Will “Desk Clerk” be Automated?

Core Skills & Abilities

• Keep records of room availability and guests' accounts, manually or using computers.

• Date-stamp, sort, and rack incoming mail and messages.

• Perform bookkeeping activities, such as balancing accounts and conducting nightly audits.

• Compute bills, collect payments, and make change for guests.

• Make and confirm reservations.

• Advise housekeeping staff when rooms have been vacated and are ready for cleaning.

• Arrange tours, taxis, or restaurant reservations for customers.

• Transmit and receive messages, using telephones or telephone switchboards.

• Record guest comments or complaints, referring customers to managers as necessary.

• Issue room keys and escort instructions to bellhops.

• Post charges, such as those for rooms, food, liquor, or telephone calls, to ledgers, manually or by using computers.

• Answer inquiries pertaining to hotel services, guest registration, and travel directions, or make recommendations regarding shopping, dining, or entertainment.

• Greet, register, and assign rooms to guests of hotels or motels.

• Verify customers' credit, and establish how the customer will pay for the accommodation.

• Review accounts and charges with guests during the check out process.

• Plan, schedule or supervise the work of other employees.

• Prepare for basic food service, such as setting up continental breakfast or coffee and tea supplies.

• Deposit guests' valuables in hotel safes or safe-deposit boxes.

• Contact housekeeping or maintenance staff when guests report problems.

• Clean and maintain lobby and common areas, such as restocking supplies and watering plants.