Behind the friendly welcome at reception there is a whole team: the front office. It handles bookings, room allocation, billing and everything guests need before, during and after their stay. In Germany, front office managers, reservation agents and night auditors are especially in demand.
Front office positions
- Receptionist: check-in, check-out and guest care
- Reservation agent: handling booking requests by phone, email and booking platforms
- Night auditor / night porter: night shift at reception, daily close and security
- Concierge: personal services and recommendations
- Front office supervisor: shift leader
- Front office manager: head of the entire department
The front office manager
The front office manager is responsible for all processes around welcoming guests. They write rotas, train the team, set standards and deal with difficult guest situations. Together with the management and revenue team they steer occupancy and room rates. Several years at reception, leadership skills, very good German and English and confident use of hotel software are expected.
The reservation agent
All bookings come together in reservations – from individual guests, companies, groups and online portals. Reservation agents prepare offers, manage allotments, answer enquiries and prevent overbooking. The role usually offers regular daytime hours and suits organised people who enjoy communicating.
The night auditor
At night the night auditor takes over reception, welcoming late arrivals, answering calls, doing security rounds and preparing the daily close with all revenue. If you like working independently and are alert at night, this is a well-paid role – with night supplements and often several days off per week.
Which skills count?
- Service orientation and a professional manner
- Languages: German and English, with others as a plus
- A head for figures for billing and reporting
- Knowledge of property management systems such as Opera, Protel or Mews
- Discretion and reliability
Career prospects
The front office is a classic stepping stone in hotels. From here, paths lead into sales, revenue management, rooms division management and all the way to hotel director.
Front office jobs with AS-Gastro-Consult
AS-Gastro-Consult places front office managers, reservation agents, night auditors and receptionists with hotels across Germany – for newcomers and experienced leaders alike.
See our current job offers or message us on WhatsApp: +49 163 501 95 12.
