The doorman is ... The profession of "doorman": history, professional functions and interesting facts

More than two hundred years ago the word "doorman" meant only one - a resident of the country of Switzerland. How did it happen that today the doorman is a profession? And who is the porter and concierge? What makes them different from the doorman?

The soul of the hotel from time immemorial

The origin of the profession occurred in the Ancient East. By this time the first hotels appeared. This is due to the dramatic increase in the number of pilgrims, traders and stray artists. Therefore, at the entrance to the institutions began to appear employees who were invited to enter and eat, rest or stay overnight.

They called these people porters or vestibules.

Etymology

The most popular version tells that a doorman is an emigrant. The eighteenth century was very difficult for Switzerland, so the indigenous people of this country sought a better life in the Russian Empire. They fled whole families. Because of ignorance of the language, servants were employed at inns and in hotels. All that they said in response to any question - "Swiss." The Russians quickly nullified the ending, and by the middle of the 19th century the word was used everywhere.

Adherents of the second version to the question: "What is a doorman?" They say that this is an elite guard. The word went from the guard, which bears the protection of the residence in the Vatican of the Pope. For it has been for several centuries that only the Swiss are recruited. In Italy and today the word svizzero means both a resident of Switzerland and a "papal soldier".

Residents of the fifth republic are sure that the porter is a porter. The word has French roots and in translation means "door".

Case

In 1806, for the first time, the meaning of the word "doorman" and its definition appeared in the dictionary, which led to even greater confusion. Simple people in communication and even newspapers described this word and the person's belonging to the Swiss nation, and the post. Therefore, the question arose of how to name the native inhabitants of Switzerland. Thanks to this, a word appeared in the Russian language, which only the indigenous inhabitants of the small mountainous country, the "Swiss", began to call. The topic was closed.

Professional Responsibilities

So what does the doorman do? The meaning and meaning of the word and expression today clearly indicate that the main job of the doorman is the meeting of the visitors of the hotel, hotel, restaurant, etc. Depending on the class or stardom of the institution, the duties of the porter can differ. But in general terms, the activity of such an employee is as follows:

- open the door to incoming visitors,

- to monitor the incoming and outgoing guests,

- Know the phone numbers of emergency services (emergency and fire services, police, etc.)

- follow the rules of service or residence,

- call a taxi at the request of the guest,

- know and be able to clearly tell about the location of the nearest restaurants, cafes, museums, memorial places,

- it is good to navigate the city,

- to help bring things to the car or number or invite porters,

- Know the location of the alarm system and fire protection means, be able to use them,

- provide information about any branch or structural subdivision of the institution,

- to monitor the observance of cleanliness in the square in front of the hotel (restaurant, hotel, etc.), in the lobby and lobby,

- clean and wipe the walls and glass on the territory entrusted to him, bring to the shine the metal parts of the doors or windows,

- in case of a failure of the front door, report to the directorate or repair yourself,

- to monitor that in front of the hotel (restaurant) there was no congestion of cars,

- monitor alarms and billboards (if any).

The porter has the right to receive information from any employee of the institution for the performance of his professional duties.

This person bears criminal, civil or administrative responsibility for violations that have arisen in the course of his activities. And also he is responsible for non-fulfillment or negligent performance of the circle of his duties, according to the job description.

Appointed to the position and dismissed by the director of the institution. He does not have subordinates.

Doorkeeper as a staff unit

The appearance of a person at the door should correspond to the style and class of the institution. Therefore, the uniform of the doorman is a very important part of his work. A striking example is the clothes of such an employee in the Odessa Hotel "London". The building in which it is located is stylized as a royal palace in Edinburgh (Great Britain). Therefore, the designers developed a livery, very reminiscent of the Guards form of the Royal Regiment of the Tower guard in London.

In small hotels, the doorman and administrator are usually combined. Therefore, the doorman is a person whose duties include meeting guests, responsibility for incoming correspondence, receiving faxes and phone calls. Sometimes employees keep lists of arriving and departing guests.

Large hotels or restaurants in their state have a day doorman and a night.

And I went to the porters - let them teach me ...

The meaning of the word "doorman" gives reason to assume that this profession is mastered by people who are very fond of communicating, who do not annoy a thousand times a day to answer the same questions. A real doorman can easily fulfill petty requests of strangers, answer questions that interest them, help them navigate in an unknown place and smile. No wonder the person of this profession is the face of the institution, whether it be a hotel, a restaurant, a respectable residential building or the office of a large company.

It's not very profitable

Despite the fact that the doorman is the face of an expensive hotel or restaurant, his salary is not high. In institutions of low class or small stellar, the salary for the representative of this profession is only $ 250, plus the standard tip is not more than two dollars. The reason for such a small salary is the lack of particularly serious requirements for the post and the receipt of special education. Only colloquial English is required, rejection of bad habits, good physical form, suitable age.

A high salary (over $ 500) can be boasted by the porters of the capital hotels (restaurants, residential complexes, etc.). But the requirements here are higher: the ability to comply with corporate, service and business standards; Russian language - in perfection: competent speech, possession of skills of telephone etiquette , etc.