coding device.  You will probably also see all of the things that guests ask for on a routine basis, such as basic toiletries, wine/bottle openers, playing cars, etc.  Lastly, depending on how the hotel is set up, you may have a safe, files of registration cards, and a small bank of cash for making change, especially if there is a restaurant, bar, and valet parking operation on site.

i work for a hotel and pick up a second job working for one of the guest i have no sign contract can the hotel fire me

Asked by kimberly over 10 years ago

I woulid read your employee handbook very carefully to see if there's a rule against this.  If there isn't, then you're fine, if there is, then do that second job at your own risk.

As a Front Desk Associate what would you do if there were no rooms available

Asked by Jenn over 10 years ago

That sounds like a sold out night which is great!  Just inform everyone that calls or tries to book online that you are sold out, and make sure that whomever keeps track of your online booking engines shuts off any access to rooms, so you don't get overbooked.  If for some reason someone shows with an accidental overbooked reservation, you'll have wanted to have already called all your neighboring hotels to find out if they have any rooms available in case you have to "walk" or relocate a guest to a neighboring and comparable hotel for the night until you have a room available for them again. 

The hotel I booked was supposed to open on Nov 15, 2013 (I made a reservation for Nov 22-24) but now the hotel is announcing its openning on January 2014. What am I entittled to?

Asked by Carlos over 10 years ago

All you would be entitled to if the hotel's opening is delayed, is that they refund you anything you may have prepaid.  The fact is, opening or re-opening a hotel is a complicated, frustrating process that has many moving parts, and more often than not, the projected opening date will be pushed back.  Often it's due to securing permits, weather, construction delays or loss of funding, most of which are unexpected and if the hotel could do anything about it, they would.  But unfortunately, you're not going to receive some type of monetary compensation beyond what you may have paid in advance.  

What are the perks and benefits of being a hotel front desk agent?

Asked by pete over 10 years ago

So many to list, from working in a dynamic environment, to beautiful surroundings, having a great team structure, the ability to rely on and help other departments, helping meeting awesome people.  Not only that but depending on the hotel you can get great benefits such as discounted room rates for friends and family and if you are a concierge, getting to try out all of the things the guests pay for, but for free because people want you to recommend their goods and services.