The Face of the Hotel!

A career as a hotel receptionist can be rewarding and it could be the first step up the job ladder. Stefan Becker, the owner of the hotel consultancy Network, said receptionists of big hotels with over 300 rooms, such as the Cullinan and the Southern Sun hotels, may earn between R6,000 to R7,500 per month. Carina Camilleri, the recruitment manager for the Hotel and Catering Personnel Agency, said receptionists for four to five star hotels can expect to earn R5,000 to R6,500 per month. Receptionists may start with a salary of R3,800 at the Protea group.

Important role

The HR Manager of the President Hotel, in the Protea group, Dee Orrie, said the hotel receptionist played an important role as s/he is the first person the guest interacts with. “Guests need to be happy when they walk out of the hotel, so we know they’ll return”, said Orrie. She needs to be “on-the-ball, well presented and have a pleasant and calm personality”. 

Cleo Louw in the HR Department at the One and Only Hotel said the hotel receptionist is there to “meet and greet the guest, book them in and out” and “work computer systems” associated with this. Reception duties involve maintaining the high standard of guest service; liasing with guests; problem-solving; and receiving and processing payments. 

Becker stated that the receptionist must also have a sound knowledge of her surroundings and tourist attractions, as she will often act as an “information bureau”. Orrie said they might also be required to serve welcome drinks.

Requirements

“Requirements may include a hotel school diploma and three years of experience for a four-star or five-star hotel,” said Camilleri. Receptionists for the One and Only Hotel would need one year of working experience at a similar hotel. Becker said in-house training was also given.

Working Conditions 

Most of the main groups of hotels offer up to 50 percent medical aid and pension. The Protea group grants 21 days leave per annum which increases to 28 days after 4 years of employment. Benefits also include disability and death benefits. Becker said working conditions’ policy in the hospitality industry was “very flexible”  and many hotels had a board of directors who decided on employees’ working conditions.

Hotel reception is a 24-hour service so frontline workers work shifts. The nine-hour shifts at the Protea group include 6pm-3am, 3am-11am and 7pm-4am. The shifts at the One and Only are from 7am to 11pm and 11pm to 7am.

Salaries 

A hotel receptionist in the Protea group may become a head receptionist with a salary of R5,500 leading to a job as duty manager earning R7,500.  Becker said a receptionist in a big hotel can become a shift leader in charge of reception, with a salary of between R8,500 and R9,000. They may progress to assistant front manager earning about R10,000, then go on to become a front office manager with a salary ranging from approximately R12,000 to R14,000. A top post to aspire to could be the rooms division manager earning about R20,000 a month.

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