Job Description for a Bellman
Bellhops provide hospitality services in clubs or other buildings such as hotels. They get their name from the fact that the person at the front desk of the building would ring a bell to get the bellhop's attention--the bellhop was expected to run to see what was needed (i.e., to "hop to it"). Bellhops don't respond to bells anymore, but they still have many of the same responsibilities today as they did decades ago.
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General Duties
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Like porters, bellhops have to escort guests or residents, take care of luggage, run errands and deliver food or packages, according to the website State University; however, unlike porters, bellhops report problems with the facility--they don't necessarily fix it themselves unless the bellhop has been given porter responsibilities by the management. Career Planner adds that bellhops are responsible for explaining amenities and services of the building to the residents or guests, as well as for telling the residents and guests where to find services that may be outside but near to the facility. They also may have to page clients from the front desk--for this reason, bellhops also sometimes are called pages.
Wage
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Depending on how much experience a bellhop has and how personable he appears to the facility's clients, he may make significant wages in tips alone. When tips are not counted, however, the average wage for a bellhop is relatively low. According to I Hire Hospitality Services, bellhops earned an annual wage of approximately $18,700 in 2010.
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Hazards
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State University points out that bellhops have to be able to carry luggage on a daily basis. They also have to be flexible in their scheduling, because their services are needed both day and night. Bellhops thus are at risk for problems such as general exhaustion and lifting-related injuries.
Education
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State University recommends that bellhops have at least a high school diploma, since employers prefer this minimum. It is helpful, but not required, to have some training in hotel or hospitality services for this position.
Communication
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Bellhops have to deal with clients one-on-one every day, all day. It is absolutely imperative that they communicate in a friendly, efficient way. If they don't, they risk complaints from clients and potential job loss. They also put the reputation of the facility on the line if they don't make the client happy. They should be able to diffuse tense situations that may arise between the management and the client, so bellhops may find some negotiation or even a little psychology knowledge useful.
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References
- Photo Credit bell image by peter Hires Images from Fotolia.com
