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Hotel room attendant

  • Hours

    Variable

  • Starting salary

    £11,000 + per year

If you are physically fit and would like a practical job in hospitality, this could be for you.

Hotel room attendants make sure that hotel rooms are clean, tidy and inviting for guests.

In this job you would need to pay close attention to details. You would need to work alone and in a team. You would also need to be honest and reliable.

There aren't any specific entry requirements to get into this job. You may be able to train for this job through an Apprenticeship scheme.



The work

As a room attendant, your duties would include:

  • changing bed linen and towels
  • making beds
  • vacuuming floors
  • dusting and polishing furniture
  • cleaning bathrooms
  • replacing stocks of guest supplies such as shampoo and soap
  • re-stocking drinks in the mini-bar.

In a small hotel you would work under the direction of the housekeeper or housekeeping manager. In larger hotels you would report to the floor housekeeper or assistant housekeeper. In the very smallest establishments you may be supervised by the hotel owner or manager, who may also do some of the work themselves.


Hours

You would usually work shifts, including early starts, as well as some weekends and bank holidays. Part-time, seasonal and temporary work is common.

Your employer would usually provide a uniform.


Income

Hotel room attendants can earn from £11,000 to around £15,000 a year. Many are paid an hourly rate, ranging from the National Minimum Wage to around £7 an hour.

Visit the Directgov website for details of the National Minimum Wage.

There may be extra payment for working shifts or overtime. Guests may also leave tips.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.


Entry requirements

You do not need any qualifications to become a hotel room attendant. Employers will expect you to be honest, hardworking and a good timekeeper.

It will be useful if you have relevant experience like cleaning.

You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more, visit the Apprenticeships website.


Training and development

Once you start work you will usually receive on-the-job training.

You may also be encouraged to complete qualifications such as the following NVQs:

  • Hospitality Level 1
  • Multi-Skilled Hospitality Services Level 2
  • Housekeeping Level 2.

If you supervise other staff you may be able to work towards NVQ Level 3 in Hospitality Supervision.


Skills and knowledge

To be a hotel room attendant you should have:

  • a high standard of work and attention to detail
  • physical fitness and stamina
  • the ability to work alone and as part of a team
  • reliability and honesty
  • respect for guests' privacy
  • a polite and helpful manner when dealing with guests.

More information

Springboard UK (Opens new window)
http://springboarduk.net

People 1st (Opens new window)
2nd Floor
Armstrong House
38 Market Square
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1LH
Tel: 01895 817 000
www.uksp.co.uk/ (careers information)
www.people1st.co.uk


Opportunities

You could be employed by hotels, guest houses, holiday centres, agencies and contract cleaning companies.

You could find work through one of the agencies which hotels use to recruit staff for seasonal vacancies. There are also opportunities to work abroad.

Your opportunities for progression would depend on the size of the hotel. In larger organisations you are more likely to have the chance to progress to a supervisory or management job.

Vacancies are advertised through local newspapers, Jobcentre Plus and on websites such as the following (links open in new window):

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (Opens in a new window) there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.


Related industry information

Industry summary

The hotels industry is represented by People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism. The hospitality, travel and tourism sector incorporates the following industries: contract food service providers, events, gambling, holiday parks, hospitality services, hostels, hotels, membership clubs, pubs, bars and nightclubs, restaurants, self-catering accommodation, tourist services, and visitor attractions. The sector accounts for a workforce of 2.1 million, most of which are based within the restaurants, hospitality services, and pubs, bars and nightclubs industries. The roles within the sector are extremely diverse and include managers, technical staff, front-of-house staff, back-of-house staff, and non-core staff.

The hotels industry covers paid accommodation that is open to the general public, which can include budget hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation, plus hotels rated from one to 5 star. As an accommodation provider, hotels overlap with other industries, such as youth hostels, farms, pubs, and restaurants and others that may also provide accommodation.

Key facts:

  • There are 253,900 people working in the hotels industry.
  • 17% of the workforce has an NVQ Level 4 or above qualification.
  • The majority of the workforce has a NVQ Level 2 qualification (25%).
  • 13% of the workforce has no qualifications.
  • 64% of the workforce is employed full‐time.

[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]

Jobs in the industry range from: bar manager, events co‐ordinator, general manager, exhibitions co‐ordinator, head housekeeper, chef, cleaner, conference and banqueting manager, front of house staff, porter, receptionist, waiter/waitress, linen room assistant.


National and regional data

East Midlands – There are approximately 15,400 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:

  • 62% work full‐time
  • 72% of the workforce is female
  • 94% of the workforce is white
  • 19% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
  • 32% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification

East of England – There are approximately 20,200 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:

  • 67% work full‐time
  • 65% of the workforce is female
  • 92% of the workforce is white
  • 16% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • 34% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

London – There are approximately 32,000 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:

  • 74% work full‐time
  • 55% of the workforce is female
  • 61% of the workforce is white
  • 23% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
  • 26% of the workforce has an NVQ level 1 and entry level qualification

North East – There are approximately 7,800 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:

  • 43% work full‐time
  • 70% of the workforce is female
  • 91% of the workforce is white
  • Equal proportions of the workforce are aged 16‐19 years (18%) and 50‐54 years (18%)
  • 41% of the workforce has an NVQ level 1 and entry level qualification

North West – There are approximately 33,300 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:

  • 54% work full‐time
  • 55% of the workforce is female
  • 88% of the workforce is white
  • 22% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • 30% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification

South East – There are approximately 37,500 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:

  • 69% work full‐time
  • 65% of the workforce is female
  • 94% of the workforce is white
  • 17% of the workforce is 16‐19 years
  • 26% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

South West – There are approximately 30,300 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:

  • 65% work full‐time
  • Workforce is evenly split between men and women
  • 93% of the workforce is white
  • Equal proportions of the workforce are aged 20‐24 years (17%) and 25‐29 years (17%)
  • 28% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

West Midlands – There are approximately 14,700 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:

  • 74% work full‐time
  • 64% of the workforce is female
  • 93% of the workforce is white
  • 17% of the workforce is 16‐19 years
  • 29% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are approximately 11,300 people working in the hotels industry in this region, of which:

  • 49% work full‐time
  • Workforce is evenly split between men and women
  • 98% of the workforce is white
  • 34% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
  • 32% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification

Northern Ireland – There are approximately 43,900 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Northern Ireland, of which 5,500 work in the hotels industry in 200 establishments. Details as follows:

  • 55% work full‐time
  • 62% of the workforce is female
  • 93% of the workforce is white
  • 24% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • 29% of the workforce has an NVQ level 1 qualification

Scotland – There are approximately 183,500 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Scotland, of which 35,700 work in the hotels industry in 2,200 establishments. Details as follows:

  • 60% work full‐time
  • 59% of the workforce is female
  • 97% of the workforce is white
  • 17% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
  • 30% of the workforce has an NVQ level 4 qualification

Wales – There are approximately 86,100 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Wales, of which 10,200 work in the hotels industry in 900 establishments. Details as follows:

  • 63% work full‐time
  • 60% of the workforce is female
  • 100% of the workforce is white
  • 21% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
  • 29% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification

[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]


Career paths


Further sources


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