How To Become A Guest Service Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a guest service specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Steve Hood

As a Guest Service Specialist, you are the one who is the front-line representative. You may work in a hotel, restaurant, recreational facility, private club, or public organization. You will greet all guests, ensure that guests are happy and their experience is a good one. You will provide the best in customer service and ensure the safety and satisfaction of every guest. You will need to be able to communicate, make people feel at home, and have interpersonal skills. You will work with many different personality types. You will also need a good memory to remember the names and faces of the guests.

A Guest Service Specialist also needs to make sure that all equipment is clean, safe, and in good working order. You may need to plan special events, operate company vehicles, and escort VIPs. You must be 18 years of age, possess a valid driver's license, and be able to handle alcoholic beverages. You must be knowledgeable in the use of office equipment, including personal computers, copiers, intercoms, and phones. You will need to pass a criminal background check and have first aid and CPR certification.

What general advice would you give to a guest service specialist?

Steve Hood

Director of Industry Services, ICHRIE

Hospitality and tourism graduates of 2020 are faced with a similar challenge as hotels in the current COVID situation. Many are having to think outside the box and reinvent themselves. It may mean looking at different chains, different locations, and different roles, but there are still opportunities.

ScoreGuest Service SpecialistUS Average

Salary

2.5

Avg. Salary $32,603

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.9

Growth rate -4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

9.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 6.87%

Black or African American 12.91%

Hispanic or Latino 19.13%

Unknown 5.35%

White 55.03%

Gender

female 65.10%

male 34.90%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

5.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.5

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a guest service specialist

Explore guest service specialist education requirements

Most common guest service specialist degrees

Bachelor's

46.0 %

High School Diploma

24.0 %

Associate

18.9 %

Start to develop specific guest service specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Front Desk	30.97%
Patients	10.83%
Reservations	8.38%
Team Work	7.74%
Guest Service	7.60%

Complete relevant guest service specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New guest service specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a guest service specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real guest service specialist resumes.

Research guest service specialist duties and responsibilities

Manage and calculate daily cash deposits and prepare daily payroll ledgers.
Answer phones, make appointments, clean the salon, cash handling, operating POS.
Process all guest reservations, including guest follow up, obtaining all necessary information and accurately entering it into computer systems.
Determine Medicaid requirements and eligibility.

Prepare your guest service specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your guest service specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a guest service specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable guest service specialist resume templates

Build a professional guest service specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your guest service specialist resume.