Offering Help

As a member of the hotel industry you will inevitably find yourself in a situation that requires you to offer help or assistance to a guest. This situation may present itself as an absolute necessity or one of simply polite behavior. In either case, knowing what to say in those situations will hold you in good stead with the guests.

At times, you will be in situations that you will offer your help and at other times you may be asked to respond to a guest that has requested help. Look at the expressions below that cover both circumstances.

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?

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.

Dialogue

When offering help

Staff: Excuse me ma’am, could I help you with your bags?

Guest: That would be great thanks.

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

packages.

Guest: I sure could, thanks.

When responding to help

Guest: Excuse me, but can you help me?

Staff: Of course ma'am, what can I do for you?

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

Staff: That’s terrible. Are you OK?

Guest: Yes, just shaken up a bit.

Staff: Why don’t you seat down here and I’ll call the police for you.

Guest: Thank you; I appreciate your help.

Guest: I don't understand what the taxi driver is trying to say. Could you

translate for me?

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

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

Practice

Practice using the above expressions by having a dialogue similar to the ones above with a partner, one partner taking the role of the guest and the other the role of the staff. For additional practice, switch roles. Practice the dialogue several times, trying to use all of the expressions noted above.