While it may seem like a modest position within the hierarchy of such a complex operation, a hotel porter might be the most crucial person on staff.

Hotel porter is the perfect position for someone to get their foot in the door of the hospitality industry. You’ll be able to understand how an establishment runs from the ground level and learn from the other hotel departments.

Good hotels are always looking to add dedicated, top-notch porters to their staff. If you have the right mixture of personality and energy, then this may be the perfect job for you to get started in hospitality.

What does a hotel porter do?

In many hotels the porter functions as kind of a utility role, helping out other departments when they need it. This means your duties as a porter will vary depending on the size and style of the hotel you are working for.

The main duty of a porter is to make sure a guest’s luggage gets from point A to point B with no issue. You will collect their bags either outside the entrance (at bigger hotels) or from the reception/concierge area of the lobby. An outstanding porter does this with a smile on their face and a skip in their step.

In smaller hotels, a porter may also be responsible for showing guests to their rooms and demonstrating the features.

As a porter, you’re a contact point for guests when they need help with something. If a guest needs some assistance, they know they can ask you. And, if you can’t provide a solution yourself, you will know exactly the person who can help solve their issue.

Porters may also run errands for guests or the concierge departments, like picking up concert tickets, making reservations at restaurants, or giving directions to a nearby tourist attraction.

In the case of an emergency, such as a fire, the porter will help evacuate the guests to safety and keep them calm.

What skills does a hotel porter need?

Perhaps more than any other hospitality job, the hotel porter needs to have the right combination of hard and soft skills in order to succeed.

Outgoing personality

The most important soft skill a porter can have is a fun, outgoing personality. You will spend most of your time at work interacting with guests so it’s important that you are as friendly as you are professional. 

Energetic 

If you are looking for a job where you sit around checking your phone all day, this is not the position for you.

You must have endless reserves of energy to be a porter. The job requires you to be on point and ready to help at any time. Depending on the size of a hotel, you may have little to no downtime at work. You will be bouncing all over the hotel, assisting guests and other departments to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Physical Fitness 

Beyond the need to be outgoing and full of energy at all times, you must be in good shape to succeed as a hotel porter. 

It’s a physically demanding job that requires you to lift and carry guest’s bags for long shifts. You will constantly be on the move throughout the hotel, going up and down stairs or running to wherever they need your help.

If you want a job where you can burn off excess physical and mental energy, a hotel porter role is perfect for you.

What is the hotel porter career path?

A porter position is an entry level hospitality role that doesn’t require any formal education or training. If you are dedicated to the role and build a solid reputation at the hotel you work for, you could be promoted to head porter.

The head porter is in charge of organizing staff rotas, recruiting new talent, and supervising a team of less experienced porters in their duties. You will still need to help guests and other departments from time to time but the role is much more about managing your team. 

After you’ve crushed it as a porter and head porter, it may be time to spread your wings and fly to another hotel department. The most logical step would be to join the concierge department but you may also find that you’d be a great fit with the reception or room division teams.

Regardless where you land after, working as a porter will give you the foundation you need to build a strong hospitality career.

If you think you have the right mixture of personality and energy, then check out the open porter job listings on Hosco today!