A hotel cashier collects money from guests for their lodging accommodations and any other fees they may incur during their stay, including parking, valet, room service and telephone or computer use fees. She is also commonly required to maintain related records and files regarding financial transactions that take place at the front desk. Her job normally entails answering guest inquiries regarding fees and services.

Skill Requirements

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Good mathematical skills are required for this job. Although most modern cash registers or point-of-sale (POS) terminals automatically calculate fees and taxes based on the programming of their software, a hotel cashier is expected to be able to accurately calculate bulk room rates or corporate discounts and add up room and auxiliary charges utilizing a calculator or adding machine. Customer service skills are needed for this job, as well as the ability to work well with other hotel staff personnel.

Job Duties

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Besides processing cash, debit card and credit card transactions for guests, a hotel cashier is often responsible for preparing and submitting daily bank deposits. He may also be required to accurately complete sales tax reporting forms. If customers have questions or concerns about charges on their bills, the hotel cashier should be competent in addressing them to their satisfaction. If a hotel has safes or safe-deposit boxes to protect valuable possessions of their guests, the hotel cashier is frequently in charge of guaranteeing the security of the contents.

Work Conditions

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The environment in which a hotel cashier works is normally comfortable. She usually sits or stands behind a counter to perform her job. Manual dexterity is needed to operate adding machines and cash registers. Professional business attire is typically required for this position. Some hotels provide uniforms to all staff members to present a unified team image to guests and make their employees easily recognizable.

Educational Requirements

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A high school diploma or equivalent is generally required to be a hotel cashier. Completed coursework in hospitality management or customer service is considered a plus for hotel cashier applicants. Previous experience in cash handling, accounting, public relations or customer relations is desirable.

Salary and Advancement Opportunities

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This position commonly offers a wide range of career growth opportunities, especially in larger hotel chains. Positions frequently open up in sales, marketing, guest relations and entry-level management that competent hotel cashiers are offered. Based on information provided at CBSalary.com, the United States national average salary for a hotel cashier in 2010 was $17,378.

Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks Employment and Labor Information 2023

Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks Employment Brief:

Accommodate hotel, motel, and resort patrons by registering and assigning rooms to guests, issuing room keys or cards, transmitting and receiving messages, keeping records of occupied rooms and guests' accounts, making and confirming reservations, and presenting statements to and collecting payments from departing guests.

Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks Job Description

Here is a Job Description an employer might post for potential Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks.

Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks Responsibilities and Duties:

• Date-stamp, sort, and rack incoming mail and messages.
• Greet, register, and assign rooms to guests of hotels or motels.
• Compute bills, collect payments, and make change for guests.
• Prepare for basic food service, such as setting up continental breakfast or coffee and tea supplies.
• Keep records of room availability and guests' accounts, manually or using computers.
• Advise housekeeping staff when rooms have been vacated and are ready for cleaning.
• Contact housekeeping or maintenance staff when guests report problems.
• Make and confirm reservations.
• Deposit guests' valuables in hotel safes or safe-deposit boxes.
• Post charges, such as those for rooms, food, liquor, or telephone calls, to ledgers, manually or by using computers.

Typical Daily Tasks of Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks:

• Working with Computers.
• Getting Information.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Calculate costs of goods or services.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Provide information to coworkers. Report maintenance or equipment problems to appropriate personnel.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships.
• Processing Information: Sort mail. Verify accuracy of financial or transactional data.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge.

Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks Skills and Requirements:

• Management of Financial Resources Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
• Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Learning Strategies Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
• SpreadsheetsUsing a computer application to enter, manipulate, and format text and numerical data; insert, delete, and manipulate cells, rows, and columns; and create and save worksheets, charts, and graphs.
• Technology Design Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
• Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Operations Monitoring Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Complex Problem Solving Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Systems Evaluation Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• Social Perceptiveness Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks Salary and Wages:

Average Salary: 58,450. Education: typical education requirements include High school diploma or equivalent.

Data from May 2023 courtesy of U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program.