The position of night porter plays an important yet low level role in the overall operation of a hotel. The main duty of the role is to provide services for guests upon arrival and during their stay, mostly throughout the night shift. Duties usually include moving guests’ baggage upon arrival and at check-out, bringing requested items to rooms, monitoring the cleanliness of the hotel at night, and sometimes ensuring security.
Most hotels require their night porters to be physically fit, have great communication skills, and be able to think on their feet to solve problems quickly. It is also important that candidates have sound people skills and are able to work in a team atmosphere.
It is not necessary for night porters to have a degree or formal education in the field to apply for this position. However, a hospitality qualification or training is considered advantageous. On-the-job training is usually offered at most hotels. Salaries are quite low, ranging from £10,000 to £15,000 per annum. Nevertheless, luxury hotels generally provide higher salaries and greater benefits for employees.