Smaller hotels are less likely to have a porter, but larger hotels are likely to have a doorman who also acts as porter and who will walk guests to reception and then assist them with their luggage to their rooms.
In some hotels, where footfall is not constant, porters can also double up as concierge assistants and will often support with security and be an extra pair of hands overnight when the hotel generally operates with a skeleton staff.
This might be seen as a luxury role but is a massive point of difference for some of the luxury hotels and their porters are highly valued members of the team.
Porters do the following:
- Open car doors, welcome the guests and lead the way through to reception
- Take luggage to the guests’ room
- Ensure the secure close down of the hotel at night
- Carry out night audit and security walk
- Deal with incidents which require emergency services during the night shift
- Supervise overnight cleaning of public areas
- Sometimes assisting with set up of breakfast tables
Skills, Experience and Personality Needed
- Polite and helpful with a smart appearance
- Confident in dealing with hotel guests and with good customer service skills
- Level of strength and fitness – there is a lot of carrying involved
- Happy to work alone at night
- Responsible and calm in a crisis.
Benefits and Considerations
- Uniform is sometimes provided
- Can be a part-time, flexible role and there is generally a rota system which includes some nights and weekends
- Tips can increase earnings
- Some manual lifting of suitcases
- High level of responsibility
