Job Overview Hotel concierges are hotel workers who assist the hotel guests and help them make their stay within the place comfortable and pleasant. The guests who come in and out of the hotel may use their services so as to book tours, do airline reservations as well as rent cars. They are experts in the particular places and cities and what these can offer the guests. Most of the time, they are being used as references and are being asked to recommend restaurants, shows and museums and to other tourist destinations of interests. They may also be asked to plan cocktail receptions, or dinner dates and meetings as well as small parties for several hotel guests. At present, there are approximately 17,000 people working as concierges in different parts of the United States.
Education, Knowledge and Trainings Required
If you wish to establish a career as a concierge, prepare as early as high school by taking subjects in English, Foreign languages and Home Economics. Communication and Speech classes will hone you to have better oral communication skills needed in guest relations. A post secondary degree in not at all required to become a concierge. Many successful concierges come from different educational background and work environments. Some are artists and some are teachers. There are some school in HRIM or hotel and restaurant institution management that offer a degree in hospitality though. Those who have this degree or any of the liberal arts education have an edge to be employed first and ascend to a higher organizational level.
Skills and Abilities
The skills that are necessary to fulfill the duties involved in the job are skills in leadership and management, communication skills both in written and in oral form, as well as skills in helping and teaching. They should be highly reliable and dependable as they direct guest towards certain destinations and services that they need and want.
Communication and interpersonal skills are highly regarded as their job is to satisfy clients by way of fulfilling their requests or responding to their needs adequately and warmly.
Duties
Hotel concierges are known as the most active and the most visible ambassadors of the hospitality department of a hotel. The most basic duty of any concierge is to provide the guests with different or various services that will make their stay enjoyable, memorable as well as comfortable. They receive request from guest such as directions to different places or city attractions and recommendations for tours and restaurants. They also help guests find outside services such as where to obtain car rental services, cleaning services and entertainment places. At times, there are requests that are quite more involved. They may be requested to plan for large dinners or receptions, design travel plans or itineraries, secure tickets for sports events and the like.
Earnings and Job Outlook
The salary for a hotel concierge ranges from 15,000 to 35,000 U.S. dollars per annum. This is dependent on such factors as the location of the employment, the employer and the educational and experience level of the employee. There are some who earn around and over 50,000 U.S. dollars plus the tips that they get from the guest for a good service and a job well done.
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