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Baggage Porters and Bellhops


Overview

Baggage Porters and Bellhops

Introduction

Baggage porters and bellhops, known at some hotels as uniformed service attendants, bell attendants, or guest services attendants, are considered front-of-the-house jobs in the hotel industry. They are responsible for carrying guests' luggage to their room upon arrival and back to the lobby when they depart. At times they may be asked to run errands or deliver items for guests. Though bellhops work from the bellstand—a desk or podium located in the hotel lobby—their work takes them all over the hotel prope...

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$24,210

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma


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Experience

On-the-job training


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Skills

Foreign Language
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Personality Traits

Athletic
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Earnings

Most baggage porters and bellhops are paid at an hourly rate, which ranged from $8.82 per hour for the lowest 10 percent (making a yearly income of $18,340 for full-time work) to as high as $18.54 per hour or more (roughly $38,560 a year) for the highest 10 percent in May 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The median salary was $11.64 an hour, or $24,210 per year in May 2018. Bell...

Work Environment

Their work takes bellhops all over the hotel property. They may be asked to unload luggage from a taxi and deliver it to a sleeping room, then be sent to a store to pick up a guest's special request. When the hotel is at full capacity, bellhops may be asked to help other departments, such as the concierge, mail department, or business center.

At larger hotels, there is usually more than ...

Outlook

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for baggage porters and bellhops is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all careers through 2028. Employment in the hospitality and transportation industries, however, is greatly influenced by economic conditions, national events, and international events. During times of recession, fewer people spend money traveling for pleasu...