How to Write a Hospitality Cover Letter (with Examples)

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Landing a hotel job, from front desk to custodial
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If you love to help people feel at home, a job in hospitality just might be for you. Before you interview, it's essential to draft a great cover letter that shows off your skills and what you'll bring to the job. We'll help you write one that'll catch any hotel employer's eye, from researching the hotel to opening and closing your letter.

How do you write an application letter for a hotel job?

  • Start your letter with your contact information. Then, introduce yourself and say why you want to work at the hotel.
  • Include any relevant skills or experience from your resume in your cover letter, emphasizing those found in the job description.
  • Close the letter by thanking the hiring staff for their time, and reiterating your enthusiasm for the position.

Hotel Cover Letter Template

Part 1
Part 1 of 4:

Researching the Position for the Cover Letter

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  1. It's much easier to write your resume before your cover letter, as you can draw on your resume to write your cover letter. In addition, your resume connects the dots for your future employer. In other words, you show that what you present on the resume is integral to the job you are seeking. [1]
  2. The job description will tell you what you need to know about what the employer wants from you. Highlight keywords, such as "self-starter," "enthusiastic," and "hard worker." Those words will come in handy later. [2]
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  3. Look at the main requirements for the jobs. Also, consider the skills. Make notes on what relevant experience you have for each one. Use your resume to pull out relevant experience. [3]
    • What the hotel will require will vary by position. For instance, if you're at the front desk, you'll need good people skills, as well as good organizations skills. If you're in housekeeping, you'll need good time management skills.
  4. Go on the company's website. Look at how the company presents itself. Find its "About Us" page and the mission statement, if the company has one up. In addition, try reading recent news stories about the company. [4]
    • Another way you can research the hotel is to walk around the hotel. Try to observe the employees in the department you'll be working and watch how they interact with each other. Pay attention to what the environment is like. Is it relaxed? Frantic? Take mental notes for later. [5]
  5. Use what you've learned to figure out what the company is looking for. That is, they are looking for someone who fits into their culture, as well as someone who matches the job description. Write out traits that you think the company is seeking, based on the information you've gathered. [6]
    • For example, maybe you've noted the hotel has a relaxed culture and that most employees enjoy having lunch together. That hotel is probably looking for someone who works well with others and can enjoy the company of coworkers.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 4:

Starting the Letter

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  1. That is, your name should be at the top of the letter. You can use a letterhead with your name in the middle, but you can also just place your name all the way to the left in the corner. Underneath your name, add your address, e-mail (professional), and phone number. [7]
  2. Put a blank line underneath your name. Underneath it, place the date. You should write out the month, then add the date and year as a number. [8]
    • Your date should look like the following example: December 3, 2015
  3. Leave a blank line underneath the date. Try to find the person in charge of hiring. You can also look to see if the job description includes a name or email, as that can indicate the person you need to address. That name will be the first line of the company's contact information, followed by the person's title. If you can't find a specific person, begin with company's name on the first line. [9]
  4. Skip another line. Address the letter with Mr. or Ms, such as "Dear Mr. Jeffries:" If you can't find a name, substitute "Hiring Professionals," such as "Dear Hiring Professionals:" Place a colon after the name or "Professionals." [10]
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Part 3
Part 3 of 4:

Completing the Body of the Letter

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  1. The first paragraph should focus on your interest in the hotel and what you've learned about the hotel. It should explain why you are enthusiastic about the job and how you heard about it. [11]
    • As an example, you could write, "My name is Joe Jeffries, and I heard about this front desk position on Indeed.com. I'm excited to be applying for it, as I have read how much Rattle Hotels values customer service and I am a people-person who loves putting the customer first."
    • This paragraph, as well as the last paragraph, are good places to include bits of information connected to what you found out about the culture. For instance, if you noticed that the people working at the hotel are close-knit, you could write, "I can see your hotel values its employees, as well, and I look forward to working with this great group of people."
  2. You've noted what the hotel is looking for in your preparation. In the second paragraph, you must write how your experience is relevant. For every major skill or requirement in the job description, you should match that in your cover letter with a relevant sentence. Be sure to be very specific about your skills and how they match up with the hotel. This paragraph should be tailored carefully! [12]
    • For instance, maybe you've noted that one of the required skills is interpersonal skills. You could write, "In the past, I've worked with many different types of people at a variety of retail jobs, which helped to develop my interpersonal skills. I learned to stay calm when dealing with stressful situations by taking a deep breath and thinking about the best possible solution to the problem, which I think will be a huge asset when working the front desk at Rattle Hotel."
    • Focus on the impacts that you had in your other positions, such as changes you made or projects you completed. This will show what you are capable and can give an idea of what you bring to the table. [13]
    • Check out more tips on how to write a killer cover letter from wikiHow users on wikiHow’s “How to write a killer cover letter” forum .
  3. You've highlighted keywords in the description. Be sure to include some of those keywords in your letter. For instance, if you highlighted "enthusiastic" and "hard worker," you could include those in this way: "I'm an enthusiastic about coming to work, as I love people, and I use that enthusiasm to work as hard as I can to please the customer."
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Part 4
Part 4 of 4:

Closing the Letter

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  1. In the final paragraph, make it explicit why you would fit well into the organization. You should also spend a moment asking for what you want, such as an interview. [14]
    • As an example, you could write, "I have noticed that you encourage a professional culture, and my experience as a front desk clerk in Regalia Hotels has given me the needed experience to be the professional you need at the front desk. I would be a good fit for your hotel, and I request that you give me the chance to prove that in person at an interview."
  2. It's always polite to include a note thanking the person for the time he or she took to read your application. For instance, you could close with "Thank you for your time and consideration."
  3. Skip a line, and write "Sincerely," After that, skip four lines, which is the space you need to leave for your signature. Spell out your name to end the letter. [15]
    • You can use other closings, such as "Thank you," or "Yours truly," to end your letter instead.
  4. While spellcheck will catch some errors, it's important to proofread your letter before sending it in. Ask someone else to read over it as well, as he or she will catch mistakes that you won't. Having an error-free letter proves that you can communicate well, at least on paper. [16]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What if the applicant does not have a CV or any working experience?
    Tom De Backer
    Top Answerer
    Working at a hotel is an excellent way to get started in your career. These jobs are not to be taken lightly, but don't require a huge amount of skill or experience, either. Highlight your willingness to learn on-the-job, to stay with the company for a while; highlight your work ethic, your positive mindset and enthusiasm. Everybody started a first job with no experience.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/how-to-make-a-resume-with-examples
      2. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/how-to-make-a-resume-with-examples
      3. ↑ Melody Godfred, JD. Career Coach. Expert Interview. April 19 2020.
      4. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2014/01/09/how-to-show-you-get-the-company-culture-in-your-cover-letter/
      5. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/types-of-work-environments
      6. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2014/01/09/how-to-show-you-get-the-company-culture-in-your-cover-letter/
      7. ↑ https://www.training.com.au/ed/hospitality-cover-letter-example/
      8. ↑ https://www.training.com.au/ed/hospitality-cover-letter-example/
      9. ↑ https://www.training.com.au/ed/hospitality-cover-letter-example/
      1. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/hospitality-cover-letter
      2. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/hospitality-cover-letter
      3. ↑ Melody Godfred, JD. Career Coach. Expert Interview. April 19 2020.
      4. ↑ Melody Godfred, JD. Career Coach. Expert Interview. April 19 2020.
      5. ↑ https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/jobs-and-careers/applying-for-a-job/what-is-a-cover-letter/how-to-write-a-cover-letter
      6. ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-end-a-letter/
      7. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/hospitality-cover-letter

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      When writing a cover letter for a hotel job, make yourself stand out by researching the position and connecting your skills to the job description. Read the job description carefully and highlight the keywords, such as “self-starter,” “enthusiastic,” and “hard worker.” Then, research the hotel by looking at their website, mission statement, and any recent news stories about them. After you’ve done your research, start your cover letter by writing your header with your current contact information. Open your letter with an introduction that explains why you’re interested in the hotel and what you know about it. In the body of the letter, explain what skills you have and why you’d be a good match for the position. Include some of the keywords from the job posting as well to stress your compatibility. Conclude your letter by summarizing why you’re a good fit for the job and expressing your desire for an interview. To learn how to format your cover letter, keep reading!

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