A valet attendant greets guests, takes their keys, parks the car safely, keeps track of every key, and brings the car back when the guest is ready to leave. Around that core, the job is customer service: opening doors, giving directions, helping with bags and keeping the drop-off area clear and safe.
What does a typical shift look like?
Attendants arrive before the first guest. The shift lead briefs the team on the site: where the drop-off point is, where cars will be parked, the route between them, and anything unusual about the night. The team sets up the stand, key control, signage and cones. Then arrivals begin, often in a rush, and every car gets a claim ticket and a logged key. Many shifts have a quieter middle, used to organize keys and stage cars. The end of an event is the busiest stretch, when many guests want their cars at once. The shift closes when every key is accounted for and every car has gone home.
What are the core responsibilities?
- Greet guests, open doors and help with bags or packages.
- Issue claim tickets and note any existing damage on the car.
- Drive guest cars carefully to and from the parking area.
- Keep keys secure and the key log accurate at all times.
- Give directions and answer guests' questions about the venue or building.
- Keep the drop-off lane moving and safe for pedestrians.
- Follow the company's procedures and the client's site rules.
- Report any accident, injury or guest complaint to the shift lead right away.
- Communicate with the team, often by radio, so cars come back in the right order.
Where do valets work?
Valet attendants work wherever people arrive by car and parking is limited or inconvenient. At VIP that includes:
- Events: weddings, private parties, corporate events and restaurants.
- Hotels, where valet often works alongside bell and front desk staff.
- Hospitals and medical campuses, where patients and visitors may need extra patience and help.
- Office buildings, with regular tenants and visitors.
- Mountain towns such as Vail, Aspen, Beaver Creek and Breckenridge, where winter driving is part of the job.
What skills does the job take?
Good valets are careful, organized and friendly. You need to drive many kinds of cars smoothly, including manual transmissions, and adjust quickly to unfamiliar controls. You need a reliable system for remembering where each car is. You need to stay polite when a line forms and a guest is in a hurry. And you need to work as part of a team, because the fastest valet stands are the ones where everyone knows their role.
How physical is it?
Valet work is active. Attendants are on their feet for the whole shift, walk or jog between the stand and the parking area many times, and lift luggage and packages at hotels. Most stands are outdoors, so the job happens in summer heat, rain and Colorado winters, on dry pavement and on ice. It suits people who like moving and do not mind the weather.
What does it take to get hired at VIP?
VIP requires every applicant to be 21 or older, have a clean driving record and know how to drive a manual transmission. VIP staffs every assignment with its own employees, so you work as part of a VIP team rather than as a subcontractor. Read about the upside of the work in What are the perks of valet jobs?, learn about the company on the Denver valet company page, and apply on the careers page.
Frequently asked questions
At VIP, yes. Every applicant must be able to drive a manual, along with being 21 or older with a clean driving record.
Yes. Most valet stands are outdoors, so attendants work in cold, snow and rain and dress for it.
No. Greeting guests, giving directions, helping with bags and keeping the drop-off area safe are a large part of the job.