Important Job Skills for Concierges

A concierge provides a variety of services to guests. Typically, concierges work in hotels, but they may also work in clubs, restaurants, and other venues. A concierge provides guests with information about locations and services outside of the hotel. They may book services for guests, such as transportation and activities.

Some of the typical job responsibilities of a concierge include:

• Respond to guest inquiries and questions.
• Provide directions to hotel guests.
• Arrange local and airport transportation.
• Make reservations, such as for dinner, spa treatments, or golf tee times, and obtain tickets to special events.
• Provide information about local activities, such as shopping, dining, nightlife, or recreational destinations.
• Make travel arrangements for sightseeing or other tours.
• Plan special events, parties, or meetings.
• Provide business services for guests.
• Arrange childcare services for guests.
• Receive, store, or deliver luggage, packages, or mail.

Where the Jobs Are

Industries with the highest employment for concierges include traveler accommodations, real estate, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living facilities, medical and surgical hospitals, and spectator sports.

The states with the most employment opportunities include Florida, New York, California, Texas, and Massachusetts.

How Much Concierge Jobs Pay

The median annual wage for concierges is $30,400, with the top 10% of concierges earning $50,380 and the lowest 10% earning $21,850.

Top Concierge Skills

Below is a list of the most important skills for a concierge, as well as related skills employers seek in candidates for concierge jobs.

Communication

Excellent communication skills are critical for a concierge. They speak with guests all day, so it is important that they speak clearly and maintain a positive tone and a helpful attitude. Job candidates who are fluent in more than one language will have an advantage when applying for jobs, particularly in major metropolitan areas.

Perhaps most importantly, being a good communicator means being a good listener. Concierges need to listen carefully to their guests’ requests to provide a positive experience for them and to proactively identify any particular support they may require.

• Answer Email
• Answer Online Chat
• Answer Phone
• Answer Text Messages
• Arrange Package Delivery and Pick Up
• Computer
• Confirm Flights and Print Boarding Passes
• Maintain Database of Local Information
• Make and Confirm Reservations
• Marketing
• Microsoft Office
• Order Amenities for Guests’ Rooms
• Public Relations
• Secure Tickets for Events
• Sell Tickets to Guests
• Send Pre-Stay Correspondence
• Verbal Communications
• Written Communications

Friendliness

A concierge is one of the first people a guest sees upon entering a hotel—they are the “face” of the organization. Therefore, concierges have to be extremely welcoming. They should greet every guest with a smile and a kind word, no matter how long they’ve worked or how tired they may be.

• Courtesy Calls to VIP Guests
• Customer Service
• Customer Relations
• Customer Satisfaction
• Greeting Guests
• Guest Relations
• Interpersonal
• Outgoing
• Personable
• Positive Attitude

Organization

A concierge has to manage multiple tasks at once: they must serve many guests, make appointments and arrangements for people, and more. Being organized allows a concierge to juggle these multiple tasks without losing his or her cool.

• Accommodate Guest Requests
• Airport Transportation
• Coordinate Guest Requests
• Distribute Printed Materials
• Event Planning
• Local Transportation
• Maintain and Post Daily Event Schedule
• Maintain Menu Books for Local Restaurants
• Maintain Supply of Brochures, Flyers, Handouts, and Maps
• Monitor and Replenish Lobby Refreshments
• Multitasking
• Prioritization
• Provide Business Services
• Schedule Activities
• Set Up Special Packages
• Travel Arrangements

Local Knowledge

A concierge provides guests with suggestions for entertainment and various services within the hotel itself and in the surrounding geographical area. Therefore, it is very important that a concierge know the area, its best restaurants, and most interesting attractions, and the other sorts of services available in the region.

• Arrange Transportation
• Booking Services
• Booking Show Tickets
• Booking Tours
• Dinner Reservations
• Directions
• Knowledge of Hotel / Resort Features
• Knowledge of Local Dining, Entertainment, Theater, Shows, Sports, and Events
• Recommendations
• Strong Knowledge of Local Area

Professionalism

Because a concierge is representing the hotel and is interacting directly with guests, he or she must look and act professionally. Professional attire and demeanor will make guests trust the concierge and his or her suggestions.

• Conflict Resolution
• Dependability
• Flexibility
• Patience
• Professionally Promote Resort Activities to Guests
• Punctuality
• Telephone Etiquette

By demonstrating your professionalism, communication skills, local knowledge, organizational talents, and friendliness on your resume and in your interview, you’re sure to impress the hiring manager as being a great choice for their next concierge. 

How to Make Your Skills Stand Out

You can use these skills lists throughout all stages of your job search process.

Add skills to your resume. Your resume is the first place where you should utilize these skill words, both in the descriptions of your work history and in your opening summary of qualifications.

Mention your skills in your cover letter. In thebody of your cover letter, you should mention one or two of these skills, and provide specific examples of times when you demonstrated them at work.

Use these skill words in your interview. Make sure you have at least one example for a time you demonstrated each of the top skills listed here.