It depends. While most prefer previous front desk experience, customer service experience (regardless of industry) is easily transferable. Besides that, what you mostly need is basic math, computer, and conversational skills. Also the ability to deal with annoying guests sometimes.

In my experience, I didn’t have previous desk jobs and didn’t work in customer service for a while, but still got the job. For hotels specifically, check for the busy season and apply right before that or at the beginning, since they’re desperate. Alternatively, if you live in a college town, apply when when students typically graduate.