Choosing the Right Hotel Reception Desk
It’s often debated over which element of a hotel contributes most to making that lasting first impression.
Some argue that it rides on the exterior structural features that greet the guests before they enter. However, the counter argument states that the hotel reception desk has the largest impact – as this is where that first point of contact occurs.
Your hotel lobby design, including the front desk, gives your arriving guest a taste of what is to come. A welcoming entrance and reception desk will relax the guest and prepare them for an enjoyable stay with you.
It’s subtle but extremely important – your hotel reception desk needs to coordinate with the lobby’s décor while harnessing that all important welcome signal.
Which reception desk is right for your property?
Choosing the right hotel reception desk is a challenge – purely because of the many purposes it needs to fulfil. From a guest’s perspective, it needs to be easily accessible, contributing to a warm, friendly atmosphere.
However, in addition to your guests, the requirements of staff members also need to be considered. It’s essentially their main workspace, so needs to be practically designed so that they feel comfortable while carrying out their daily tasks.
Your hotel reception desk has to be high enough for guests to feel at ease while standing, but not too high so that your staff are unable to sit and answer the phones or operate their computers. There’s a lot of consideration that needs to go into purchasing the right one.
Welcoming Designs
Traditionally, front desks have been dominated by long straight lines – a barrier separating staff from the guests checking in.
While this hotel reception design can look grand and awe inspiring in some settings, it can appear rather cold and clinical in others. And with lobbies increasingly becoming multi-functional areas, similar to living rooms, large imposing desks can be off-putting to your guests.
As an alternative, individual front desks or small pods have become popular, particularly in smaller boutique hotels where there may only be one member of staff working at the reception desk at any one time.
Having a couple of small desks rather than one large front desk contributes to a more open and personal environment. Queues appear shorter as a result, and guests can see the one person they’re going to be dealing with, rather than feel like they’re waiting in one large queue to potentially see any member of staff.
By inviting their guests to sit down at desk height in front of them as they check-in, hotel receptionists can be more engaging and personable – eliminating any intrusive barriers.
It’s a small touch, but one that can go a great distance in making guests feel they’re being warmly welcomed to enjoy their stay.