SOME USEFUL EXPRESSIONS FOR THE HOTEL STAFF
A. OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS
The phrases near the top of the list are generally more formal than the ones near the bottom.
More formal





Less formal
Greetings
Responses
Good morning.
Good afternoon.
Good evening
How nice to see you!
Hello, Robert.
How are you?
Hi, Bob.
How’ve you been?
What’s happening?
What’s new?
How are you doing?
How you doing?
Long time, no see
Good morning.
Good afternoon.
Good evening
Yes, it’s been quite a while
Hello, Kathryn.
Fine, thanks. And you?
Hi, Kathy.
Pretty good.
Not much.
Nothing.
Ok.
Not bad.
Yeah!

More formal


Less formal
Closings
Responses
Good bye
Good night, Bill.
Have a nice day/ weekend!
Talk to you later.
See you later
Good bye
Good night, Bill.
You, too/ Same to you!
Bye. Take it easy.
So long. Take care.

B. INTRODUCTIONS
The phrases near the top of the list are generally more formal than the ones near the bottom.
More formal



Less formal
Introducer
Response A
Response B
I’d like to introduce Henry Cheng.
I’d like to introduce Marie Brandon.
I’d like to introduce Tony Angelo.
I’d like you to meet Patricia Murphy
I’d like you to meet Akiko Sato.

This is Ali Hassan.
How do you do?
Glad to meet you!
Pleased to meet you!
Nice to meet you!
Nice to meet you!

Hi!
How do you do?
The pleasure is mine.
Pleased to meet you!

I’ve heard so much about you.
Hi!

More formal


Less formal
Self
Responses
Hello. I’m John du Plessis.
Hello. My name is George Bush.
I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Young Kim.
Hi. I’m Mike. What’s your name
How do you do? I’m Julie Duarte.
Pleased to meet you. I’m Sue Washington.
Nice to meet you. I’m Eva Beck.
Hi. I’m Margaret, but everyone calls me Peggy.

C. OTHER USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
1. Offering help
Can I help you?
What can I do for you?
How can I help you, sir/madam?
2. Asking for personal information politely
Would you tell/ give me your name, sir/ madam/ miss/ ms?
Could you tell/give me your name, sir/madam?
May I have your name/ address/ telephone number, sir/madam?
Could I have your name, please?
Would you mind telling/giving me your name, sir?
Do you mind telling/giving me your name, sir/madam?
3. Asking the speaker to slow down
Excuse me, sir/ madam, could you speak (a little more) slowly, lease?
Excuse me, sir/madam, but would you please slow down a little?
Excuse me, sir/madam, but do you mind slowing down a little?
4. Asking someone to wait
Just a moment, please.
One moment/ minute, please.
Could you wait a moment/ minute, please?
Hold on the line, please.























Making a booking
I’d like to reserve a single room from…..to………
I’d like to book a single/ double room from (date)……….to (date)…..
I want to have a single with bath for September 10th
I need a single with bath for September 8th.
Can I have a single/double for October 4th?
Do you have a double available for November 27th?
Accepting a booking
We have a single available for those dates.
We do have a vacancy for those dates.
We have a single/double unlet.
We are glad we’ll be able to accept your booking.
Asking about the room rate
What is the daily rate?
How much is the single/double per night?
What is the price for a double per night?
Explaining the services the room rate includes
For $50 you will have a telephone, a radio…….
For $50 you will have a telephone, a color TV, …..
For $50 you will be entitled to a radio, a TV,……
The $50 includes a radio, a major international newspaper, ………For $50 we’ll provide you with a telephone, a color TV, a mini-bar…..