front desk

Meaning

The front desk is the main reception area near the entrance of a hotel, office building, or clinic. It is where guests check in, ask questions, and get assistance from staff. It serves as the primary point of contact for all visitors.

Examples

• Please leave your key at the front desk when you go out.

  Please leave your key at the front desk when you go out.

• I called the front desk to ask for extra towels for our room.

  I called the front desk to ask for extra towels for our room.

• The woman at the front desk was very helpful and recommended a great local restaurant.

  The woman at the front desk was very helpful and recommended a great local restaurant.

• You can check in at the front desk starting at 3:00 PM.

  You can check in at the front desk starting at 3:00 PM.

• Excuse me, is there anyone working at the front desk right now?

  Excuse me, is there anyone working at the front desk right now?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I asked to the front desk for help.

  ✓ I asked the front desk for help.

  Do not use 'to' after 'ask' when talking about contacting a department or person directly.

• ✗ The reception is at the front table.

  ✓ The reception is at the front desk.

  In hotels and offices, the specific service area is called a 'desk,' not a 'table.'

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you need anything during the night, just call the ___.

  💡 The main service desk in the lobby.

  Show answer

  front desk

• We went to the ___ to check out of our hotel room.

  💡 Where you return your keys and pay the bill.

  Show answer

  front desk