Course

Front Desk Operations

Faculty
Commerce & Business Administration
Department
Hospitality Management
Course code
HOSP 2240
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 Weeks X 4 Hours Per Week = 60 Hours
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course introduces students to the Lodging Operations Front Office. Topics include reservations, front desk, guest services and human resource deployment issues specific to front office operations management. This course familiarizes students with the principles of front desk operational procedures; examines current trends in guest services; discusses online distribution of room inventory; and introduces students to the principles of revenue management strategies. Students work with a Property Management Software to become familiar with computerized reservations, arrival and charge posting systems.
Course content
  1. Departmental organization, roles, responsibilities and task lists
  2. Current trends in guest services
  3. Rating Systems
  4. Rate structures, packaging, quoting and up selling strategies
  5. Forecasting and statistical analysis
  6. Procedures and equipment used by the front office through the guest cycle
    • Individual and Group Reservations
    • Guest Arrival
    • Charge Posting
    • Night Audit
    • Guest Departure
    • Cash Handling
    • Billing Credit
    • Guest History
  7. Property management systems related to managing the front desk
  8. Terminology and basic concepts related to front desk operation
  9. The function of all the departments in a hotel and the important role of the front desk in their coordination
  10. Accounting procedures and controls in the front office
  11. Revenue Management
  12. Traditional distribution channels, online distribution of inventory and e-commerce applications.
Learning activities

The course will be conducted on the basis of lectures, discussions and use of a property management system software.

Means of assessment
Participation 10% - 20%
Software Simulations 10% - 20%
Term Projects 10% - 30%
Midterm Examination 20% - 40%
Final Examination 20% - 40%
Total         100%

STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE ALL COMPONENTS OF THE COURSE TO OBTAIN CREDIT FOR THE COURSE.

STUDENTS MUST OBTAIN 50% OR BETTER ON THE EXAMINATION COMPONENT OF THE ASSESSMENTS TO RECEIVE A PASSING GRADE.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the successful student should be able to:

  1. Describe the roles and responsibilities of the Front Office;
  2. Describe Front Office Procedures;
  3. Identify stages of the guest cycle;
  4. Apply principals of customer service;
  5. Use Front Office accounting procedures;
  6. Apply terminology and basic concepts related to front desk operations;
  7. Construct group rate quotes;
  8. Formulate package sheets;
  9. Do a market share analysis;
  10. Do a RevPar analysis;
  11. Create AM PM task lists;
  12. Prepare a night audit manually and using a computer software application;
  13. Create a manual reservation and front office system;
  14. Room a guest;
  15. Execute property management skills on a PMS;
  16. Detail distribution channels;
  17. Identify AM and PM shift responsibilities;
  18. Create a Revenue Management implementation strategy;
  19. Do a SWOT analysis on the various booking engines to maximize revenues;
  20. Understand e-commerce applications in the hospitality sales sector.
Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

 

Vallen, G., Vallen, J. Check In Check Out, Latest Canadian Ed. Toronto Prentice Hall

 

Similar text as approved by the department.

Requisites

Prerequisites

HOSP 1115 and HOSP 1210 or ACCT 1110 and HOSP 1325 or MARK 1120 OR currently active in the:
PDD in Hospitality Management or
PDD Hospitality Marketing or 
PBD Hospitality Services Management.

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for HOSP 2240
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO HMGT 186 (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU TOUR 252 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU HMGT 2XXX (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
9
Remaining seats:
26
On waitlist
0
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. A
Room
A2290
Times:
Start Time
8:30
-
End Time
10:20
Section notes

HOSP 2240 001 is restricted to Hospitality students.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
19
Remaining seats:
16
On waitlist
0
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. A
Room
A2290
Times:
Start Time
10:30
-
End Time
12:20
Section notes

HOSP 2240 002 is restricted to Hospitality students.