Question 1

A guest wants a romantic dinner tonight somewhere special. Where would you send them, and why?

Accepted Answer

This is the most common concierge request. They want proof you actually know the local dining scene, not just the famous names everyone has heard of. Ask a few quick questions first: budget, cuisine, how far they'll travel, any allergies Name two or three real places near the hotel and say what makes each one fit Include one well-known option and one quieter spot a local would pick Say how you'd actually get the table, whether through Resy, OpenTable or a call to the host you know Mention the follow-up: confirming the booking and asking the guest how it went the next day

Question 2

Tell me about a time you got something done for a customer that seemed impossible.

Accepted Answer

Hard requests are the whole job. They want to hear how resourceful you are and whether you stay honest while you try. Pick a real story from any service job, not a hypothetical Explain what made it hard and who you called or what you tried first Show that you kept the customer updated while you worked on it End with the result and what you'd reuse next time

Question 3

What do you do when you can't get what a guest asked for?

Accepted Answer

Sold-out shows and fully booked restaurants happen daily. They want to see you offer alternatives instead of a flat no. Tell the guest early, before they've built the whole evening around it Come with two or three alternatives that match the reason behind the request Offer to put them on a waitlist or check again later if that's realistic Never promise a table or ticket you haven't confirmed

Question 4

How do you keep track of requests across shifts so nothing gets dropped?

Accepted Answer

A concierge desk runs on handovers. A booking you forgot to hand off becomes a guest standing at a restaurant with no reservation. Describe a written log, whether in the hotel's system, a shared doc or a paper book Log every request with the guest name, room, what you promised and when it's due Walk the incoming concierge through open items instead of just leaving notes Close each item once it's confirmed so the log stays trustworthy

Question 5

A restaurant offers you a kickback for sending guests their way. What do you do?

Accepted Answer

Commissions and perks are real in this job, and hotels worry about recommendations that serve the concierge instead of the guest. Say you'd check the hotel's policy on gifts and commissions first Make clear your recommendations stay based on what fits the guest Mention that you'd disclose it to your manager if it's allowed at all Show you understand that one bad recommendation costs more trust than any perk is worth

Question 6

How do you keep your local knowledge current?

Accepted Answer

Restaurants close, chefs move and neighborhoods change. They want to know you'll keep learning without being told. Name concrete habits: eating out on days off, reading local food writers, visiting new openings Mention the contacts you keep up with, like hosts, drivers and tour operators Say how you'd share what you learn with the rest of the desk Bring up a new place you found recently and why you'd send a guest there

Question 7

A guest who's been drinking asks you to arrange something you're not comfortable with. How do you handle it?

Accepted Answer

Concierges get odd and occasionally inappropriate requests. The hotel needs to know you'll protect the guest, the property and yourself. Stay polite and don't lecture the guest Decline clearly and offer something you can help with instead, like a car or a late meal Loop in the manager on duty or security if the situation escalates Write it in the log so the next shift has context

Question 8

How would you handle a resident or regular guest who wants everything done their way, every time?

Accepted Answer

Repeat guests and building residents are the backbone of the business. They want to see you remember preferences and set limits kindly. Talk about keeping preference notes in the guest profile or building system Give an example of remembering a detail, like a favorite table or how they take deliveries Explain how you'd say no politely when a request breaks policy Show that you treat the relationship as long-term, not one transaction

Question 9

The lobby is busy, the phone is ringing and a guest is waiting on a call-back you promised. What do you do first?

Accepted Answer

Juggling is constant at the desk. They're checking how you decide what comes first and whether anyone feels ignored. Acknowledge the people in front of you with eye contact or a quick word Answer the phone briefly and take a number if it can wait Give the waiting guest a realistic time for the call-back, then keep it Call for help from the bell desk or front desk if the rush won't clear

Question 10

What would you tell a guest who asks whether a neighborhood is safe to walk at night?

Accepted Answer

Guests trust the concierge more than any website. They want honest, careful advice, not a sales pitch for the city. Give a straight, specific answer about routes you'd actually take Suggest a car or rideshare when that's the smarter call Avoid scaring the guest or dismissing the question Offer a printed or texted route so they're not lost on their phone

Question 11

Why do you want to be a concierge rather than stay on the front desk or in restaurants?

Accepted Answer

Managers want someone who likes the problem-solving side of hospitality, not someone who just wants a quieter desk. Point to what you enjoy about finding answers for people Mention a moment in your current job where you acted like a concierge already Connect it to where you want to go, like chef concierge or guest relations Keep it about the guest, not the tips

Concierge interview questions and how to answer them

The 8 questions you will almost certainly get

A forgettable answer, and a better one

"A guest wants a romantic dinner tonight somewhere special. Where would you send them, and why?"

"Tell me about a time you got something done for a customer that seemed impossible."

Questions to ask them

Need more Concierge interviews to prep for?

The question	What they want to know	Your angle
A guest wants a romantic dinner tonight somewhere special. Where would you send them, and why?	This is the most common concierge request. They want proof you actually know the local dining scene, not just the famous names everyone has heard of.	Ask a few quick questions first: budget, cuisine, how far they'll travel, any allergies
Tell me about a time you got something done for a customer that seemed impossible.	Hard requests are the whole job. They want to hear how resourceful you are and whether you stay honest while you try.	Pick a real story from any service job, not a hypothetical
What do you do when you can't get what a guest asked for?	Sold-out shows and fully booked restaurants happen daily. They want to see you offer alternatives instead of a flat no.	Tell the guest early, before they've built the whole evening around it
How do you keep track of requests across shifts so nothing gets dropped?	A concierge desk runs on handovers. A booking you forgot to hand off becomes a guest standing at a restaurant with no reservation.	Describe a written log, whether in the hotel's system, a shared doc or a paper book
A restaurant offers you a kickback for sending guests their way. What do you do?	Commissions and perks are real in this job, and hotels worry about recommendations that serve the concierge instead of the guest.	Say you'd check the hotel's policy on gifts and commissions first
How do you keep your local knowledge current?	Restaurants close, chefs move and neighborhoods change. They want to know you'll keep learning without being told.	Name concrete habits: eating out on days off, reading local food writers, visiting new openings
A guest who's been drinking asks you to arrange something you're not comfortable with. How do you handle it?	Concierges get odd and occasionally inappropriate requests. The hotel needs to know you'll protect the guest, the property and yourself.	Stay polite and don't lecture the guest
How would you handle a resident or regular guest who wants everything done their way, every time?	Repeat guests and building residents are the backbone of the business. They want to see you remember preferences and set limits kindly.	Talk about keeping preference notes in the guest profile or building system