Wagon master (hotel)

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A wagon master is a hotel employee in upscale and top hotels. The profession represents a more specialized form of the porter . He works at the hotel entrance and takes care of the comfortable arrival and departure of the guests. He is usually the first hotel employee that guests come into contact with on arrival and the last on departure. Typically he wears a uniform that has to be both representative and weatherproof. It is often reminiscent of the uniform of classic coachmen (long cape, top hat). The uniform also serves to distinguish him from the auxiliary staff to whom he is authorized to give instructions ( bellboys , parking assistants , hotel drivers). He represents the hotel at the entrance and on the forecourt (driveway, sidewalk), where he ensures order and cleanliness.

He organizes the loading and unloading of luggage and, if necessary, parking and, on departure, the right of way for the guest's vehicle. That is why he is usually responsible for all hotel parking spaces. At larger hotels he has assistants for loading luggage and parking. If spatially possible, he ensures that particularly representative (i.e. rare, expensive) luxury cars are parked in the hotel driveway or in front of the entrance so that they can be seen by all guests and passers-by. The “importance” of a guest also determines the parking space, because the closer the car is parked to the entrance, the faster it will be available to the guest again if requested.

At the guest's request, he will organize car maintenance (car wash, workshop visit). Often he is also responsible for the planning, maintenance and care of the hotel's own vehicles.

Depending on the internal organization of the hotel, the wagon master can also be responsible for the secure luggage storage, but this is often organized by the reception. He calls taxis for guests without their own vehicle. It should also be able to show pedestrians, but also motorists, the way to sights, venues, restaurants, etc.