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What does a motel desk clerk do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
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Motel desk clerk responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real motel desk clerk resumes:

  • Manage customer service issues with ease and charm and train other co workers in daily operations.
  • Specialize in making guest reservations, checking guest in and out of the hotel, utilize customer service skills.
  • Transmit and receive messages, using telephones and telephone switchboards.
  • Register new patients and updates existing patient demographics by collecting patient detail patient information including personal and financial information.
  • Used mathematical and calculator skills to prepare simple calculations without error.
  • Monitor checkout stations to ensure that they have adequate cash available and that they are staff appropriately.

Motel desk clerk skills and personality traits

We calculated that 56% of Motel Desk Clerks are proficient in Reservations, Customer Service, and Front Desk. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Integrity, and Interpersonal skills.

We break down the percentage of Motel Desk Clerks that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Reservations, 56%

    Perform all Guest Service Representative functions as required including booking room reservations, guest services and telephone support.

  • Customer Service, 13%

    Trained and managed a team of 12 in customer service and achieved significant improvements in their productivity.

  • Front Desk, 10%

    Worked at front desk checking guests in and out of hotel.

  • Telephone Calls, 5%

    Answer customer telephone calls membership accounts* Respond to questions and concerns about facility membership and operations, and escalated calls appropriately.

  • Hotel Services, 4%

    Answered inquiries pertaining to hotel services guest registration and travel directions or make recommendations regarding shopping dining or entertainment.

  • Night Audit, 4%

    Perform night auditing including corporate reporting.

Common skills that a motel desk clerk uses to do their job include "reservations," "customer service," and "front desk." You can find details on the most important motel desk clerk responsibilities below.

Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a motel desk clerk to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "information clerks must be able to explain policies and procedures clearly to customers and the public." Additionally, a motel desk clerk resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "maintained effective telephone communications and monitored office equipment. "

Integrity. Another essential skill to perform motel desk clerk duties is integrity. Motel desk clerks responsibilities require that "information clerks, particularly human resources assistants, have access to confidential information." Motel desk clerks also use integrity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "utilized copy and fax machines * trusted to work without supervision *"

Interpersonal skills. motel desk clerks are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to motel desk clerk responsibilities, because "information clerks who work with the public and customers must understand and communicate information effectively to establish positive relationships." A motel desk clerk resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "book motel reservations and answered customer questions provide quality customer service to all patrons developed strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills"

Organizational skills. motel desk clerk responsibilities often require "organizational skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "information clerks must be able to retrieve files and other important information quickly and efficiently." This resume example shows what motel desk clerks do with organizational skills on a typical day: "handled all incoming phone calls and numerous other organizational duties in the office. "

Most common motel desk clerk skills

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Motel Desk Clerk Resume
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Motel Desk Clerk Resume
Motel Desk Clerk Resume
Motel Desk Clerk Resume
Motel Desk Clerk Resume
Motel Desk Clerk Resume
Motel Desk Clerk Resume
Motel Desk Clerk Resume
Motel Desk Clerk Resume
Motel Desk Clerk Resume
Motel Desk Clerk Resume
Motel Desk Clerk Resume
Motel Desk Clerk Resume

Compare different motel desk clerks

Motel desk clerk vs. Night auditor

A Night Auditor is responsible for handling late-night front-desk operations, mostly at hotels or other lodging establishments. Among the primary duties involve greeting guests and handling check-in and check-outs, responding to reservations, process and collect payments, preparing reports and necessary documentation, and attending to the guests' inquiries, requests, and concerns. Furthermore, Night Auditors must also coordinate with day-shift workers to be aware of the daily reports, and as well as oversee the entire establishment's operation to ensure the guest's welfare.

We looked at the average motel desk clerk salary and compared it with the wages of a night auditor. Generally speaking, night auditors are paid $2,998 higher than motel desk clerks per year.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both motel desk clerk and night auditor positions are skilled in reservations, customer service, and financial data.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, motel desk clerk responsibilities require skills like "front desk," "public inquiries," "customer orders," and "switchboards." Meanwhile a typical night auditor has skills in areas such as "check-in," "guest service," "guest satisfaction," and "cash handling." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Night auditors tend to make the most money working in the real estate industry, where they earn an average salary of $31,410. In contrast, motel desk clerks make the biggest average salary, $34,665, in the energy industry.night auditors tend to reach similar levels of education than motel desk clerks. In fact, night auditors are 3.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Motel desk clerk vs. Guest services agent

Guest services agents are the ones who communicate with hotel guests who want to reserve or cancel bookings. Their job includes welcoming guests upon arrival, assigning them their rooms and suites, issuing their room keys, and collecting payment information. They organize housekeeping, transport providers, porters, and kitchen staff to meet the requirements of guests. They also resolve issues and deal with disappointed guests' complaints and coordinate third party services, including taxis, rental cars, tour guides, and airport transfers.

A career as a guest services agent brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a motel desk clerk. In fact, guest services agents salary is $563 higher than the salary of motel desk clerks per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both motel desk clerks and guest services agents have skills such as "reservations," "customer service," and "telephone calls. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, motel desk clerk responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "front desk," "financial data," "public inquiries," and "customer orders." Meanwhile, a guest services agent has duties that require skills in areas such as "computer system," "cash handling," "guest complaints," and "room availability." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, guest services agents earn a higher salary than motel desk clerks. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, guest services agents earn the most pay in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $28,914. Whereas motel desk clerks have higher pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $34,665.In general, guest services agents achieve similar levels of education than motel desk clerks. They're 3.1% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Motel desk clerk vs. Front office agent

Front office agents are a part of a corporation that comes in touch with clients like the marketing, sales, and repair departments. In general offices, the agents can discover more information about the customer by asking them questions, also helping the purchasers out. Agents working within the front office can also affect simple tasks, like checking out emails and printing and typing works. Front office agents used different technologies, too, like using printers, fax machines, and phones.

An average front office agent eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of motel desk clerks. The difference in salaries amounts to front office agents earning a $6,273 higher average salary than motel desk clerks.By looking over several motel desk clerks and front office agents resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "reservations," "customer service," and "telephone calls." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a motel desk clerk is likely to be skilled in "front desk," "financial data," "public inquiries," and "customer orders," while a typical front office agent is skilled in "excellent guest," "cleanliness," "hotel reservations," and "guest service."

Most front office agents achieve a similar degree level compared to motel desk clerks. For example, they're 3.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Motel desk clerk vs. Guest relations representative

Guest relations representatives are professionals who are responsible for providing excellent customer service to customers of a hotel or other establishment. These representatives are required to assist the front office manager in mentoring and developing front office associates by contributing valuable feedback and suggestions for improvement. They must provide general hospitality services for VIP guests by arranging transportation as well as special accommodations. Guest relations representatives must also maintain the cleanliness of guest rooms while delivering housekeeping amenities to the rooms.

Guest relations representatives tend to earn a higher pay than motel desk clerks by an average of $290 per year.According to resumes from motel desk clerks and guest relations representatives, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "reservations," "customer service," and "front desk. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between motel desk clerks and guest relations representatives, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a motel desk clerk might have more use for skills like "financial data," "public inquiries," "night audit," and "customer orders." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of guest relations representatives require skills like "guest relations," "patients," "vip," and "excellent guest. "

In general, guest relations representatives hold similar degree levels compared to motel desk clerks. Guest relations representatives are 4.2% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of motel desk clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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