porterage

Porterage is the service of carrying and delivering luggage, freight, or passengers by porters within facilities such as hotels, railway stations, airports, seaports, and hospitals, or in maritime and freight operations. The term derives from porter, one who carries.

In hotels, porters (often called bellhops) assist guests with luggage, deliver bags to rooms, arrange storage, and provide information or escorts. At train stations and airports, porters help move baggage between check-in, platforms, and vehicles or aircraft, and may coordinate loading onto ferries or ships. In hospitals and large office complexes, porters transport supplies, equipment, and sometimes patients or specimens. In commercial shipping and freight yards, porterage can refer to the coordinated handling of goods by staff or contractors within the terminal.

Porterage charges are fees for these services. Rates are commonly based on the number of items, the distance moved, or the time required, and may be paid directly, included as part of a room rate, or shown as a service charge. Tipping is common in some contexts, though practices vary by country and establishment.

Labor and practice vary by jurisdiction. Porterage work is typically performed by trained staff using trolleys, dollies, or carts, with attention to safety and customer service. Some facilities employ in-house teams, while others contract portering services to third parties or unions.

Historically central to hospitality and transport, porterage has evolved with changes in security, equipment, and guest expectations, but remains a basic service aimed at assisting travellers and enabling efficient movement of goods and people.