22 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You usually start by checking arrivals, flight and traffic updates, and your work schedule in whichever system your hotel uses (often a work-scheduling app and Microsoft Outlook).
During the shift you answer guest inquiries, arrange transportation and tickets, run errands, manage mail and luggage, and tidy the lounge. You’ll use mapping tools to plan routes, call vendors for flowers or interpreters, and update requests in Microsoft Word or property software like Yardi.
Learn Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel because hotels use them for email, itineraries and simple budgets. Many properties use Yardi or another property-management system to track room requests, deliveries and billing.
Also be comfortable with a web browser and mapping apps (Google Maps, Apple Maps) for directions and traffic, plus any work-scheduling tool your employer uses.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports about 49,240 employed as of their 2025 data. Median pay is $38,950 per year; the lowest tenth earn $31,620 and the top tenth earn $57,570.
Remember many concierges also earn tips, and pay varies by hotel type, location and shift hours.
Use AI for quick local research—finding event times, restaurant hours, or sample email wording—but never paste guest names, reservation numbers, credit-card details, or private messages into public AI tools. Treat AI like a searchable brochure, not a guest file.
Save any final confirmations or reservations into your hotel systems (Outlook, Yardi, or the property’s CRM) and follow your hotel’s privacy and data policies.
A front-desk receptionist handles check-ins, check-outs, room assignments and payments using property systems. A concierge focuses on guest services: tickets, restaurant and transport bookings, local recommendations, special requests, and running errands.
Both answer guest questions, but the concierge spends more time arranging experiences (excursions, interpreters, entertainment) and managing deliveries, while the receptionist works the registration systems and payments.
Get basic customer-service experience (hotel, retail, or tourism) and learn Outlook, Excel and mapping apps. Practice writing clear confirmations in Microsoft Word and using a web browser to research local attractions and transportation options.
Volunteer or work part-time in hotels or tourist centers to learn ticketing, arranging rideshares/taxis, and monitoring flights. Knowing a second language helps for arranging interpreters and welcoming international guests.
Two top skills: practical local knowledge (restaurants, transit, event venues) and organization (tracking requests, flight changes, deliveries). Prove local knowledge by giving quick, correct recommendations; prove organization by showing you can manage bookings and a simple budget or schedule in Excel or Outlook.
Also show you can use property software (Yardi) or explain how you handled multiple guest requests at once, including communicating clearly and logging actions in the hotel’s systems.