Front Office: The organization of the front office of a typical mid-market hotel is shown in Figure 2-1. The staff is supervised by the front office manager, who is assisted by an assistant front office manager. The main functions of the front office are handled by front desk representatives, night auditors, and front desk cashiers. In the example, each staff member has a specialized area of responsibility, but at some properties, all front office personnel are generalists who perform the duties of a front desk receptionist, a cashier, and a night auditor.
To understand how the front office operates, let us examine the responsibilities of each key staff position.
Other guest communications duties ' may include providing information on hotel policies, facilities, and services, and welcoming important guests.
The front office manager confers regularly with the sales and marketing department for updates on special group reservations, billing arrangements, potential peak periods, and general forecasts. The manager must also maintain close communication with the housekeeping department about room status and check regularly with the accounting department for information about special billing requirements or problems. The front office manager is required to prepare regular written reports on the activities and progress of the front office, for review by the executive director or assistant director.
After completing this chapter, you should be able to perform the following tasks:
1. Identify, the key staff positions of the front office.
2. Describe the responsibilities and duties of the front office manager, assistant manager, front desk representative, night auditor, reservationist, cashier, front desk receptionist, and telephone operator.See Also Public Office:•^ " Front office manager "} • Assistant front office manager A-j « Front desk representatives Night auditor O c < Cashiers Reservationists Telephone operator Beside? public contact and guest communications, the front office staff may also be required to organize room-occupancy and reservation statistics, maintain ongoing communication with the housekeeping department, promote room and beverage sales, and balance the books. "
In a small motel, all these duties might be performed by a single owner or manager. In a larger hotel, several specialists ire employed to handle the various responsibilities of the :ront office.
Although elections are held for public office, there are no competing candidates. The United States and Britain basically have two-party systems, char¬acterized by strenuous competition for elective office. Lesser parties in these nations usually represent very specialized interests or aim to in¬fluence the programs of the major parties.
On The Other Hand See Holding Office In Many:In 1956 he initiated a program for building a model school system in Morrilton. He was chairman of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission as well as holding office in many of the family enterprises. In 1966 he won election as governor of Arkansas, becoming the first Republican elected to the office since Reconstruction. A moderate on racial issues, he defeated a segregationist.
He served in the field with distinction until 1864 when he was elected chief justice, while still with his regiment in Louisiana. The collapse of the Confederacy in the spring of 1865 automatically disqualified him from holding state or federal office.
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