F o - Chapter-1
F o - Chapter-1
Course Description:
The course also discusses topics such as receiving and processing guest
reservation, providing accommodation and concierge services, conducting night
audit, performing front office financial activities, and providing club reception
services.
Course Guide:
Chapter 4: Reservation
Chapter 5: Reception
Each chapter could be learned in a self – paced or individual format and it is the
responsibility of the students to maximize their time and exert with determination in
completing the course with the best learning outcomes. However, contents presented in this
module may not be enough for their learning needs, so it is suggested to consider reading
other references related to the topics. For each chapter, there are discussion, examples, and
exercises as a course requirement to contribute 50% of students’ grades. Ideally, all of the
exercises should be done and compiled to be submitted during major exams. Students may
contact their professor/instructor for any concern or clarifications about the topics, tasks, and
outputs to be done.
As to major exams, midterm examination will cover Chapter 1 to Chapter 4 and final
examination will cover Chapter 5 to Chapter 8.
Having completed the module, the students are anticipated to meet the
following outcomes:
1. Identify the tasks and roles performed by the staff of the FO department.
2. Enumerate traits and qualities that an FO staff should possess.
3. Discuss the guest cycle and promote products and services to guests.
4. Develop an efficient communication system to operate within the front office
and between other departments such as housekeeping and maintenance.
5. Perform the steps in receiving and processing reservation.
6. Perform during stay function.
7. Provide club reception, concierge and bell services.
8. Explain the steps involved in the night audit process.
9. Enumerate the methods in preparing guest folio.
10. Appreciate the procedures for handling guest complaints.
Course Requirements:
Students are expected to submit the following requirements or outputs during major
exam.
Chapter Chapter Title Requirement/Output
1 The Front Office Department
2 The Guest Cycle Chapter Exercises
3 The Front Office Communication Midterm Examination
4 Reservation
5 Reception
6 Front Office Special Functions Chapter Exercises
7 Night Audit Final Examination
8 Front Office Cashier
Prepared by:
Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=front+office+department
INTRODUCTION
No matter how the hotel is set up, the front desk is always the important department
in the hotel. It is found at the lobby area facing the main entrance door of a particular hotel
for easy monitoring of guests’ arrival and departure.
It is also referred to as the “nerve center” of the hotel since it is the primary source of
information pertaining to guest services. However, it serves as a “shock absorber” since it
handles guest’s complaints. The front office staffs should portray desirable personality since
they have direct contact with customers. The impressions of the guests are lasting so
therefore it is necessary to be nice to them.
From the hotel’s point of view, the front office serves as the liaison since it
coordinates guest services to other departments. Hence, the front office is the department
that connects guest services with the back of the house operations. It serves as the main
channel of communication and information dissemination for the hotel and is the core point
of the hotel department’s business activities. The way the front office operates has become
a yardstick by which the organization is measured.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The hotel organization varies depending on the hotel size, facilities and amenities, as
well as level of service offered, however, the bottom line of the structure would always be the
same, that’s guest satisfaction and profitability. Hotels differentiation will highly depend on
the assets incorporated in the property but one resource which makes a lot of difference
would be kind of people deployed to give the human touch of excellent service.
Creating the feeling of warm hospitality during the guest arrival, all throughout the
stay and departure.
Address information needs and all types of services required by the guests.
Room effective usage according to guest preferences which also ensures maximum
profitability.
Handles the Property Management System (PMS) for proper collection and
dissemination of data required to run each department on automated operation while
help documentation on a manual system.
General Manager – plays an important role in running hotel operations in a day-to-day basis
managing its staff and guests. Should take a lead in making strategic plans in all
departments to maximize operations to generate guest satisfaction.
Executive Assistant Manager – will assist the General Manager and the Hotel Manager in
providing smooth linkages for all departments taking into consideration guest’s satisfaction
and comfort.
Front Office Manager – responsible in leading the group. Direct coordinate the activities of
the front offices department towards the delivery of warm hospitality, promotion of hotel
services provision of effective communication with other departments, utilization of rooms
through proper occupancy forecasting and training of staffs towards profit maximization.
Front Desk Clerk – reserves, registers and assigns rooms to guests. Should be
knowledgeable about availability of rooms that are for sale and other facilities and /or
services that the hotel offers.
Reservations Agent – receives and processes reservation of rooms from different channel
distribution and are required to practice salesmanship skills sell higher room types and other
hotel services to the guest. May also be responsible for preparing the daily expected arrival
and departure list.
Receptionist – entertains the guest inquires and accommodation needs at the time of the
arrival in the hotel. Basic responsibilities include receiving the guests and responsible to
queries all throughout the day.
Front Office Cashier – assist the guest on all financial transactions and settlement while
they are still in the hotel. Responsibilities include administering the safe deposit system and
handling foreign currency exchange.
Uniformed Service – Many hotels rely on employees to keep things running smoothly.
Within the uniformed service field, there are many positions.
Bell Attendant– help carry the guest luggage upon check in & check-out from the hotel port
to the room. They also help guest to familiarize the facilities and amenities.
o Door Attendants – main responsibility is to exhibit the hotel warm services to guest
upon the actual arrival to the premise by assisting them in the opening the car and
the hotel door helping in collecting luggage from the car and endorsing the need for
valet.
o Valet Parking Attendants – guarantees that guests' cars are safely parked on hotel
grounds
o Concierge – organizes both hotel and non-hotel services for guests. Functions
include, but are not limited to, assisting guests by offering basic but straightforward
directions on reservation inquiries or even booking a reservation.
Night Audit – performs night duties in the front office primarily checking of accounting
records as to balancing of guest accounts against actual room usage and other charges..
Keep track of room income, occupancy percentages, and other front-office metrics.
Front Office Work Shifts – personnel in this department typically work 40 hours per week.
Because hotels are open 24 hours a day, labor shifts may differ from one establishment to
the next. An example of a front-office work shift is shown below.
Front-office personnel often work a 40-hour week. Work shifts may vary based on the
establishment, as hotels and other hotel accommodations are open 24 hours a day. Here's
an example of a front-desk shift:
Compressed Work Shift Job Sharing
Types of Accommodations
Bed and Breakfast Inns These are private homes that Ala Amid Bed &
are rented out to guests. Breakfast in Puerto
Prinsesa, Philippines
Guest Houses These are modest hotels with Birang Guest House,
limited amenities, similar to
bed and breakfast inns. In
some guest houses, though, Coron, Philippines
the proprietor resides on the
premises.
Star Rating
Hotels all over the world are categorized according to a rating system that classifies
hotel base on its quality – on-site facilities, amenities, quality of comfort and services, and
decorative features. Star rating ranges from 1-star to 5-star however, in some countries, this
may range up to 7-star.
These are usually for budget conscious
1 Star Hotels travelers. These establishments provide
the minimum of services. Facilities are
also limited and are often shared with
other guests. If food is available it is
usually just breakfast.
In the Philippines, this star rating is regulated by the Department of Tourism (DOT).
The DOT along with other agencies and a third-party auditor conducts a periodical
assessment of hotels that determine their star rating. These ratings are given to the hotels
after accreditation by the DOT is given.
The DOT's five-star grading system is divided into seven dimensions that apply to
hotels, resorts, and apartments — with the exception of the lounge and kitchen space, which
are only applicable to apartment hotels. The seven dimension are as follows:
Bedrooms 30%
Bathrooms 15%
Amenities 10%
TOTAL 100%
Rooms vary depending on how big or small the hotel or lodging is. To provide the
best accommodation based on the demands of the customers, a front desk agent must be
aware with the various room kinds and their attributes.
Deluxe room – contains the hotel's maximum pricing for a standard sleeping room These
are the rooms with the best possible location and view, as well as the most comfort,
furniture, and décor.
Superior room – shows the hotel's moderate or medium room rate. This style of
accommodation is typically on the ground floor and has a good view.
Standard room – reflects the lowest hotel room pricing for a standard-size sleeping room.
This type of room usually has the least appealing view and is the least convenient.
Economy room – is priced below the normal minimum rate and is usually reserved for
overflow situations, discounted rates or special promotions.
Suite room – is a hotel room having two or more beds, as well as other rooms such as a
kitchenette or a living room.
Aside from room class, hotel or lodging rooms can also be categorized based on the
bedding types.
King bed (76” x 80”) – is normally the largest size bedding available. It is commonly
provided in a deluxe room.
Queen bed (60” x 80”) – is smaller than king bed but larger than double beds. This kind of
bed is commonly used in a deluxe or superior rooms.
Double bed (54” x 75”) – is commonly used in a superior or standard room. It is considered
more suitable for one adult than for two.
Twin bed (36” x 75”) – is about half the size of a traditional king bed. There are usually two
beds in a room with twin bedding.
Single bed (36” x 75”) – is located in a single occupancy room with one twin bed or one
bed of any size.
First impressions are crucial in the hotel sector because they decide whether or not a
consumer will return to your establishment. This is where the front office's importance shines
through. Front office agents are the first and last hotel staff members that clients meet when
they use hotel services, and they play a significant role in why consumers return to the hotel.
Front Office Services ensures that the hotel makes a positive impression on its guests by
executing procedural responsibilities.
For hotels with bigger and highly organized structure, each function of Front Office is
held by a smaller unit of an organization like reservation section. On the other hand, small
operations with up to 100 rooms may be manned by just front desk clerk to do all and
responsibilities from inquires to concierge services. The general job responsibilities for multi-
skilled FO staff are as follows:
HR FORM 101
REPORTS: FO SUPERVISOR
POSITION SUMMARY:
Assist the guest all throughout their transaction and stay with the hotel. During the
guest cycle, the clerk is primarily for up selling the rooms, handling reservations, registration
of guest, providing general and hotel information, cashiering and coordinating the needs of
the guest to the other departments.
Job Specifications:
Front office personnel makes or breaks the whole organization. Guest looks up to
them as an epitome of warm hospitality and caring accommodation as they are exposed to
a very new environment and people. The capability of the FO to establish trust and
confidence trough consistent customer service can ensure a very happy stay for their guest.
The expectation surely requires a person with special qualities.
Regardless of the size of the number of employees, the front office department
performs a variety of tasks and responsibilities. A summary of basic activities of the front
office department is shown below. The staff is supervised by the Front Office Manager who
monitors all the operations of the department.
Name Plate
The name plate will help to converse in a more personal manner using the first name.
Look
FO is a symbol of perfection, it is a requirement for women to wear complete day
makeup and clear skin for men to look pleasing to everyone.
Personal Hygiene
Maintain above usual care for personal hygiene since guest will be very sensitive on
how FO looks and smells.
Accessories
Hair clips should better be black or generic colors while jewelry are welcome to a
minimal level. Sincerest SMILE is the best accessory to compliment the formal look.
4. Professional
Working in the Front Office is a continuous hour of unexpected challenges
while being exposed to a new set of guests daily. The staffs need to sustain a
certain standard of professionalism in order to absorb all possible complaints and
concerns and still be able to retain their composure to entertain other things with a
positive outlook and respond to each of them with devotion and passion. All
throughout the day, they are supposed to:
5. Skills requirement
Communication skills. Effectively express ideas in a manner of speech body
language, and tone which are both understandable, pleasing and useful to the
guest.
Interpersonal skills. This is very relevant soft skill which he should possess in
order to work effectively in his post. This is the ability of a person to get along or
relate with others naturally and efficiently which can make a big difference in the
perception of the guest of hospitality.
Furniture, is the latest office equipment, and supplies are the most important
accessories for the front desk office.
1. Furniture – Ergonomics is the study of how to design office furniture and work
spaces to improve human well-being and prevent chronic pain caused by
repetitive tasks.
Room rack
Mail, message and key racks
Reservation racks
Information racks
Folio trays or folio buckets
Account posting machine
Voucher racks
Cash register
Telephone
Office supplies
Logo
3
2 4
1
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Source: Session FO-4. Lodging Operations Program. Educational Institute of AH&MA. 1992
ASSESSMENT:
Answer the following on a piece of paper:
1. Form/Create a flow chart to show the hierarchy among front office staff.
2. Explain in your own words the basic activities of the Front Office Department.
3. Classify the different front office equipment and accessories.