English for Hotel & Restaurant: Offering Help

Today we will share a new tutorial for non native English speaking hotel & restaurant workers. Our today’s tutorial is from our brand new Professional spoken English Training Guide. Click HERE to grab your copy now. Now you will learn how to offer help or assistance to your guest in English.

In some cases, whether that could be an absolute necessity or simply a polite gesture, you may need to offer help or assistance to your guest. In this article, we will discuss what to say in such situations.

Useful Vocabulary

• Appreciate
• Assist
• Request
• Trouble
• Grateful
• Favor
• Hesitate
• Welcome
• Show
• Offer
• Desire
• Mind
• Follow
• Serve

Relevant Expressions

When Offering Help

• Would you like some help?
• Can I give you a hand?
• Do you need any help?
• May I offer my assistance?
• Need any help?
• May I help you, sir/madam?
• How may I help you, sir/madam?
• Is there anything I can do for you?
• May I be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to ask.
• Going up?
• Going down?
• Never mind.
• Please allow me.
• I would be very glad to help you.

When Asking for Help

• Could you give me a hand?
• Would you mind helping me out?
• Could you help me please?
• I need some assistance please.
• If it’s no trouble.
• If you don’t mind.
• There is no hurry.
• Please take your time.

When Responding to Help

• Of course ma’am, what can I do for you?
• Oh course sir, how can I help?
• Of course, what do you want me to do?
• I’d be happy to assist you.
• Yes sir, how can I assist you?

Dialogue

The following conversations are typically used while offering help and advice in different situations or different sections of the hotel.

Bell Desk Staff

Scene 1

Staff: Excuse me sir, may I help you with your bags?

Guest: That would be fantastic. One more thing, I don’t understand what the taxi driver is trying to say. Could you translate it for me?

Staff: Of course sir, I’d be delighted to help you.

Guest: Oh, thank you. I would really appreciate that.

Scene 2

Staff: Going up, sir?

Guest: Yes.

Staff: Watch your steps, please. The floor is wet. Housekeeping staff will clean it shortly.

Guest: OK. Thank you.

Staff: By the way, may I help you with your luggage so that you can walk more carefully.

Guest: Sure. That would be very kind of you.

Staff: You’re most welcome sir.

Scene 3

Staff: Excuse me. May I help you?

Guest: Yes, I’m looking for my room.

Staff: May I know your room number, please?

Guest: Yes, My room number is 158.

Staff: Actually that’s at the other end of the corridor. Don’t worry. Follow me, please. I’ll show you to your room.

Guest: Thank you. It’s very kind of you.

Staff: It’s my pleasure to serve you. Please follow me sir.

Guest: Sure. Go on.

Engineering/Maintenance Staff

Guest: Could you please turn on the AC and set the room temperature to 27°.

Staff: Of course sir, I’d be happy to do that.

Food and Beverage Staff

Guest: Could you watch my daughter for a second while I go outside to get some medicines for her?

Staff: Of course ma’am, I’d be delighted to.

Front Desk Staff

Scene 1

Staff: May I hold you packages while you sign in?

Guest: Thanks; that would be a great help.

Scene 2

Guest: Excuse me

Staff: Yes sir.

Guest: Can you help me?

Staff: Of course. Let me know what can I do for you?

Guest: Someone just stole my moneybag off my shoulder outside the hotel.

Staff: I am so sorry. That’s really terrible. Please seat down here and I’ll call the police for you.

Guest: Thank you very much. I really appreciate your help.

Health and Leisure Staff

Guest: Could you give me a hand?

Staff: Of course sir, what do you need?

Guest: Please add some more weights.

Staff: No problem sir.

Housekeeping Staff

Staff: Pardon me sir, but it looks like you could use some help with those packages.

Guest: I sure could, thanks.

Guest: Could you help me setting the ironing board and iron please.

Staff: Of course ma’am. Where would you like to set it up?

Kitchen Staff

Staff: Would you like some help carrying one of those plates?

Guest: Yes, I really could use four hands.

Guest: Could you assist me in operating this coffee dispenser.

Staff: My pleasure ma’am. You have to press down here.

Spa & Message Staff

Staff: Let me help you with those packages ma’am.

Guest: Thank you, that’s very kind.

Guest: Could you help me to take off my shoes. I hurt my back this morning and it’s hurts to bend over.

Staff: Of course sir.

Offering Advice

Guests, many times being in foreign countries and unfamiliar cultures, may need some advice or suggestions in certain situations. It is only natural that they would seek assistance from the hotel staffs. Giving sound advice and suggestions to a guest when needed can make the difference between an OK vacation and a great one. There are several expressions that can be used when asking for or giving advice and suggestions.

Relevant Expressions

When asking for advice

• What do you think I should do?
• What would you do in my shoes?
• Do you have any ideas about what to do?
• What would you suggest?
• Can you think of anything that might help?

When giving advice

• May I recommend …………..
• May I suggest ……………
• You should ……………….
• Why don’t you (…. take a taxi instead, it’s faster.)
• Have you thought about (…. getting some medicine at the pharmacy)?
• I think you should ( …. see a doctor).
• Have you considered ( …. the local markets? Sometimes they have great deals).
• One option may be to (…. call your embassy).

When responding to advice

• That’s a good idea.
• That might work. I hadn’t thought of that.
• Maybe you’re right.
• Thanks for the advice.
• Thanks, I’ll try that.

Dialogue

Bell Desk Staff

Guest: I can’t seem to find any of the souvenirs I want at the mall. I can’t go home empty handed. Do you know where I could go?

Staff: Have you considered shopping at the traditional open market. It has hundreds of items to choose from and the prices are usually cheaper than in the mall.

Guest: Thanks, I’ll try that.

Engineering/Maintenance Staff

Guest: What do you do to get rid of the hiccups?

Staff: I always drink a glass of water.

Food and Beverage Staff

Guest: That food was really spicy and upset my stomach.

Staff: Maybe you should get some medicine at a pharmacy.

Guest: That’s a good idea. Thanks.

Front Desk Staff

Guest: That woman looks angry. Did I do something wrong?

Staff: Actually sir, that gesture you used is considered very rude in our culture.

Guest: I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to offend anyone. What should I do in that situation?

Staff: Using this gesture instead is appropriate.

Guest: Thanks for the advice.

Health and Leisure Staff

Guest: Do you have any advice on how to improve my putting game?

Staff: Well, you could try standing a little closer to the ball.

Housekeeping Staff

Guest: What do you think I should do, it’s too rainy to go to the beach.

Staff: Well you could go to the game room; there is a lot to do there.

Kitchen Staff

Guest: I’m tired of meat and potatoes. Do you have any suggestions for an exotic meal?

Staff: Well, many of the guests seem to enjoy the baked meal with mixed vegetables.