My Experience in a Hotel Job at an Airport Hotel in the UK
Working in an airport hotel can be great fun for the individual who
enjoys meeting new people from different cultures and learning a few
words from a broad spectrum of languages. The hotel industry, especially the Gatwick hotels industry, requires a worker with a cordial approach and one who is
dedicated to personal efficiency, with those skills pushed to the
limits when working in a major airport hotel.
Although working at an airport hotel may be exciting at times, it is
also a high pressure position where one must be able to cope with
stressed out guests. One of the main reasons a guest chooses an airport
hotel over a downtown accommodation is for the convenience of getting
to the airport on time. During the typical guest check-out, you will
find the patron looking at his watch and exhibiting some impatience
with the final details of the exit paperwork. The front desk employee
must be sensitive to the guest’s worries and concerns about a speedy
check-out, and must be well trained to handle every emergency that
might slow down the process. If the guest seems a bit grumpy, remember
that he is not going out for a leisurely day of sightseeing, but
rather, is in a rush to catch a flight.
The airport hotel employees that receive gratuities may not have the
largest individual tips, but can make up for that with volume. This
type of accommodation remains one of the most bustling and well-booked
of hotels, offering the tipped employee a nice intake for a day’s work.
The setback to the busy hotel schedule is that an employee may be asked
to work overtime during peak seasons or when large tour groups are
checking-in. This may entail a hectic four hour addition to an already
exhausting shift, but for the professional that takes his job
personally, the hourly overage is welcomed.
Some of the best jobs at an airport hotel that pull in a tip on top of
the wages include food and beverage servers, bell hops, valets and
concierge. The steady influx of checked-in guests can be a gold mine
for those who present themselves with congeniality and a helping hand.
Unlike many hotels located in prime tourists locations, the patrons at
the airport hotels tend to be frequent and repetitive customers. This
is particularly true with business travelers who tend to stay at the
same airport-friendly location on each trip. To the seasoned
professional on the hotel team, this is your chance to build a rapport
with that client and increase your popularity and gratuities.
Life at the airport hotel may be a faster pace than the more expensive
hotels with a view, but if you remember why the guest booked that
location in the first place, you are on your way to understanding what
you need to do to make an excellent impression. Be fast, efficient, and
make their stay pleasant, and you just might be one of the reasons why
the traveling business person comes back.
Employment opportunities can be found on Hotel specific pages. Otherwise Monster and Co will make it as well.
