Hostess

Job description / Role

Summary

Duties and responsibilities related to the hostess role:

• Act as the first point of contact, providing a warm, professional, and culturally sensitive welcome to all arriving guests.
• Manage the reception area, ensuring it remains clean, organized, and inviting at all times.
• Inquire about reservations, check guest names on the booking list, and manage walk-in guests by providing accurate wait time estimates.
• Escort guests to their assigned tables, present menus, and introduce them to their server.
• Accommodate special requests for seating (e.g., window view, quiet corner, child-friendly area) whenever possible.
• Manage the restaurant's reservation system, handling bookings made via phone, email, and online platforms.
• Plan and allocate table seating charts to maximize dining room capacity and ensure a smooth service flow for the team.
• Proactively call guests to confirm their upcoming reservations, noting any special occasions or dietary requirements.
• Maintain and manage a waitlist during peak hours, keeping guests informed of their status in a courteous manner.
• Answer phone calls and respond to inquiries about the restaurant's concept, opening hours, dress code, and menu offerings.
• Serve as a central point of communication, relaying guest feedback, special requests, or complaints to the restaurant manager and service staff.
• Graciously interact with guests throughout their visit, ensuring they are comfortable and satisfied with their initial experience.
• Bid a fond farewell to all departing guests, thanking them for their patronage and inviting them to return.
• Maintain constant communication with the restaurant manager, servers, and kitchen staff regarding table status (e.g., occupied, free, needs clearing).
• Assist in resetting tables and maintaining the overall tidiness of the dining area during exceptionally busy periods.
• Ensure all menus are clean, up-to-date, and in pristine condition before presenting them to guests.
• Support the service team by performing light duties as needed to contribute to a seamless and exceptional guest experience.

Qualifications

• Ideally with a relevant degree or diploma in hospitality or tourism management
• Minimum 2 years work experience in hotel operations
• Good customer service, communications and interpersonal skills are a must

About the Company

Hyatt was founded by Jay Pritzker in 1957 when he purchased the Hyatt House motel adjacent to the Los Angeles International Airport. Over the following decade, Jay Pritzker and his brother, Donald Pritzker, working together with other Pritzker family business interests, grew the company into a North American management and hotel ownership company, which became a public company in 1962. In 1968, Hyatt International was formed and subsequently became a separate public company. Hyatt Corporation and Hyatt International Corporation were taken private by the Pritzker family business interests in 1979 and 1982, respectively. On December 31, 2004, substantially all of the hospitality assets owned by Pritzker family business interests, including Hyatt Corporation and Hyatt International Corporation, were consolidated under a single entity, now Hyatt Hotels Corporation.