The concierge’s desk
Mitarbeiter am Empfang sind die erste Anlaufstelle für Hotelgäste. Ihre Aufgaben sind vielfältig, aber immer haben sie einen guten Tipp parat, wie Sie hier in Dialogen auf Englisch erfahren.
Explaining the role
Charles: This is your first day as assistant concierge. We’re often the first and last point of contact for the guests.
Marco: I suppose that’s why we’re positioned in this strategic place in the hotel lobby. It’s kind of like an ambassador’s role.
Charles: Exactly. You represent the hotel at all times. It’s essential that the guests trust you and your recommendations.
Marco: Which is why our contacts file is so important.
Charles: That’s right. The quality of our contacts, both inside and outside the hotel, is a critical success factor.
Booking theatre tickets
Jenny: My friend and I would like to see the musical Hamilton. Is there any chance of getting two tickets for tonight’s performance?
Marco: It’s the most popular show in town, madam, so it might be a bit difficult.
Jenny: Could you try? It’s my friend’s birthday, and I’d like to surprise her.
Marco: I’ll do my best. Do you have any limitations as to what you are prepared to spend? Jenny: I realize it won’t be cheap. But if it’s exorbitant, perhaps we could go to Book of Mormon instead.
Marco: Let me call my contacts to see how things look. If there are two spare tickets, I’ll provisionally reserve them and get back to you. There is a matinee performance tomorrow as well. Would that be good for you?
Jenny: Either would be great.
Recommending a restaurant
Heiner: My wife and I would like to eat somewhere nice this evening. Do you have any recommendations?
Marco: Do you have any preferences? There are some excellent Asian and Italian restaurants nearby.
Heiner: We like both Asian and Italian food, but we’d like to try something a bit different. Marco: There are two rather unusual restaurants nearby. One is L’opera. The waiters and waitresses are trained singers and serve your meal while singing opera classics. Heiner: That sounds like fun! What’s the other restaurant you were thinking of?
Marco: It’s a fusion Asian restaurant with some very unusual dishes, such as crocodile steak and python carpaccio.
Heiner: I’m not sure my wife would want to eat python! Could you try L’opera?
Marco: I’ll call them now and check if they have a table available.
Arranging an excursion
Joan: We would like to get to know the city a bit better. It’s our first trip here.
Jim: We’d like to see the main sights and then go back to the ones we found interesting. Marco: The best way to get an overview is to take a hop-on, hop-off bus tour, sir. There’s a stop just down the street. The buses run every 15 or 20 minutes. You could also do a walking tour with a guide. The guide could answer your questions and give you tips on what to see later.
Joan: I think I’d prefer that. How does it work? Marco: There are group tours that I could book for you. Or you could have a personal guided tour with your own guide. Let me call my contacts and find out the price of a group tour as compared to a personal guided tour.