International Receptionists’ Day is such an important date in our calendar of events. The day when we make an extra special effort to recognise and appreciate the amazing service that our teams deliver with passion and pride, despite the long hours and sometimes challenging shift patterns. Day in, day out, our receptionists create a genuine sense of ‘home away from home’ for each and every guest, and that’s something that deserves true recognition. We celebrate the achievements of our outstanding hotel receptionists annually as part of the AICR UK Receptionist of the Year competition.
History
The Director of the National Receptionists Association founded National Receptionists’ Day in 1991 to “gain awareness and appreciation of the role of receptionists in a business setting and to provide community and support for receptionists nationwide.” Launched in 1991, Receptionist\’s Day was designed to celebrate the role that professional receptionists have all around the world. The aim of this day is the following… To recognize how important receptionists are. Usually, when a client or a guest enters a business premise, the receptionist will greet them. The day started out as Receptionists\’ Day, being created by Jennifer Alexander of the National Receptionists Association, \”to recognize the special role that receptionists play and to distinguish their skills from the admin or secretary.\” It was first observed in 1991, exclusively in the United States. In 2012, Rapport, a provider of reception services in the United Kingdom, brought the holiday to that country. It became International Receptionists\’ Day in 2016, after the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia joined together to mark the day. Canada, Ireland, and other European countries have since joined in observation of the day.
Purpose
- Foster recognition of the importance of a receptionist\’s role. They are usually the first person a customer or client meets when they visit a company or hospitality business.
- Promote pride and professionalism amongst receptionists for the important role they play within an organisation.
- Give employers an opportunity to shine a light on their receptionists and celebrate their achievements across their businesses.
How to celebrate
If you own an office, give them a paid day off, you know they need it! You can also take a day and do their job for a bit, manage the front desk so you know exactly what they put up with each day. As a customer, you can bring in a basket of healthy fruits and energy-boosting snacks, or just bring them a card. Or just say thank you for all they do, you know they don’t hear it often enough! There are other ways that you can show your receptionist how much they are valued at your business. Why not give them a cash bonus? Or, you could make sure that there is a nice gift waiting for them when they arrive to work in the morning? You may even want to gather the rest of your workforce and get them to clap for your receptionist as he or she walks to their desk. It is all about making your receptionist feel good and appreciated.
Importance of receptionists
The aim of the day is to recognize the importance of receptionists, promote pride and professionalism amongst them, give them the opportunity to share stories and connect with other colleagues, and give employers the opportunity to celebrate their receptionists and their achievements. The day should be observed by working to achieve these goals, and both employers and employees—those who are receptionists and those who are in other positions—can work to do so. One way to get on a path towards this is to spread the word about the holiday to colleagues at your company and to encourage them to do the same.
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