Front Office - Practical Textbook for Hospitality Students

In this review of Front Office, the second edition text by P. Abbott and S. Lewry, the bottom line is simple: this is a practical, classroom-ready guide for students training in hotel reception and front office management. It shines because it translates everyday hotel situations into clear procedures and exercises, making it useful as both a textbook and a quick reference. The writing is accessible and the layout deliberate, which helps learners quickly find procedural guidance and applied tasks relevant to modern front desk work.

Key Features

• User-friendly writing: The clear, accessible style makes complex front office processes easy to understand for newcomers and as a reference for more experienced learners.
• Updated content: Coverage of global distribution systems and the internet reflects recent industry developments that affect reservation and distribution work.
• Management focus: Expanded discussion of staffing, equipment and yield management helps readers link daily operations to commercial results.
• Practical exercises: Additional extended exercises provide realistic scenarios for developing decision making and procedural skills used at the reception desk.
• Logical structure: Division into procedural sections mirrors the receptionist's workflow, helping readers locate topics such as check in, check out and guest relations quickly.
• Classroom utility: The book works equally well as a teaching text and a student reference for coursework and revision.

Who It's For

Front Office is primarily for students of hospitality and tourism management who need a practical, scenario-based introduction to front desk duties. It suits course modules that require both procedural detail and exercises, and lecturers who prefer a text that doubles as a workbook.

Those already advanced in hotel operations or seeking an in-depth managerial treatise on hotel finance or strategic marketing should look elsewhere; this book focuses on front office procedures, staffing and yield basics rather than exhaustive industry strategy.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Accessible writing and layout that make the material easy to reference during study or work.
• Updated chapters on global distribution systems and the internet give contemporary relevance to reservation processes.
• Practical, extended exercises that build real-world skills for reception and front office situations.
• Expanded treatment of staffing and equipment links operations to everyday management decisions.

Cons

• Not designed as an advanced management or finance textbook; readers needing deep theoretical analysis may find it limited.
• As a classroom-oriented text, it may feel prescriptive rather than exploratory for readers seeking broader industry context.

Specifications

Title	Front Office
Edition	Second edition
Authors	P. Abbott, S. Lewry
Audience	Students of hospitality and tourism management
Focus	Front office operations, procedures and management
Includes	Extended practical exercises and procedural sections

Our Verdict

Front Office is a solid, practical textbook for hospitality students who need clear procedures and realistic exercises to learn reception and front office tasks. Its updated material on distribution systems and emphasis on staffing and yield give good practical value, making it a worthwhile pick for coursework and as a reference during on-the-job training.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for classroom use?
Yes. The layout, exercises and procedural focus make it well suited to lecture and seminar formats as a core or supplementary text.

Does it cover modern reservation technology?
Yes. The second edition includes updated material on global distribution systems and the internet relevant to reservations and distribution.

Is this a management textbook?
It covers important management aspects like staffing and yield, but it is primarily a practical front office textbook rather than a comprehensive management theory volume.