Being a hotel room attendant for a day

Working in a hotel may not immediately seem like the most glamorous job. I expected it to involve serving meals to guests, ushering them into their rooms and making their beds after they left.

But what I experienced spending a few hours working as a hotel room attendant at the four-year-old boutique hotel, Lloyd’s Inn, was not what I had expected. In fact, I picked up new skills and improved my eye for details.

One of the first things that caught my attention the moment I entered the hotel was the fact that there were so many young staff.

I always thought that hotel staff would be old, formal men – pretty much like Bruce Wayne’s butler in Batman. However, the youthful glow of the staff complemented the fresh, young and vibrant vibe the hotel wanted to exude.

As for my initial expectations regarding housekeeping-related tasks, I was surprised that instead of changing sheets and making beds, I was to be folding Tatami beds and tying Yukatas instead! The Japanese touch made the hotel unique – and it’s no a wonder why youths love it!

The hotel industry is developing in the digital age. And with self-check-in kiosks and robot delivery room service becoming more common, I wondered why there was still a need for more manpower in this industry.

“What sets the hotels apart from chalets and resorts is the human touch. You get these human interactions during a hotel stay, through reception and room service,” said Kevin Soh, 34, manager of Lloyd’s Inn.

Kevin also shared how this “human touch” led him to made friends with past guests – both local and foreign. “This is something that cannot be replaced by technology,” said the manager, who has worked at two hotels before Lloyd’s Inn.

And while negative preconceptions of working in the service sector do exist, many in the industry hope youths would give jobs in the rapidly developing hotel industry a try.

“If you’re not sure if working in a service industry is what you want, applying for internship positions can give you a taste of what to expect. You’ll be surprised at how gratifying working in the service sector can be,” said director of Lloyd’s Inn, Joan Chang, 27.

While a job in the hotel service industry may seem tiring, I cannot deny that it was one of the most fun I’ve had working in a long time. Nothing beats seeing a professionally made up room, knowing that it was a product of your own hard work and time.