What does a Room Attendant do?

A room attendant is responsible for making sure guest rooms, hallways, and common areas at a motel or hotel are kept clean and safe. Among many other duties, he or she dusts furniture, vacuums floors, scrubs bathrooms, and changes bedding. He or she also restocks guest rooms with towels and other amenities on a daily basis to ensure visitors have everything they need. Most have standard morning and afternoon work hours.

Developing a strong reputation for cleanliness is one of the most important elements of running a successful hotel. Room attendants keep their establishments looking attractive with their expert housekeeping skills. They thoroughly vacuum and dust sleeping spaces, sanitize bathrooms, and make beds. Vacant rooms are inspected to ensure they are fully stocked with toilet paper, towels, and soaps before guests arrive. They are also responsible for checking smoke alarms, lights, remote controls, and other permanent fixtures to make sure they are in proper working order.

Room attendants generally begin their daily cleaning duties around check-out time, in the early afternoon hours for most hotels. In the morning, they review charts to see which rooms are vacant and ready to be cleaned. If a room is still occupied, the attendant will knock before entering to see if the visitors are away or to ask when they want housekeeping services. Trustworthiness is an extremely important characteristic for someone in this position, as he or she constantly works around both valuable hotel property and guest belongings.

It is also important for a room attendant to be courteous to guests and knowledgeable about the hotel. He or she is usually expected to help visitors with any questions they may have about hotel policies, instead of simply directing them to the front desk for answers. Strong communication skills and a friendly attitude are essential to ensure guests enjoy their stays.

There are generally few education and training requirements to become a room attendant. Most hotels will hire people who have high school diplomas and the physical ability necessary to perform the job well. A criminal background check may be performed prior to starting work to make sure a prospective worker is trustworthy. Most trainee attendants work alongside other housekeepers for several days to learn the routine and pick up important skills. With experience and proven reliability, a person may be able to advance to a supervisory position within a few months or years.