Skip to main content

Hotel Receptionist CV Example

Designed for front desk professionals who are the first point of contact for hotel guests. Demonstrates your booking management skills, guest service excellence, and ability to handle administrative tasks efficiently.

Recommended template: Modern

Open in Reader

Key Skills to Include

Guest Check-In & Check-OutReservation ManagementPMS SystemsTelephone EtiquetteConcierge ServicesBilling & PaymentsMulti-Language SkillsProblem Resolution

Quick Tips

  • Mention the property management systems you have used, such as Opera, Protel, or RoomRaccoon.
  • Highlight any additional languages you speak, as this is highly valued in the hotel industry.
  • Include examples of how you have gone above and beyond to enhance guest experiences.
  • Demonstrate your ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously during busy check-in periods.

Ready to build your CV?

Start with the Modern template and customise it for your hospitality role.

How to Write Your Hotel Receptionist CV

A hotel receptionist CV should demonstrate your professionalism, efficiency, and ability to create positive first impressions. As the first point of contact for guests, receptionists set the tone for the entire hotel experience. Employers want to see that you can manage bookings, handle payments, and resolve issues while maintaining a warm and welcoming manner. Your CV should combine practical front-desk skills with evidence of excellent guest interaction.

CV Structure

Use a reverse-chronological format with a concise profile, followed by work experience, skills, and education. For each role, state the hotel brand, room count, and your shift pattern. Include four to five responsibilities focusing on check-in and check-out, reservations, billing, and guest interaction. Add two to three achievements that demonstrate your impact. Keep to one or two pages.

CV Format

Choose a professional, clean template that is easy to scan. Front-office managers review CVs quickly, so ensure your PMS experience and language skills are prominently displayed. Use bullet points and consistent formatting throughout.

CV Profile Examples

Experienced Hotel Receptionist

Professional and welcoming hotel receptionist with five years of front-desk experience in four-star city-centre and airport hotels. Proficient in Opera PMS, managing reservations, processing group bookings, and handling guest billing with accuracy. Fluent in English and Polish with conversational French, and consistently praised for warm, efficient service during guest interactions.

Night Receptionist

Dependable and self-motivated night receptionist with three years of experience managing overnight front-desk operations in a 200-room branded hotel. Skilled in processing late check-ins, running night audit reports, and handling security and emergency procedures independently. Comfortable working alone and making sound decisions under pressure during unsociable hours.

Career-Change Hotel Receptionist

Personable and organised professional transitioning from office administration into hotel reception, bringing four years of experience managing switchboards, scheduling, and visitor management. Completed a short course in hotel front-office operations and is eager to apply strong administrative and customer service skills in a dynamic hotel environment.

Write a three-sentence profile stating your experience level, the calibre of hotels you have worked in, and your strongest front-desk skills. Mention languages spoken and any PMS systems you are proficient in.

Key Skills for Your Hotel Receptionist CV

Guest Check-In & Check-Out

Processing arrivals and departures efficiently, verifying bookings, allocating rooms, and managing key card systems.

Reservation Management

Taking, modifying, and cancelling reservations via phone, email, and OTA channels using the property management system.

PMS Systems

Operating property management systems such as Opera, Protel, Mews, or RoomRaccoon for bookings, billing, and reporting.

Telephone Etiquette

Answering and transferring calls professionally, taking accurate messages, and handling telephone enquiries with courtesy.

Concierge Services

Assisting guests with local information, restaurant reservations, transport arrangements, and special requests.

Billing & Payments

Processing guest payments, managing folios, and reconciling cash and card transactions at the end of each shift.

Multi-Language Skills

Communicating with international guests in multiple languages to enhance their experience and resolve queries.

Problem Resolution

Handling guest complaints and operational issues calmly and effectively to maintain satisfaction and protect the hotel's reputation.

Work Experience Examples

For each role, describe the hotel and your front-desk responsibilities. Focus on check-in volumes, reservation management, upselling success, and guest feedback. Include achievements such as upselling revenue, guest commendation awards, or process improvements that enhanced efficiency.

Hotel Receptionist

Radisson Blu, Manchester Airport

Managed the front desk of a 360-room airport hotel operating 24 hours, handling a high volume of check-ins, check-outs, and guest queries daily.

Responsibilities

  • Processed an average of 120 guest check-ins and check-outs per shift using Opera PMS, ensuring accurate room allocation and billing.
  • Managed telephone reservations, email enquiries, and walk-in bookings, upselling room upgrades and breakfast packages.
  • Handled guest complaints and service recovery requests, authorising late check-outs or room changes within operational guidelines.
  • Prepared end-of-shift cash and card reconciliation reports, balancing the till and recording any discrepancies.
  • Coordinated with housekeeping and maintenance teams to prioritise room readiness and resolve reported issues.

Achievements

  • Achieved the highest upselling revenue in the front-office team for two consecutive quarters, generating an additional £4,200 in room upgrade income.
  • Received a guest commendation award from the hotel GM after being named in 12 positive TripAdvisor reviews within six months.
  • Reduced average check-in time by 30 seconds per guest through a streamlined registration card preparation process.

Receptionist

The Queens Hotel, Leeds

Provided front-desk and concierge services at a historic four-star hotel with 215 rooms and extensive conference and banqueting facilities.

Responsibilities

  • Greeted guests on arrival, managed check-in and check-out procedures, and provided information about hotel facilities and local attractions.
  • Handled group bookings and conference delegate registration, distributing room keys and event information packs.
  • Processed payments, managed folios, and prepared invoices for corporate accounts and travel agent bookings.
  • Operated the hotel switchboard, transferring calls efficiently and taking accurate messages for guests.

Achievements

  • Handled the check-in of a 180-delegate conference group within 45 minutes through advance preparation and team coordination.
  • Received a written commendation from the front-office manager for consistently exceeding the brand's guest interaction standards.

Education & Qualifications

List any hospitality qualifications or front-office training courses first. Follow with language certifications if relevant. Include GCSEs or equivalent qualifications, highlighting English and maths. If you have completed any customer service NVQs, include these.

Level 2 Diploma in Front Office Reception

Vocational qualification covering front-desk procedures, guest handling, and administrative tasks in hotels.

Opera PMS Certification

System-specific training in Oracle Hospitality's Opera property management system, widely used in major hotel chains.

Level 2 Customer Service NVQ

Competence-based qualification demonstrating practical customer service skills in a workplace setting.

First Aid at Work Certificate

Practical first aid qualification valued for guest and staff safety at the hotel front desk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What skills do I need for a hotel receptionist CV?
Essential skills include guest check-in and check-out, reservation management, PMS system proficiency, telephone handling, and billing. Language skills are highly valued, especially in city-centre and airport hotels. Soft skills such as patience, professionalism, and the ability to multitask during busy periods are equally important to employers.
Should I mention PMS experience on my hotel receptionist CV?
Yes, always. Property management system experience is a key requirement for hotel receptionist roles. Name the specific systems you have used — Opera, Protel, Mews, or RoomRaccoon — and describe what you did within them. Recruiters and hiring managers often filter candidates by system experience, so being specific will help your application stand out.
How do I show customer service skills on a hotel receptionist CV?
Describe specific examples of going above and beyond for guests, such as arranging surprise celebrations, resolving complex complaints, or receiving named commendations. Include any guest satisfaction scores, TripAdvisor mentions, or internal awards that demonstrate the quality of your guest interactions.
Is night receptionist experience valuable on a CV?
Yes, night audit and night receptionist experience is highly valued. It demonstrates your independence, reliability, and ability to handle security and emergency situations without immediate managerial support. Mention your night audit proficiency, your approach to managing late check-ins, and any incidents you handled successfully during unsociable hours.

More Hospitality CV Examples

Builder Command Palette

Type a command or search...