English For: Hotel Staff
In my online English lessons, I often help hotel receptionists and front‑desk staff learn how to sound more confident and polite when speaking with guests. Together, we practise greetings, check‑in and check‑out conversations, handling requests, and dealing with complaints — all in clear, natural British English.
Useful Phrases and Idioms
- Greeting guests: “Good morning, welcome to the Royal Hotel.” / “How can I help you today?”
- Check‑in: “May I see your passport, please?” / “Your room will be ready in about ten minutes.”
- During stay: “Would you like me to arrange a taxi for you?” / “Breakfast is served from 7 to 10am.”
- Handling problems: “I’m so sorry for the inconvenience — I’ll get that sorted right away.”
- Check‑out: “Did you enjoy your stay?” / “Here’s your receipt — have a lovely day!”
- Idioms: “The customer is always right.” / “Go the extra mile” (to give great service).
Phrasal Verbs You’ll Use
- Check in: register as a guest. “What time can guests check in?”
- Check out: pay and leave the hotel. “You can check out any time before noon.”
- Sort out: solve a problem. “I’ll sort that out for you right away.”
- Look after: take care of someone or something. “I’ll look after your bags until your room is ready.”
- Turn down: lower volume or refuse. “Could you turn down the TV, please?”
- Pick up: collect something or someone. “Your taxi will pick you up at 7pm.”
Example Conversation (Check‑In)
Guest: Good evening, I have a reservation under “Smith.”
Receptionist: Good evening, Mr Smith. Welcome to the Royal Hotel. May I see your passport, please?
Guest: Of course. Here you go.
Receptionist: Thank you. You’ve booked a double room for two nights, is that correct?
Guest: Yes, that’s right.
Receptionist: Perfect. Breakfast is included and served on the first floor. Here’s your key — your room is number 312 on the third floor. Enjoy your stay!
Discussion Practice
- How would you greet a guest arriving after a long flight?
- Practise explaining hotel facilities clearly and politely.
- How can you apologise professionally if a guest has a problem?
Mini Writing Tasks
- Write an email confirming a hotel booking.
- Write a short message apologising for a double‑booking.
- Write a polite note explaining a change of room or rate.
Vocabulary You’ll Hear
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Natural Example |
|---|---|---|
| Reservation | A booking made in advance. | “Do you have a reservation with us?” |
| Suite | A larger or luxury hotel room. | “You’ve been upgraded to our executive suite.” |
| Amenities | Extra services or facilities provided. | “All amenities, including the pool, are open until 9pm.” |
| Concierge | Person who helps guests with travel and local information. | “Please ask the concierge if you’d like restaurant recommendations.” |
| Rate | The cost of a room per night. | “Our weekend rate includes breakfast.” |
| Vacancy | Available room. | “We have a vacancy for tonight if you’d like to stay.” |
| Deposit | Money paid in advance to secure a booking. | “A small deposit confirms your reservation.” |
| Complimentary | Free of charge. | “Guests receive a complimentary drink on arrival.” |
How I Teach This (and Why It Works)
In my lessons, I focus on natural, polite service English for hotel staff — how to sound warm and professional with guests from different countries. We practise real‑life check‑in dialogues, complaint handling, and small talk so you can speak clearly and confidently.
If you’d like to improve your hospitality English, join my online English lessons with a native speaker. My English speaking course helps you build confidence through realistic role‑plays and conversation practice. You can take English lessons online with a native speaker online, wherever you are.