Accommodation is a vital part of the tourism industry because without it tourists would have nowhere to stay while visiting the country. Read below to find out more.
Unless there is adequate accommodation tourists are unable to visit and stay at some destinations. e.g. some of Fiji’s outer islands, or a remote spot on the West Coast of New Zealand. Therefore, as the amount and range of accommodation have grown like in Queenstown, so has tourism. Some tourists will only want luxury accommodation, while others may be happy with cabin-style accommodation.
Accommodation, therefore, plays a really important role in the tourism industry for the following reasons:
- Tourists need somewhere to stay
- Tourists need a wide range of accommodation from backpackers to luxury lodges
- Tourism anywhere in the world would be hard to develop unless there was accommodation available where tourists could stay.
There is a huge range of accommodation available in New Zealand, from bunk rooms in a youth hostel through to a penthouse suite at a luxury hotel.
Savanna studied at New Zealand School of Tourism and now works as a Guest Service Agent at the BreakFree in Christchurch. Savanna now operates as a senior agent and on occasion covers the role of Duty Manager.
Hotels are predominantly targeted at business travelers, tourists and conferences or events, like weddings. Guest rooms are generally one bedroom plus bathroom, sometimes they have inter-connecting rooms for families. This is where there are two rooms adjacent to each other with a connecting door in-between which links them together. Luxury hotels sometimes have suites and perhaps even a penthouse- which is right at the top of the hotel often with fantastic views! Hotels will usually have a restaurant, bar facilities, conference rooms, possibly a gym and a swimming pool. They can also sometimes offer secretarial services and valet service.
Large hotels often belong to a hotel chain such as the InterContinental hotels, AccorHotels, Quality Hotels, and Sheraton Hotels.
Let’s look at what roles are available in a large hotel since hotels are the main employers of staff in the accommodation sector of the tourism industry.
Lucy studied at New Zealand School of Tourism and got a job working at Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays, Australia.
A hotel receptionist works on the Front Desk and is responsible for greeting guests and checking them into and out of their rooms, they may book taxis, answer telephone calls, collect payment from guests, settle their accounts, arrange wake up calls and answer any queries that guests may have. Hotel receptionists are often referred to as Guest Service Agents or Front Office Assistants.
A hotel receptionist is one of the first people a visitor may encounter in a new destination – and it is often an entry-level role. The receptionist must make a fabulous first impression on all visitors so that they feel welcomed and relaxed. The average salary for a hotel receptionist ranges between $35-45,000 per annum, (each year). Check out the job advert below which was sourced from SEEK NZ
Guest Service Agent
- Opportunities to develop your career
- Supportive, fun working environment
- Staff Meals & uniforms provided + great staff discounts
Heritage Hotel Management operates Heritage, CityLife and Heritage Collection Hotels within New Zealand. At Heritage Hotels our focus is on delivering The Heritage Experience (T.H.E), which promises guests an exceptional and personalised experience every time they stay with us, focused on sleep, eat, work or play. Our values are Honesty, Ownership, Passion and Empathy: these values define us as an organisation and are what we measure ourselves by, as well as the attributes that we look for in all of our employees.
At present, we are seeking a Guest Service Agent based at the CityLife Hotel Wellington. This role would appeal to a candidate who is looking for a start in the hotel industry or someone with previous hotel experience looking for the next step by being part of an iconic New Zealand brand.
In this role you will work alongside the hotel Receptionist to manage the day to day needs of our guests and the front office department, including greeting guests, delivering luggage to guest rooms, check-ins and check-outs, cash handling and posting charges, assisting guests with in-person and telephone inquiries and general upkeep of front office and hotel public areas. This position is a part-time position, this role will involve weekend shifts as well as shifts during the week; shifts will be on a rotating roster covering early, late and some night shifts.
To be successful in this position you will bring your experience working within a hotel or customer service environment along with a genuine ambition to lay down the foundations for a brilliant hospitality career. You will demonstrate your ability to perform within a close knit team environment, use your interpersonal skills to go above and beyond guest expectations, manage guest confidentiality and take ownership of day to day front office operations.
In addition to a competitive hourly wage, we can offer other benefits including discounted accomodation, uniforms and dry cleaning, complimentary staff meals while on shift and the chance to be part of a committed team and an opportunity to enhance your skills and knowledge.
To apply for this job go to:
heritagehotels.recruitmenthub.co.nz and enter ref code: 4876913
Typically the salary for a full time role would pay between $35-45,000 per annum.
Let’s consider the role of a hotel receptionist and think back to the knowledge, attributes, skills and personal presentation qualities that would be needed to be great in this job. Revisit the previous subtopics to re-familiarise yourself and complete the exercise below.
Hamilton Island Report is located in the Whitsundays, Australia. Read the extract below and explore their website before attempting the next quiz
On Hamilton Island, you’ll never find yourself short of things to do, with a huge number of daily activities and entertainment options. If you’re in the mood for relaxing, you can lounge by one of the many island pools, enjoy a massage or a spa treatment, indulge in some renowned food and wine, browse some of the local boutiques, or simply explore the island in your golf buggy and enjoy the spectacular views at every turn. You can also explore the magnificent Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach in a way that suits you; via helicopter, seaplane or yacht, or one of our popular catamaran tours.
If you’re feeling more energetic, you can choose from over 60 exciting activities: explore some of the island’s walking trails, utilise the watersports equipment on Catseye Beach, go go-cart racing, play a round of golf on one of Australia’s premier courses, and much more. Or, you can get involved in one of our exciting calendar of sporting events, which includes marathons, triathlons, family-friendly beach races, ocean swims and charity walks.
Part of the Whitsundays, and in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, Hamilton Island is one of Australia’s most spectacular and sought-after holiday destinations. On a holiday to Hamilton Island, you’ll be surrounded by pristine white beaches, and a kaleidoscope of coral and marine life. Hamilton Island is a perfect base for exploring the Great Barrier Reef and world-famous Whitehaven Beach.
There’s plenty to do during your Great Barrier Reef holiday on Hamilton Island. You can enjoy a wide selection of bars and restaurants, year-round cultural exhibitions and performances, an abundance of water sports and activities - and that’s just the start! For sailing enthusiasts, there’s the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, and for keen golfers, the Hamilton Island Golf Club is the only Australian 18-hole championship course on its own island. Plus, with six different levels of accommodation to choose from across the island - ranging from plush, couples’ suites, to family-friendly apartments and holiday homes, a holiday on Hamilton Island really does offer something for everyone.
Miziah studied at New Zealand School of Tourism and got a job working at Daydream Island Resort in the Whitsundays, Australia. He’s now the team leader in one of the restaurants there and loving it!
This video features Lily who studied and completed her level 3,4 & 5 – (Diploma in Travel and Tourism) at New Zealand School of Tourism. She completed an internship (paid study) by working at Hamilton Island Resort, Whitsundays Australia.
This is a major role in any hotel, after all, without sales, there are no guests!
Reservations for rooms come from many different sources; direct customers, travel agents, online travel agents (such as Expedia), tour operators and airlines. They are also booked in various ways – nowadays this is normally via websites, emails and telephone.
The reservation or sales agent is responsible for monitoring the bookings made online and liaising with travel agents and answering email enquiries. It is their job to make sure that the guest needs are met and that their room is booked. But if you think that is simply a case of answering the phone and ticking a box on a computer screen, then you’re mistaken.
Working the role of a reservation/sales agent means that it is your duty to be completely familiar with all aspects of the hotel, all of its features and facilities. You would need to have extensive knowledge of every room type in the hotel and all of the facilities within that room so that you can answer any query. The agent needs to know the different room rates and special deals that hotels operate and be aware of all the marketing tactics that the hotel is undertaking. Liaising with the other departments of the hotel is very important too – for example, if a guest is allergic to feather pillows then the housekeeping staff need to be made aware so that they can ensure that the pillows are the right type.
This role usually starts with an average salary of between $35-45,000 per annum.
Carole was a successful graduate of the New Zealand School of Tourism and was also successful at gaining a reception role at the Distinction Hotel in Hamilton. Carole is now the Reservations Supervisor!
You will appreciate that any hotel’s core business is its guest rooms and suites. This is usually the main reason that guests will use at a hotel, to stay over, although you may visit a hotel for weddings, conferences or other events.
Looking after hotel rooms fall to the responsibility of the housekeeping department. An executive housekeeper, also known as a housekeeping supervisor, will head up a team who must ensure that the rooms are spick and span and perfect for guests to enjoy.
Housekeeping is an extremely important department of any hotel. It helps create that first impression when the guests first arrive - the condition and cleanliness of the lobby is all down to housekeeping! This department is responsible for cleaning all areas of the hotel that are used by guests. This includes the cleaning of guest rooms, lobby, restaurants, bars, restrooms, conference rooms etc. They are sometimes responsible for replenishing mini-bars in rooms and for laundering linen or guest clothing as many large hotels also have their own laundry which is run by the housekeeping department.
The team working for the executive housekeeper will be made up of room attendants, also known as housekeeping attendants or housekeepers and typically their average annual starting salary is between $35-40,000.
Check out jobs advert below, sourced from Seek NZ.
ACCOR HOTELS – Feel Welcome!
Room Attendant
Ibis Budget Auckland Airport currently has fantastic opportunities in our Housekeeping department for highly motivated energetic individuals with exceptional attention to detail. As a Room Attendant you will work independently as part of a team of 20 Housekeeping professionals servicing our guest rooms. You will be responsible for a hotel main product- the hotel room, having high standards of cleanliness and also ensuring storage areas and corridors are spotless.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Clean, dust and vaccum guest rooms to the highest standard.
- Make the perfect bed- the soul of the room, and ensure that all around it creates the picture-perfect setting to welcome and accomodate our guests.
- Replace towels, linen and guest amenities according to room type requirements.
- Check room equipment and report any faults.
- Maintain guest room security.
- Respond to guest requests efficiently and with a genuine smile.
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
- A keen eye for detail and PASSION about quality and presentation- you will be all about creating memorable experiences with an inviting and immaculate environment to welcome out guests. Experience in cleaning preferred.
- A friendly, helpful and positive attitude.
- Be physically fit & energetic.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, multi-task and make use of your excellent time management skills to adhere to strict time lines.
- Successful candidates will be offered varying hours and days each week.
- Exceptional grooming standards.
- Current eligibility to work in New Zealand
BENEFITS
Joining us means you can access great accommodation rates worldwide across our network of over 4,200 hotels. You can enjoy Food and beverage discounts in our restaurants and bars and discounted spa rates at our luxurious spas too. Fancy an overseas holiday? We even offer discounted flights!
Whilst on shift you will enjoy a meal in house and a daily laundered uniform. We do love celebration and recognise birthdays and tenure even shouting you a nights stay in house with breakfast and dinner.
If that wasn't enough, we are committed to upskilling and training our team whilst offering the opportunity to transfer both nationally and globally. Our AccordHotels Academy is our learning hub and offers workshops including leadership, finance, sales, coaching and recruitment. As a trusted partner of Service IQ's we offer our front line staff an opportunity to gain national qualifications on the job!
Start your career with AccorHotels today and the opportunities are endless!
Does this sound like you? APPLY NOW! We can't wait to hear from you!
Typically, the salary for this role would pay a salary of between $35-40,000 per annum.
A hotel porter plays an important role in a hotel. Porters are often the first point of contact for hotel guests, so not only need the physical skills to lift heavy luggage but excellent customer service and communication skills. Often guests will ask porters for help in arranging taxis, showing them to their rooms or even just general queries about local activities.
A porter’s role is an entry-level position and a great first step into a career in the hotel industry because you will see and connect with many different hotel departments and learn a great deal. The job is varied. The average annual starting salary is between $38,000 - $40,000.
Their job may also include:
- Assisting with the setting up of functions and conferences
- General front of house cleaning duties
- Restocking hotel minibars
- Taking messages
- Running errands
- Parking cars (this is known as a valet service)
- Driving company vehicles-airport pick-ups or stock pick-ups
- Delivering room service
- Delivering mail or newspapers to rooms
- Looking after luggage storage
Check out the job advert below, sourced from SEEK NZ
Porter/Valet at InterContinental (Wellington Central)
At InterContinental Hotels & Resorts we want our guests to feel special, cosmopolitan and In the Know.
- Experience driving a range of luxury cars
- Free duty meals and laundered uniform
- Opportunity to grow and develop with a global company
You will use your initiative and warm nature to assist guests with luggage, valet parking and provide insider knowledge on Wellington to enrich their travel experience. As an ambassador of the hotel you'll be the one developing and building strong and positive relationships with our guests to ensure that their stay is memorable.
What You'll Need
- A vibrant personality and excellent communication skills
- To retain a calm and friendly demeanour during busy periods
- A current drivers license
- The ability to adapt and be willing to learn
- Flexibility to work a range of hours, which includes but is not limited to afternoons, evenings & public holidays
What You'll Get
Join us and you'll become part of the global IHG family - and like all families, all our individual team members share some winning characteristics. As a team, we work better together- we trust and support each other, we do the right thing and we welcome different perspectives. You need to show us you care: that you notice the little things that make a difference to guests as well as always looking for ways to improve visit ://careers.ihg.com to find out more about us.
Who we are
As the worlds largest family of luxury hotels, we all take great pride in being genuine ambassadors of the InterContinental© brand. Shaped by decades of international know-how and local insights, our passion for luxury travel spans cultures and customs. Inspiring us to create warm and sophisticated experiences for those seeking a richer perspective on the world.
Each of our hotels cultivates a distinctive style and ambience where we embrace every opportunity to give our guests a personal and enriching experience.
If you'd like to embrace a wider world of experiences and opportunities, we'd like to welcome you to the world's most international luxury hotel brand.
What Next
So go on show us how your passion and personality are the perfect fit to deliver memorable experiences to our guests and apply online now!
STARTING SALARY $38-$40,000 PER ANNUM
This role is quite prestigious and carries a great deal of prestige. Concierge are normally found in luxury 5-star hotels and have the ultimate knowledge of the local area where the hotel is located. The concierge will assist guests in any way that they can, such as booking a table at a restaurant, getting theatre and sporting event tickets, ordering taxis and advising guests about cultural and tourist activities in the area.
The average annual starting salary in New Zealand is $25-45,000 per annum although experienced concierges working in luxury hotels can earn much more than that!
We have looked at various roles within the Accommodation Sector of the tourism industry and you have been able to identify the many different career opportunities when working in a hotel or other type of accommodation.
Reflecting back, think about:
- All the roles you have learnt about;
- The tasks and duties of those various roles and;
- The potential consequences of doing a good – or a bad – job
For example, the receptionist notes at check-in that the guests are celebrating a special birthday and arranges for a box of chocolates or basket of fruit to be delivered to the room, then the guests are super impressed, and this leaves them feeling really special and well looked after.
On the other hand, if the porter ignores guests arriving at the hotel and doesn’t greet them with a big smile and a warm welcome, then the guests will probably feel insignificant and not valued.
To summarise, the consequences could be impactful and/or detrimental to the overall business. In today's times, most feedback about services are strongly supported by word of mouth either in the form of an online review or by verbal communication to a family member, friend or any other potential client.
FORUM ACTIVITY
Devise five ‘STAR’ questions that the players in a game must answer, these can relate to anything that you’ve learned so far in this module. You must think of scenarios that incorporate tasks, duties and consequences of good and bad service and explain the outcomes. Include the answers and then post these on the module discussion forum.
Note: The idea of the game is not just in the playing, but in the creation where students are to consider the tasks and duties and the consequences of doing a good and bad job.