contact reception or receptionist

[thomas615]

I am not sure which one to use

"If you need assistance, please contact Reception at XXXXXXX

If you need assistance, please contact our receptionist at XXXXXXX

 

[Barb_D]

Either one - "Reception" refers to the area and the function, and "the receptionist" is the person. I like referring to a person, but it's your choice.

 

[allenman]

If you need assistance, please contact our receptionist at XXXXXXX

Especially if you are leaving a voice instruction for callers on your phone.

Not a teacher -- AmE native

 

[emsr2d2]

I would assume that more than one person works on reception (especially in a busy place like a hotel, for example). It would be unlikely that you would be contacting "the" receptionist (ie the only permanent member of staff with that job title), so my personal feeling is "Please contact reception" sounds better.

I realise that it's an odd statement because you can't physically contact a large piece of wood (the reception desk), you will of course be contacting a person but to me "Contact reception" is such a commonly used phrase that it would not sound unnatural to most people (in BrE, at least).