Receptionists Defended

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31385, 2 June 1967, Page 10

Receptionists Defended

The Canterbury Hotel Association was fully conscious of the importance of good desk staff in hotels, the executive officer of the association (Mr E. H. Williams) said last evening.

He was referring to complaints of poor hotel service, particularly reception desk service, made at a meeting of the Canterbury Progress League on Wednesday evening. Mr C. G. Martin had complained, in particular, of the behaviour of a receptionist at an unnamed Christchurch hotel. The Hotel Association was concerned that the Progress League had debated matters which were the province of the association, Mr Williams said. “If Mr Martin has a genuine interest in the standard of the desk staff, we believe he would have quietly drawn the attention of the management at the hotel which he slates to the shortcomings of the reception clerk,” Mr Williams said. “If necessary, when he

found the manager was out, he could have telephoned later rather than written a letter. “Alternatively, ' he could have written to this association pointing out the apparent need for an educational programme for front office staff. Urgent consideration would no doubt have been given to any constructive views and positive action would have been taken. “We know that the pleasant manner of our' reception clerks, compared with those in hotels overseas, is indicative of the friendly service which any overseas visitor can expect from our accommodation hotels.”