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Hostess tasks: What is a trade fair hostess and what does she do?

What is a hostess? What does a hostess do?

And how do trade fair hostess tasks differ from other hostesses?

So that you know what you are getting into with a hostess job, we have explained the typical hostess tasks in more detail here. There are various hostess jobs that we will introduce to you here and in some cases we have also included a report from a hostess. If you want to find out more about the job as a hostess or trade fair hostess, you can read about it in our article Becoming a Hostess. More detailed information on earnings can be found in the article Hostess Salary.

General information about the hostess service

First of all, we want to say that being a hostess is not an indecent job. Hostess jobs are almost always representative jobs for companies at trade fairs, conferences and events or service jobs in the catering sector. The transition to gastronomy is fluid here. First of all, every hostess job is a little different. But all jobs have one thing in common: you always work for a customer and have to adapt to their ideas. This is of course within narrow limits. No customer will give you tasks as a hostess that you cannot fulfill. In general, the tasks of a hostess can be divided into the following areas of activity: information desk, catering, modeling, promotion, walking act, sales advice and other tasks. We will briefly introduce these tasks to you below.

Hostess tasks at the information desk / accreditation

A hostess has various tasks to perform at the information desk. Among other things, she is the first point of contact for visitors to the respective trade fair, congress or event. The hostesses at the information desk are then responsible for ensuring that everyone who speaks to them is helped quickly and easily. The information that is given to those who ask questions is usually given in a briefing that takes place before the event. Everything important that you need to know for the job is discussed there. One hostess task that can occur at an information desk from time to time is accreditation. This is particularly the case at events where guests are only admitted with an entry or access card, whereby the access cards sometimes even differ in terms of various features (for example the color). The hostess’s job is then to check whether everyone who arrives has the correct access card. Sometimes it can also be that lists of names have to be checked off.

Working as a catering hostess

When working as a hostess at a trade fair, one of the most common hostess tasks is to assist with catering, although the activities can vary greatly. Usually, small snacks have to be handed out at a trade fair stand or drinks have to be passed around to the guests. A trade fair hostess must then ensure that she always has a sufficiently full tray of snacks that she can offer.

Hostess tasks as a model hostess

Although hostesses are expected to attract attention through their pleasant demeanor in many jobs, this is especially true for model hostesses. Model hostesses are usually extremely attractive and very attractively dressed young ladies.

The booking and availability of model hostesses depends very much on the respective industry. Model hostesses are mainly booked by event organizers from industries in which many large corporations are represented that sell directly to end customers – for example in video games or in the automotive industry. This is probably because the corporations try to differentiate themselves from the competition by using model hostesses. The hostess tasks of a model hostess essentially consist of product presentation.

The manufacturers rely on the customer to transfer the attractiveness of the model hostess to the product when she is standing next to it. The job as a model hostess is therefore probably the “easiest” of the various hostess tasks, but still exhausting because you are of course constantly being observed.

Promotion & Marketing Tasks

Promotion jobs often involve “cold” customer acquisition. You want to convince a customer of the benefits of the product who has not yet seen the product or found it useful.

The hostess’ tasks in promotion jobs usually consist of drawing attention to yourself through various actions and thus attracting the curiosity of customers. As soon as a customer has become curious, the hostess’s job is to speak to them, explain the product to them and convince them of the benefits of the product.

Promotional campaigns are often commissioned by lifestyle companies. For example, many of you have probably seen the Red Bull Mini Cooper converted by Red Bull. The tobacco industry, and in particular cigarette manufacturers, also often carry out promotional campaigns.

Hostess tasks as a walking act

Hostess jobs as a walking act are not so different from the tasks of a hostess as a promoter. It often happens that a company needs one or more hostesses who represent a mascot or something similar. These hostesses are then given a uniform costume/disguise and try to attract attention in this way.

Because you attract a lot of attention in a striking costume, you will of course also be approached for photos. One of the tasks of a hostess can therefore also include being available for photos with customers in a disguise. However, this sounds worse than it is. Many customers are too shy to actually ask for a picture.

Sales consulting and customer discussions

Sales advice is occasionally (but rarely) part of the trade fair hostess’s duties. If a trade fair hostess has a lot of specialist knowledge in a certain area, she can take on part of the sales advice in addition to the usual tasks described above and thus support the sales team of the respective exhibitor/organizer. This is very rarely the case, but when it does happen, the trade fair hostess jobs are very well paid.

As a rule, a trade fair hostess’s job is to give customers a first taste of the product and then, if possible, hand them over to the organizer’s sales staff.

VIP Hostess

When important people, such as company bosses, politicians or celebrities, are looked after during an event, then this role is referred to as VIP hostessing. This usually requires a particularly attractive and at the same time serious appearance as well as very good foreign language skills. A relatively good general education, a certain talent for organisation and the willingness to look after the guests independently round off the profile.

VIP hostesses simply have the task of making sure that the guests feel comfortable. This means that they are indirectly responsible for the catering for the guest, even if they don’t do it themselves. And it means that they can engage the guests in conversation. They are also the guest’s first point of contact for all aspects of the event.

Proper preparation for the hostess job

To do a good job as a hostess, proper preparation for the assignment, including travel planning, customer consultation and your appearance, is very important.

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