A bellboy (also called a bellhop) is a hotel employee who helps guests with their luggage and shows them to their rooms. When you arrive at a fancy hotel with suitcases too heavy to carry yourself, a bellboy in a crisp uniform might greet you at the entrance, load your bags onto a wheeled cart, and escort you to your room while pointing out the elevator, pool, or restaurant along the way.

The job combines physical work with hospitality. Beyond carrying bags, bellboys often deliver items to rooms, run errands for guests, hail taxis, and answer questions about the hotel or city. They rely partly on tips from grateful guests, so being helpful and friendly matters as much as being strong.

Today, many hotels use the more modern term bellhop instead, but both words mean the same thing: the person who makes your arrival at a hotel smoother by taking care of your luggage and making you feel welcome.