Valet attendants park and retrieve customers’ vehicles at hotels, restaurants, and other establishments. They must have excellent customer service skills, critical thinking abilities, and good memory. They often work at malls with limited parking spaces and hospitals for patients, visitors, staff members, and guests. They also serve at single events like weddings or business conferences.
Greet patrons
A valet attendant is among the first people customers interact with when entering the venue. Hence, they should greet them in a friendly and welcoming manner. They should open doors, answer questions, and provide directions and local area information. They should also offer a fond farewell when guests leave. In addition, they should monitor and direct traffic in the service drive.
Lastly, they should verify ticket stubs and numbers. They may also manage a podium that contains key hooks, ticket slips, and promotional materials. Besides, they may have to handle cash transactions. They must also train new hires and maintain the register following POS guidelines. Moreover, they must ensure that all the vehicles are safe and secure. They may note existing flaws or damage on their vehicle logs to limit claims that they damaged customer vehicles.
Park vehicles
Valet parking attendants park and retrieve cars when patrons arrive at restaurants, hotels, and other businesses. During this process, they may be required to maneuver vehicles, collect payment, and even assist with luggage. As a valet, you are responsible for providing exceptional customer service. It would be best if you were friendly, courteous, and professional.
This includes ensuring that you greet guests promptly and provide them with accurate information about parking norms and regulations. You should also be able to maintain a safe and clean service drive area. This involves positioning or removing barricades and cleaning up debris from the area. Also, you must be able to correctly count cars, keys, and tickets at your shift’s end. This ensures that customers receive their cars quickly when they return to the parking lot.
Retrieve vehicles
Valet attendants spend up to 8 hours a day running and sprinting around the parking lot, so physical stamina is essential to their job. They also use their customer service skills to interact with patrons in a friendly and professional manner. They open doors for guests and assist with luggage and other guest-related services. They greet guests, give a fond farewell, and provide directions per hotel standards.
They monitor and maintain the safety, security, and cleanliness of the parking area/levels and report any issues to team leads and supervisors. Valet attendants may work in various settings, including hotels, country clubs, upscale restaurants, and entertainment venues. They must be able to park and retrieve vehicles in various locations, including streets, multi-story parking lots, and valet areas.
Assist patrons with luggage
Often, patrons who use valet services will need assistance with luggage and belongings. This is especially true if they attend a wedding, business event, or other special occasion. A valet attendant can help these guests by opening their vehicle doors, carrying their items, and assisting them with the exit. Valet attendants also need to be able to maneuver vehicles. This is particularly important for those who work in busy drop-off areas and parking ramps, where the ability to park cars quickly is essential.
They can also use their driving skills to ensure that the vehicles they retrieve are returned in good condition. To do this, they need to be able to use critical thinking and attention to detail. In addition, they need to be able to communicate with customers in a friendly manner.
Clean vehicles
Valet attendants must be able to clean their assigned vehicles inside and out. This ensures that customers receive their cars in pristine condition and helps maintain a safe service drive area. The ability to communicate effectively is another essential skill for valet attendants. They often serve as guests’ first point of contact, so they must be friendly and professional.
They should also be able to handle customer complaints promptly. To improve your driving and parking skills, practice with friends or family with vehicles. You can also take courses that teach defensive driving and other essential safety techniques. Finally, having good physical stamina as a valet attendant is helpful, as shifts can be long and physically challenging.
