Hotel Bell Desk - Luggage Handling, Left Luggage, Luggage Inventory & Functions of Bell Desk

Hotel Bell Desk - Luggage Handling, Left Luggage, Luggage Inventory & Functions of Bell Desk 
Notes by Manish Sharma (BHM) Amity University Noida

BELL DESK

Bell desk is an extended arm of front office.

As the name suggest it is a small desk/counter in the lobby near the main entrance of the hotel.

FUNCTIONS OF BELL DESK

LUGGAGE HANDLING

UP BELL ACTIVITY: When luggage of the guest is moved from car to lobby and further to the allotted room, the activity is called up bell activity.

DOWN BELL ACTIVITY: When the luggage of the guest is moved from room to lobby and further to the car at the time of departure the activity is called down bell activity.

TEMPORARY STORAGE OF LUGGAGE

Also called “LEFT LUGGAGE”

The baggage is collected from room upon request. A left luggage register is maintained in this case and an entry is made in this book. A baggage ticket is used (which has two parts). One part is attached to the luggage and the counterfoil is given to the guest. When the guest comes to collect his luggage he has to produce his portion of baggage ticket.

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LEFT LUGGAGE REGISTER:

Date	Room no.	Name of guest	Bell boy name	Luggage tag no.	Description of luggage	Date of delivery	Remark

PROCEDURE FOR RECEIVING AND EVENTUAL DELIVERY OF LEFT LUGGAGE

1.    RECEIPT

·       Ascertain if the guest wishing to leave his luggage has paid his hotel bill.

·       String the baggage ticket on each piece of luggage separately. The baggage ticket has a number which is also printed on the counterfoil of the ticket.

·       Enter details in the left luggage register.

·       Tear off the counterfoil of each ticket and hand it over to the guest.

·       Keep the luggage in the left luggage area.

2.    DELIVERY:

·       Take the counterfoil of the luggage from the guest.

·       Tally the same with the ticket attached to the luggage in the left luggage area.

·       Enter the date of delivery in the left luggage register.

·       Retain counterfoil and tags of luggage.

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LUGGAGE INVENTORY

It is a procedure to keep a track of all guests stored luggage with the bell service. This report in made periodically by the bell captain along with the help of bell boy. While doing this exercise the bell captain checks the following---

·       All stored luggage have individual storage ticket.

·       Name of guest

·       Date of delivery

·       Date of collection

Written clearly on the tickets and tallying with luggage storage register.

LUGGAGE INVENTORY SHEET

S no.	Luggage tag no.	Name of guest	Room no.	Date of departure	Description of luggage	Location in luggage room	Collection date	Remark

PAGING:

The paging is a system of location the guest in the hotel.

·       The complete location form is kept in the key and mail racks.

·       Paging is a Performa may be kept in the stationary folder in the room as well as at information section of the counter.

·       Filled by the guest or hotel staff.

MAIL AND MESSAGE HANDLING

Handle and distribute mail and message received by the front desk in the absence of the guests to their respective rooms.

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DELIVERY OF NEWSPAPER

As per the hotel policy all hotel guest receive a copy of a newspaper each morning. The bell boys in the night shift are responsible for delivering the newspapers to all occupied rooms.

The bell captain obtains the room verification report. The bell boy then marks the room numbers on each newspaper. The bell boy then distributes the newspapers. The record of numbers of newspaper received on daily basis is maintained by the night shift bell captain.

COLLECTION OF ROOM KEYS AT DEPARTURE

Another very important function of the bell desk is collection of room key from a check-out guest and depositing the same at the reception.