Guest Room Attendant
Guest Room Attendants are responsible for cleaning guest rooms in casino hotels. They also clean and maintain public areas such as hallways on guest floors. Guest Room Attendants have a number of duties. Individuals are usually assigned rooms to clean. Their responsibilities include changing linens and making the beds in guest rooms. They also are expected to dust, wipe up any spills, and vacuum.
The Guest Room Attendant must thoroughly clean the bathroom shower, tub, and toilet, as well as make sure counters and floor are spotless. The person also clears any room service dishes and trays from the room. The Guest Room Attendant empties waste baskets and cleans ashtrays in the rooms. He or she replenishes drinking glasses as well as stationery, postcards, matches, room service menus, and magazines. Casino hotels usually offer an array of cosmetic amenities including shampoos, soaps, shower caps, body creams, conditioners, and bubble baths. The Guest Room Attendant makes sure each room is fully supplied with the required amenities.
The person also places clean towels in the bathroom and replenishes any other bathroom supplies. The Guest Room Attendant makes sure the room is well maintained. He or she must check to see no light bulbs are out, that blankets and bedspreads are clean and not worn, and that drapes are not ripped. Guest Room Attendants’ responsibilities may also include:
- Turning down beds in the evening
- Placing candy or cookies on turned-down beds
- Bringing guests extra towels, pillows or other requested amenities
- Transporting trash to disposal area
- Stocking housekeeping cart
Earnings
Guest Room Attendants earn between USD 10.00 and USD 15.00 or more per hour plus tips or about USD 21,000 to USD 31,000 annually. Factors affecting earnings include the geographic location, size, type, and prestige of the specific casino hotel, as well as the experience and responsibilities of the individual. In unionized settings, the union may negotiate minimum earnings.
Job possibilities for Guest Room Attendant
Employment opportunities for Guest Room Attendants are abundant. Las Vegas, Reno, Laughlin, Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City, Biloxi, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Detroit offer the greatest number of job possibilities. Other employment settings include casinos and casino hotels in other areas of Nevada, Mississippi, New York, Louisiana, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Arizona, and California. Other regions hosting Indian gaming and land-based or riverboat gaming facilities offer additional opportunities. New casinos and casino hotels are constantly under construction. More casinos and casino hotels are also opening every year as areas legalize gambling.
Advancement Possibilities
Guest Room Attendants working in casino hotels can advance their careers by locating similar jobs in larger, more prestigious facilities. This may result in increased earnings and/or tips. Some Guest Room Attendants climb the career ladder through promotion to jobs such as floor supervisor.
Education and Training
On-the-job training is usually provided for Guest Room Attendants. Individuals who have prior experience in this area may be preferred.
Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits
Experience requirements vary. In many casino hotels this is an entry-level position. As noted, some hotels prefer or require applicants to have prior experience working in either the service or hospitality industry.
Unions and Associations
Depending on the specific hotel and its location, Guest Room Attendants may be represented by a union. Casinos in different parts of the country have different union representation. In Las Vegas, for example, Guest Room Attendants may be members of the Culinary Workers Local #226 union. In Atlantic City casino hotels, Guest Room Attendants are represented by Local #54 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union. It is important to note that many casinos in the country are not unionized. Individuals interested in jobs as Guest Room Attendants may obtain additional career information by contacting human resource directors of casino hotels. Additional information may be obtained by writing to the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA).
Tips for Entry
1. While this is often an entry-level position, the ability to demonstrate a stable work history will be helpful.
2. Jobs are often advertised in the classified sections of newspapers in areas hosting gaming. Look under classifications such as “Guest Room Attendants,” “Hotel Housekeepers,” “Hospitality Industry Jobs,” and “Casino Hotels.”
3. Call casino job hotlines for openings in this area. These are frequently updated messages listing jobs available. Call each casino directly to get its job hotline phone number.
4. Visit the human resources departments of casino hotels to inquire about job openings.
5. Look for casino job fairs. They often have openings in this area.