A Day in YOUR Life as a Valet

Every person that enters a hotel should be greeted and feel like a guest! This is YOU on your first day of work and every work day after that. You walk in with a smile, say hello to passing guests and acknowledge your colleagues perhaps with a smile, nod or salutation. Depending on the time of day, you already have a feel for how your day is going to unfold based on the flow and noise level in the lobby and you aren’t even in uniform yet! You make your way to the employee change room and transform into to your, sharp, sophisticated look with your professional uniform. You punch in at the time clock and energetically join your teammates to prepare for your shift.

You will be preparing to join a shift or complete a relay handoff of what has occurred during the previous shift to take over the helm. Regardless of the time of day or length of shift, you are ready to meet every guest with exceptional service and care!

In the morning, you focus on the list of cars in the parking lot and see how many will be checking out or will be staying over. You will prepare all material/equipment, such as a departure list, key hooks, ticket slips, parking signs, etc., needed for the day. You will double check if there are special requests, such as guests needing their car at a certain time for their appointment or if there is a car that needs special attention to operate. Once all is set, check your appearance. Hair neat? Shirt tucked in? Name tag on? Smile? Ready to RUN! Strive for speed, as a good valet never keeps the customer waiting unnecessarily. You will be running to retrieve the guests’ cars in a timely fashion. The only chance you have to slow down and take a breath is while operating a vehicle! You return a precious car to a guest upon greeting and opening their doors with a smile. Regardless where guests head for the day, your smooth and efficient service with a contagious smile will boost their day!

In the late afternoon and evening, we shift our focus on arriving and returning guests. You may be welcoming a family on vacation, be the initial impression for the kick-off of a business trip or be comforting a guest travelling for an emergency or medical treatment. Regardless, you read the guest as they enter and approach them with care and pleasantries. On the arrival, examining the car thoroughly is essential. You will keep a record that indicates existing dents and dings around the car to avoid any potential discrepancies with guests. Explain how the valet works to the guests and, most importantly, you must advise all of our guests “Not to leave anything in the vehicle”. Be sure to recommend the hotel services such as our restaurant and bar!! After the initial rush of guests, you will recount cars, keys, and tickets to ensure all valuables are accounted for. Take a brief break to recharge, rehydrate, and reconvene to get ready for your next guests to take care of. Don’t forget you are their ambassador to our hotel, surroundings and city. You may have to juggle some of those talents you have, make sure they know all the amenities the hotel has to offer, maybe find them directions, or give a recommendation for a great place to dine or explore. By the time you leave, the vehicles are safe and secure and you are more than satisfied that your guests are all taken care of and ready to have the best stay possible.

Who you are and why is this important…

• Enthusiastic, Attentive and Approachable

o. Ensuring our guests and team mates feel comfortable.

• Organized & Communicative

p. Clear, concise communication between team members and guests alike creates a smooth operation.

• Effective Multi-Tasker

q. Personal interactions, phones, emails and on-going projects are always in play.

What happens behind the scenes of all those interactions…

• You follow company policies and standards, parking guests’ vehicles, maintain safety of the work station and any other requirements for the processes as outlined by your department leaders;
• Park and retrieve guest vehicles in the specified areas safely and efficiently;
• Monitor and ensure safety, security, and cleanliness of parking areas, portico and behind the valet stand;
• Communicating with Guest Services Team and other departments to ensure any special requests are met in a timely fashion;
• Maintain a calm and welcoming demeanor while multitasking to handle guest interactions at the same time as incoming calls and daily tasks;
• Listen respectfully when guests have complaints. Empathize and work with the guest in an efficient manner to come to a resolution or loop in a manager if necessary to ensure the guest has a satisfactory resolution to their complaint;
• Be ready to jump in where needed to help the team deliver a great experience for our guests.

What are we looking for…

• Class 5 Drivers License and a clean driver’s abstract.
• Ability to drive both automatic and manual transmission vehicles.
• Some experience in guest/customer service.
• Flexibility to work a variety of shifts.
• Ability to be on your feet for the duration of your shift.
• The understanding that SERVICE is the key to any successful business.