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Home / Careers / Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerk
If you’ve ever stayed in vacation or temporary lodging of any kind, you’ve interacted with the front desk clerk. This individual performs an essential duty, handling the everyday needs of the guests. Here, desk clerks are responsible for greeting guests, checking them in and out of the hotel, and addressing other questions or needs in regard to hotel services.
A friendly demeanor and strong problem-solving skills are important in this position, as hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks may handle a wide range of requests. Some guests are very particular about their room placement, and may require specific accommodations in a particular area of the hotel. Others may inquire about the amenities available and request arrangements for extra towels and soap or special items like a toothbrush or razor.
Though some hotels have a separate concierge position, others roll the responsibilities of a concierge into the desk clerk’s duties. In this type of establishment, the desk clerk would also be responsible for helping guests make dinner reservations, secure tickets to nearby shows and attractions, and arrange for transportation. He or she may suggest the best shopping in the area, recommend a reliable taxi service, or help visitors find their destination and the proper bus route on a map.
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks perform many routine duties, but they’re also responsible for responding promptly to any request the guest may have, which can present them with an ever-changing set of challenges that keep things interesting.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 154,100 openings for information clerks are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Some of the slow growth is attributable to the rise in technology. Many people now book hotel rooms online rather than calling a desk clerk to make reservations. Some hotels offer self-service check-in kiosks, and many offer easy in-room check-out services that allow visitors to bypass the front desk on their way out. These advancements have eased the duties of the desk clerk, but they’ve also made it possible for hotels, motels, and resorts to function efficiently with a smaller staff at the front desk.
Job seekers may qualify for a position as a hospitality desk clerk with as little as a high school diploma. However, as job growth is minimal in this area, you can expect competition to increase. You can improve your employability by furthering your education. The Hospitality Assistant Diploma from Bryant & Stratton College covers business and marketing principles, computing skills, hospitality management principles, and more to help you increase your chances of getting a rewarding job in this field.
A hospitality assistant diploma will prepare you for many positions in the hospitality field. Some job titles you should consider include:
With a hospitality assistant diploma, you would be well-suited to these and other related positions in hotels, motels, resorts, and other travel destinations.
For more insights into hospitality degrees and how you can build a successful career in this area, check out the degree insights section of our blog. Start planning your future today.
In addition to your business associate degree, you may also consider obtaining a bachelor’s degree, which is required by many employers. Your business associate degree can be applied toward several bachelor’s degree programs at Bryant & Stratton College to further your education and push you forward on your career track.
As you’d expect, these desk clerks work in the hospitality industry, at accommodations of all types. In addition to manning the front desk for traditional hotels, they may also work at a check-in location for rental cabins, rental homes, or even campsites. Anywhere there are accommodations to be had, you will usually find at least one desk clerk handling daily tasks at the property.Naturally, you’ll find more positions for hospitality desk clerks in popular travel destinations. California, Texas, Florida, New York, and North Carolina employ the highest number of these professionals. If you want to target your job search more specifically, the metropolitan areas with the highest number of jobs for desk clerks are New York City, Los Angeles, Orlando, Washington DC, and Houston.
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