Hotel Reservations Officer

Hotel Reservations Officer obtain necessary reservations for guest and clients; they make and confirm reservations for accommodation in hotels and other lodging places.

Tasks

Answer inquiries regarding such information as accommodations, procedures, and policies ;
Confer with customers to determine their service requirements;
Contact customers to confirm reservations;
Plan accommodation details;
Prepare customer invoices;
Provide customers with travel suggestions and information such as guides, directories, brochures, and maps;
Gather and compile visitor statistics;
Obtain current advertising literature from travel operators.

Basic Educational Requirement

A Bachelors degree, preferably in Tourism or Hospitality Management is required.

Skills and Competencies

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services;
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, and other office procedures and terminology;
Knowledge of circuit boards, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including application and programming;
Excellent communication skills, both oral and written;
Ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Physical Attributes and Characteristics

Active initiative;
Customer service-minded;
Highly organized and have an eye for details;
Patient and responsive to clients needs;
Dependable.

Salary/Compensation

The monthly salary of Hotel Reservations Officers range from P15,000 to P19,000.

Prospects for Career Advancement

Hotel Reservation Officers may be promoted to the next career or the job level as middle managers or specialists after acquiring the required work experience as well as the core competency requirements of the higher position. Aside from technical skills, one must have the ability to manage organizational operations.

Middle Managers can move further to a Chief Executive position if they have already acquired the demonstrated ability to lead large organizations and have tested competencies in finance, marketing, logistics, and people management.

Employment Opportunities

The growth in tourism-related services will provide various employment opportunities for the hospitality segment of the tourism sector. Included in this segment are front office personnel specifically taking charge of hotel reservations.

Opportunities for overseas employment are also available given the increasing demand for tourism skills. The Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and the USA are major overseas destinations.

Cost of Education *

A degree in BS Tourism cost around P25,000 to P35,000 per semester.

* Based on tuition fee rates for school year 2007-2008

Source: Bureau of Local Employment, Manila, Philippines