1. Conversation Practice
Hotel Reservation
By Paul Chen

2. Outline Starting Questions
What should be noticed while making a reservation?
Info. that you may be asked by the hotel clerk
Sample Conversations
(1)
(2)
(3)
Useful Expressions
Reference

3. Starting Questions
Have you ever reserved a room on your own? Did you do anything in preparation for the reservation?
If so, could you share with us what should be taken into account while making a reservation? P.S. What are some ways for people to reserve a room? Please try to name some.
If not, could you think of any things that people should pay attention to while reserving a room? Also, could you tell us how you can be sure that there is a place for you to stay during your vacation if you didn’t make the reservation on your own?
Should anything be done after the reservation?
Besides the questions that I mentioned above, do you have anything to add that is related to the topic today?

4. What should be noticed while making a reservation?
room availability
transportation
room rate (including the governmental tax or not?)
special need / request (depending on your need.)

5. More to be noticed Hotel Facilities Room Facilities
Laundry and valet service
Bar
Chinese & Western Restaurants
Café
Baby-sitting service
Currency exchange
Gymnasium
Outdoor swimming pool
Hi-tech conference facilities
Laundry and valet Service
Room Facilities
Hair dryer
In-room movies
In-room safe
Air conditioning
Mini bar
Cable/satellite TV
Internet service
Tea and coffee making facilities
Fax machine
Complimentary daily newspaper

6. Info. that you may be asked by the hotel clerk
your full name (spell it out if it is not common)
your address
your phone number / cell phone number
date of your arrival
how many nights you will stay
what kind of room you like
how many people are coming
any special need / request

7. Sample Conversation One
C: Clerk; G: Guest
Over the phone…
C: Traders Hotel. May I help you?
G: Yes. I’d like to make a reservation.
C: Certainly, sir. What’s your name, please?
G: Ronald Ashley. Last name is A-S-H-L-E-Y.
C: Thank you, Mr. Ashley. When will you be arriving?
G: June 28th.
C: For how many nights?
G: Until July 2nd.
C: So that’s a single room for four nights.

8. Sample Conversation Two
On their way to San Francisco, Roy decides to stop in a small town and stay there overnight....
Clerk: Good evening, sir.  May I help you? 
Roy: Yes.  What kind of rooms do you have?
Clerk: How large is your party?
Roy: Three.  Two adults and one child.
Clerk: Let's see. We have a room with two double beds.  How many nights?
Roy: Just one.  We're only staying overnight.
Can this be regarded as a room reservation? Why or why not?

9. Sample Conversation Three
R: Receptionist; G: Guest
G: I’d like to reserve a room for a week.
R: Certainly, sir. When will you be arriving?
G: We will be driving up Saturday morning.
R: Any specific need?
G: Yes, my wife is confined to a wheelchair.
R: No problem, sir. We have a room designated for the disabled to live in.
G: Good. We have a special van. Will there be a problem for parking?
R: No, sir. You’ll have a parking space right outside the door and the room is located beside the elevator.
G: Excellent.

10. Useful Expressions
Do you know the meanings of the following expressions? Please try to explain them in your own words.
make a reservation / reserve (a room)
availability
peak season
tour operator
travel agency

11. Reference
Liang, John and Sydney Rice. Everyday English in Conversation < conversation.html>
Nordvall, Karl. Talk about Travel: English for Airlines, Hotels, and Tours. Taipei: Compass, 2003.
Source of Cover Picture <
Hong Kong Hotel Reservation <