A bellhop (North America), or
hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a ref ...
porter
Porter may refer to:
Companies
* Porter Airlines, Canadian regional airline based in Toronto
* Porter Chemical Company, a defunct U.S. toy manufacturer of chemistry sets
* Porter Motor Company, defunct U.S. car manufacturer
* H.K. Porter, Inc., ...
(international), is a hotel employee who helps
patron
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...
s with their
luggage
Baggage or luggage consists of bags, cases, and containers which hold a traveler's personal articles while the traveler is in transit. A modern traveler can be expected to have packages containing clothing, toiletries, small possessions, trip ...
while
checking in
''Checking In'' is an American sitcom television series and a spin-off of ''The Jeffersons'' that aired for four episodes on CBS from April 9 to April 30, 1981.
Synopsis
In the seventh-season finale episode of ''The Jeffersons'', " Florence's ...
or out. Bellhops often wear a uniform (see
bell-boy hat
A bell-boy hat or bellboy cap is a small round or oval brimless cap with a crown about 2–3 inches in height, resembling a squat can or drum. It is often worn as part of the uniform of a bellhop. The bell-boy hat is based on a 19th-century ...
), like certain other
page boys or
doormen. This occupation is also known as a bellman and bellboy () in North America.
Duties
The name ''bellhop'' is derived from a hotel's front-desk clerk ringing a bell to summon a porter, who would ''
hop
A hop is a type of jump.
Hop or hops may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Hop'' (film), a 2011 film
* Hop! Channel, an Israeli TV channel
* ''House of Payne'', or ''HOP'', an American sitcom
* Lindy Hop, a swing dance of the 1920s and ...
'' (jump) to attention at the desk to receive instructions. It is short for bell-hopper, and the first known use of the word was in 1897.
The bellhop traditionally is a
boy
A boy is a young male human. The term is commonly used for a child or an adolescent. When a male human reaches adulthood, he is described as a man.
Definition, etymology, and use
According to the ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary'', a boy is "a ...
or adolescent male, hence the term ''bellboy''. Bellhops interact with a variety of people each day and duties often include opening the front door, moving luggage,
valet
A valet or varlet is a male servant who serves as personal attendant to his employer. In the Middle Ages and Ancien Régime, valet de chambre was a role for junior courtiers and specialists such as artists in a royal court, but the term "vale ...
ing cars, calling cabs, transporting guests, advising directions, performing basic
concierge
A concierge () is an employee of a multi-tenant building, such as a hotel or apartment building, who receives guests. The concept has been applied more generally to other hospitality settings and to personal concierges who manage the errands of ...
work, and responding to guests' needs. While carrying luggage, they escort guests to their rooms.
In most countries, it is customary to
tip
Tip commonly refers to:
* Tip (gambling)
* Tip (gratuity)
* Tip (law enforcement)
* another term for Advice (opinion), Advice
Tip or TIP may also refer to:
Science and technology
* Tank phone, a device allowing infantry to communicate with the oc ...
a bellhop for his service.
See also
*
Porter (carrier)
A porter, also called a bearer, is a person who carries objects or cargo for others. The range of services conducted by porters is extensive, from shuttling luggage aboard a train (a railroad porter) to bearing heavy burdens at altitude in i ...
*
Skycap
A skycap is a porter employed at an airport and provides the following services to airline passengers:
* Handles luggage, strollers, and car seats
* Performs curbside check-in
* Assists disabled or wheelchair passengers
By tradition, skycaps are ...
References
External links
*{{commonscat-inline, Bellhops
Hospitality occupations
Personal care and service occupations