Hotel Receptionist Resumes & Writing Guide

When you are applying for Hotel Receptionist role, you need a killer resume document to ensure that you land at the top of the application stack. Our Hotel Receptionist resume sample below is packed with information and examples to help you create an interview-winning application. Hotel Receptionists are the face of the establishment they represent, but the job entails way more than a bright smile and eloquent demeanor.

Other job titles you can look out for under the Hotel Reception category include Resort Receptionist, Guest Liaison, Front Desk Clerk, Greeter, Member Service Representative, Motel Assistant, Cruise Line Receptionist, Front Desk Scheduler, Hotel Reservations Clerk or Client Relations Agent.

Hotel Receptionist Resume Samples

(Free sample downloads are at the bottom of this page)

Hotel Receptionist Resume Writing Guide

Resume Sections

1. Contact Information:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Address
• Mobile Number
• Email Address
• Drivers license

2. Profile Summary:
The elevator pitch of your resume must attract the immediate interest of the reader, prompting them to continue looking through the rest of your resume. Include a broad synopsis of your background, years of industry experience, and qualifications. We included profile summary examples further down in this guide.

3. Qualifications Summary:
For Hotel Receptionist roles, a high school diploma is often the only requirement. However, some job openings may need post-school certifications too in Hospitality, Tourism, Business Administration, or Culinary fields.

4. Relevant Hotel Reception Experience:
Provide information about your working history in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Use bullet points and punchy sentences to list your most value-adding reception activities.

5. Other Employment Experience:
This will consist of permanent work history outside of reception duties, but still in a client relations setting or temporary and vocational jobs where you were directly liaising dealing clients or customers. Only elaborate on these with job descriptions if you have less than five years of reception experience. Otherwise, just list job title company and duration to eliminate voids in your employment history.

6. Skills Summary/Key Skills:
Incorporate terminology, required skills, and keywords from the job posting. You should be weaving these through your resume to reinforce your suitability.

7. Education/Licenses/Certifications/Relevant Coursework/Training:
Hotel Receptionist has access to comprehensive post-school education options by means of courses, in-house training, workshops, and development programs. Show that you have attained the relevant theoretical knowledge to supplement your practical experience.

What to Highlight in a Hotel Receptionist Resume

Recruiters are inundated with resumes continuously, especially in the hospitality and tourism sector where employee turnover is relatively high. If your resume does not stand out from the crowd, you may find yourself spending hours and hours on sending applications with a zero return on effort. Rather spend the extra time now to tailor your resume perfectly to each position and apply for fewer roles. The focus should be on quality applications and not quantity ‘’spray and pray’’ efforts.

Where do you start then? Think about the essential functions of a Hotel Receptionist and convert each task into a value-adding activity (benefit statement).

The first activity of a Hotel Receptionist greets guests and patrons at the establishment. What does this entail and how can you convert this activity into a value add for a potential employer? Perhaps the fact that you have a confident, approachable disposition to make the guest feel welcome as soon as they step through the lobby doors by giving them your undivided attention.

Then comes the check-in process. Hotel receptionists need to be quick and efficient to ensure that guests are checked in, handed their room keys, and informed about hotel layout, amenities, and upcoming events. All of this in less than 15 minutes (according to industry standards) so that weary guests may be escorted to their rooms to relax and unwind, without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

Another aspect of addressing is your capability to handle guest inquiries and complaints in a professional manner. Hotel receptionists are often substitutes for Google Maps, events calendars, and tourist directories. Also, a Hotel Receptionist is also the first point of contact to calm down irate guests and deal with problematic issues from noise complaints to defective air conditioning while staying cool calm and collected under scrutiny.

Next comes the telephone/switchboard function to facilitate reservations, change bookings, or provide information about rates and hotel facilities. You should be explaining your phone tenure by providing examples a ‘’typical day at the office’’ (how many calls you take, frequency of telephone bookings made, etc.).

What goes in must come out. A Hotel Receptionists is also the last face guests will see upon departure (apart from the doorman perhaps). A friendly, fast check-out procedure is of utmost importance to put a final cherry on the cake of a positive guest experience. Hotel Receptionists are responsible for processing payments such as additional room charges and also provide deposit refunds where necessary.

*Cool Tip for a stellar resume

You can create an excellent first impression by showing prospective employers that you could be a brand ambassador for their establishment and be instrumental in boosting recurring reservations in the long term. One way of doing this is via a Feature and Benefit Matrix, such as the one below:

Make sure to include the following details

• The locations or regions you are willing to work in
• Many Hotel Receptionist positions require employees to work during weekends, public holidays, and during night shifts. You need to indicate your availability to work shifts, during weekends and holidays
• Also mention the technology platforms such as front desk technology, booking systems, reviews applications, travel guide apps, email and calendar management systems.
• If you have a good command of additional languages, be sure to add that as well

 Hotel Receptionist Career Summary & Examples

A career summary could either make an impression or be the cause of screening depression. This is the introduction to your resume and should go at the very top of the page, preferably in bold or a different font than the rest of your resume script. You have 6 seconds to grab the reader’s attention, so make it count!

Start your career summary with your years of experience in the industry and primary duties (aka the purpose of your role). Enhance the impact of your summary by using a key phrase or two borrowed from the job advertisement. Then finish off with mentioning your highest (most relevant) qualifications or certifications. Spice it up with metrics or numerical values to reinforce your message.

Examples of Hotel Receptionist Career Summaries:

Career Summary 1

Energetic Hotel Receptionist with five years of experience in luxury hotel settings. Highly proficient in fostering a relationship with new and recurring guests alike, proved by a 95% review rating during the last few years. Ambitious and dedicated to enhancing guest satisfaction at every opportunity. Completed a Bachelor's in Hospitality with a summa cum laude result.  

Career Summary 2

Enthusiastic and resourceful Front Desk Receptionist with 3+ years of work tenure at a corporate hotel and conference center. Skilled at facilitating volumes of check-ins, approximately 30 per day. Proficient in Amadeus and holds a CGSP Certified Guest Services Professional) accreditation.  

Career Summary 3

Efficient front desk receptionist with over 15 years of experience in servicing guests are rural motels and inns. Adept in POS terminal use and fluent in German and French often acting as a translator for European guests on traveling excursions.

Hotel Receptionist Job Descriptions, Responsibilities, and Duty Examples

An employer would expect to see specific foundational duties and skillsets within a Hotel Receptionist resume. Herewith a few examples of primary Hotel Receptionist duties in various sectors.

A Hotel Receptionist at a Holiday resort may:

• Responsible for check-in and check-out processes
• Act as concierge and receptionist simultaneously
• Check-in guests and organize an orientation excursion of facilities and amenities with the Guest Relations Manager Planned custom trip routes for guests upon request
• The first point of contact to address problems with room defects or health emergencies
• Manage the reservation system and perform bookings, cancellations, and reservation amendment
• Process payments for group bookings at various restaurants and recreational facilities at the premises.
• Successfully act as a sales liaison between a hotel guest and local travel companies and tour operators.

A Hotel Receptionist at a Business/Luxury Hotel may:

• Meeting and greeting guests in the lobby before checking them in
• Assist guests with flight bookings and in-city transportation where needed
• Record daily occupancy and rate totals
• Responsible for registering guests on the hotel rewards program and issuing accompanying vouchers and complimentary items
• Facilitate check-in and check-out procedures for all guests
• Ran the settlement process for credit card transactions daily and record revenue totals to generate reports for the accounting department
• Settle Corporate Accounts and submitting to company clients for payment
• Answer telephone and in-person queries about hotel services and facilities

A Hotel Receptionist at an Inn or Motel may:

• Welcome guests and facilitate a smooth checking-in process
• Escort guests to their rooms and give them an introduction tour of the facility
• Distribute menu cards for breakfast and dinner bookings
• Attend to special requests and provide complimentary items such as flowers, champagne, and chocolates
• Assist guests with registering and storing valuables in the motel safely Welcome and greet guests with a smile and in a warm manner
• Make dinner reservations for guests and organize local excursions
• Supervise activities of housekeeping and maintenance staff
• Responsible for motel administrations such as bookkeeping and inventory management
• Process payments and organized for forex to be delivered every week
• Address guest complaints and requests

Highlight Your Accomplishments

Humility is a must-have virtue for any Hotel Receptionist, just not on your resume. You should dedicate a specific section just for accomplishment statements. Don’t be tempted to copy and paste the list of duties you performed under your accomplishment section. Leave them where they belong (in your job description).

Think about the toughest problems you solved, promotions earned, positive reviews accumulated, and value-adding activities deserve their own space in your resume document. Feel free to bold them or use a larger font type for extra impact. Numbers, values, percentages, and scores are your friends. Use them to create compelling accomplishment statements showcasing your competence and uniqueness with strong verbs (executed, resolved, spearheaded) and describe adjectives (patient, enthusiastic, diligent).

Examples:

• Instrumental in implementing an automated guest checking in the system which resulted in 3x faster check-in processes.
• Maintained a 95% score in positive guest review feedback for the last 24 months.
• Responsible for high volume guest check-ins exceeding 1000 guests per month.
• Streamlined guest check-in process by rolling out a new hotel reservation system, making it 5X faster to check into the establishment.
• Served as the unofficial Spanish-speaking translator on various tourist excursions, resulting in a 30% increase in guest satisfaction ratings for the motel.

Hotel Receptionist Education Section & Examples

The education section forms an integral part of your resume and degrees, diplomas course, and certifications attained in this field will give you an extra edge against the other applicants. Remember to include current qualifications you are in the process of completing as well.

The format should look as follows:

Start your most recent qualification and then work backward. Firstly, start and completion dates, then qualification/ course name, followed by the institution, location (city) and abbreviated state name.

Here are some examples of a Hotel Receptionist’s education section

2019 – Current, Certificate in Luxury Hotel Management American Tourism Training Institute, Richmond, IN

2017 Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP)— AHLEI, Orlando, FL

2017 – AHLA Member—American Hotel & Lodging Association, Washington D.C

2016-2018 Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management, Saint Martin’s College, Lacey, WA

2013 Hotel Receptionist Certificate, Lincoln Technical College, Lincoln IN

2012 Outstanding Customer Service—Dale Carnegie, Online

Hotel Receptionist Resume Skills

Although the reception field requires specific technical skills, your soft skills are even more critical for employers to know about. Soft skills are personal features and personality traits that would suggest to your fit for a Hotel Receptionist job. Strategically sprinkle these into your summary, or profile, and into your accomplishment statements.

Technical Skills Examples

• Educational Attainment: A university degree is not typically required to become a Hotel Receptionist, but you may list diplomas, short courses, or workshops you have completed. Also, if you are interested in progressing to management roles, Associate and Bachelor degrees will be a great advantage.
• Technical Aptitude: Hotel Receptionists usually work with Reservation Systems and Customer Information Management (CRM software) often unique to the industry that they are in. Computer Literacy is, therefore, essential in this role. Another core skill revolves around communication because you will be liaising with clients, guests, and suppliers via verbal and written communication channels. Numerical skills are essential, and you need to know your way around POS systems, credit card machines, and cash registers to process payments and provide deposit refunds. You also need to be familiar with email platforms like Gmail or Outlook (most companies have their in-house email software, which should be easy to learn). Hotel Receptionists need to be impeccably groomed (not a hair out of place) and have the physical stamina to stand for hours on end (often in 9-inch heels). Excellent long term and short term memory are pivotal to this role as you need to remember guests by name, especially recurring guest, be able to recall their preferences (room set-up, favorite drinks) and anticipate activities they may enjoy base on their previous history with the establishment.
• Other Core Skills, Local Area Knowledge, Interpersonal Skills, Bilingual, Guest Service, Computer Skills, Accounting, Check-In/Check-Out, Central Reservations Systems (CRS), Problem-Solving, Group Reservations, Physically Fit, Run Reports, PABX System, Financial Transactions

Hotel Receptionist Soft Skills

Instead of providing a lengthy short skills list in bullet format, rather include your soft skills in a table (more comfortable to read):

Qualifications/Certifications associated with Hotel Receptionists

Action Verbs for your Hotel Receptionist Resume

Professional Information for Hotel Receptionists

Sectors: Hospitality & Tourism
Career Type: Reception, Guest Relations, Reservations, Administration, Customer Service, Client Relations, Front Office
Person type:  Communicator, Engager, Supporter, Organizer, Coordinator
Education levels: High School Diploma to Post School Diplomas
Salary indication: Hourly Rate ($8 – $15), Bonus ($18 – $450),Total Pay ($17,214 – $34,555) *Payscale
Labor market: Estimated 9% growth between 2016 – 2026 (BLS)
Organizations: Hotels, Motels, Guesthouses, B&B’s, Resorts, Cruise Liners

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