Porters

Porter is a job title for a person employed to carry luggage, parcels, or supplies and to assist customers or patients in settings such as hotels, airports, railway stations, hospitals, and office buildings. Porters may be described as baggage porters, bellhops in hotels, or orderlies in medical settings. The role combines physical labor with customer service, including greeting patrons, guiding them, delivering items, and transporting bags or equipment using trolleys, carts, or dollies.

In hotels, porters greet guests, help with check-in, convey luggage to rooms, and provide information about local services. At airports and railway stations they move passenger baggage, assist travelers with mobility, and manage luggage storage or transfers. In hospitals and clinics, porters transport supplies, move equipment between departments, and assist patients or visitors as needed. The exact duties vary by country, organization, and security requirements.

Training and safety emphasize manual handling, correct lifting techniques, posture, and the safe operation of equipment such as luggage trolleys, dollies, and wheelchairs. Work schedules may include long hours and exposure to weather or crowds. In some places porters are represented by labor unions and may wear uniforms that reflect brand or facility standards.

Historically, the term derives from the French porter, from Latin portare meaning to carry. Porters have appeared in travel, commerce, and medical contexts for centuries, evolving from simple attendants to formal support staff. Regional terms vary: bellhop or bellman in hotels, baggage handlers at airports, and orderlies in hospitals. See also baggage handler, bellhop, hospital orderly.