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Room Reservations Clerk
Potential guests of casino hotels usually make reservations prior to arriving at facilities. Room Reservations Clerks are in charge of taking, recording, and canceling these reservations. Room Reservations Clerks have a number of duties. They answer incoming calls from people who are interested in knowing about room rates and availability. Individuals may also be asked about specials, promotions, activities, or other events being held in the hotel or casino. Room Reservations Clerks also answer questions regarding conventions and meetings scheduled at the hotel.
Room Reservations Clerks retrieve information regarding room rates and availabilities.
With this information Clerks can help guests choose the type of room and room rates needed. When people decide to make reservations, the Room Reservations Clerk must obtain certain information, such as names, addresses, and phone numbers. Other information includes the number of people in the party, the date guests are arriving, and the number of nights they expect to stay. Reservations Clerks must also find out if there are any special requests, such as king-size beds, cribs, smoking, or nonsmoking sections. Reservations Clerks then input all information into the computer, including credit card information to guarantee reservations. Clerks then usually provide confirmation numbers to guests.
Some people call to cancel reservations made previously. After Room Reservations Clerks cancel a guest’s reservation, they give the personal confirmation cancellation number to use in case they are inadvertently charged on their credit card. Often when people call hotels, they request brochures or other written information on the facility. Room Reservations Clerks take people’s names and addresses so that requested material may be forwarded to them. Other duties of Room Reservations Clerks may include:
- Performing any additional clerical duties regarding making and canceling room reservations
- Referring guest problems or complaints about room reservations to the reservations assistant manager, manager, or supervisor
Room Reservations Clerks working in casino hotels are paid an hourly salary.
Room Reservation Clerks earn USD 16,000 to USD 30,000.
This means between USD 8.00 and USD 14.00 or more per hour. Factors affecting earnings include the geographic location, size, and prestige of the facility. Other variables include the experience and responsibilities of the individual. Those working in larger or more prestigious facilities in the gambling capitals usually earn more than their counterparts in other hotels.
Employment possibilities for Room Reservations Clerks are excellent.
Individuals can find employment in locations where casino hotels are located. The number of Reservation Clerks employed by each hotel depends on the size of the facility. Reservation Clerks work various shifts depending on the structure of the hotel. 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 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
Reservations Clerks can advance their careers by obtaining experience working in the reservations or front desk department of the hotel. Individuals may be promoted to assistant reservations managers, reservations managers, or room reservations supervisors.
Education and Training
Education and training requirements vary from job to job. Usually, a high school diploma or its equivalent is required. However, work experience may be accepted in lieu of education. On-the-job training is often available for this position.
Experience requirements, like education, vary for Reservations Clerks. In some hotels, this is an entry-level position. In others, prior experience in the reservations department is required or preferred. General understanding of the workings of the front office and/or reservations department is helpful. Reservations Clerks should have data-entry and retrieval skills. A pleasant phone manner and customer service skills are essential.
This may or may not be a unionized position, depending on the specific casino hotel. In unionized casino hotels in Las Vegas, for example, Reservations Clerks may be members of the Teamsters Local #995 union. Individuals interested in learning more about careers in this area can contact the human resources departments of casino hotels. Other information may be available from the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA).
How to become a Room Reservations Clerk
1. While experience may not be required, experience usually gives one applicant an edge over another. Any experience working with reservations, whether it be with a hotel, travel agent, or airline, is useful.
2. Stop by the human resources departments of casino hotels to inquire about job openings.
3. Jobs are often advertised in the classified sections of newspapers in areas hosting gaming. Look under classifications such as “Casinos,” “Casino Hotels,” “Hotels,” “Reservations,” “Casino Hotel Opportunities,” “Reservations Clerk,” “Room Reservations Clerk,” or “Hospitality.”
4. Many casinos and casino hotels have job fairs. Look for these in the local paper in areas hosting casinos.