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Hospitality job descriptions

Host / Hostess Job Description

The Host/Hostess plays a crucial role in creating a welcoming atmosphere for guests, ensuring a positive first impression and smooth flow of service. Their mission is to manage reservations, greet guests, and coordinate seating arrangements to optimize the dining experience.
Alexandra
Linkedin
4/1/25

Host / Hostess Job Overview

Similar Job Titles

🔹Host / Hostess
🔹 Receptionist
🔹 Front Desk Attendant

Main Missions

The Host/Hostess plays a crucial role in creating a welcoming atmosphere for guests, ensuring a positive first impression and smooth flow of service. Their mission is to manage reservations, greet guests, and coordinate seating arrangements to optimize the dining experience.

Key Responsabilities

✔ Greet and welcome guests as they arrive at the restaurant.
✔ Manage reservations and seating arrangements.
✔ Coordinate with serving staff to ensure efficient service.
✔ Handle guest inquiries and provide information about menu offerings.
✔ Assist in maintaining cleanliness and organization of the entrance area.
✔ Monitor dining room activity to ensure guest satisfaction.
✔ Resolve guest complaints or escalate them to management.
✔ Assist with special events or large parties as needed.

Tools

  • Reservation System: Manages bookings and seating (e.g., OpenTable, Resy, SevenRooms).
  • POS System: Processes payments and orders (e.g., Toast, Square, Lightspeed).
  • Communication Device: Facilitates communication with staff (e.g., walkie-talkies, headsets).
  • Customer Feedback Software: Collects guest feedback (e.g., Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews).

Skills

  • Customer Service
  • Communication
  • Organization
  • Problem Solving
  • Attention to Detail

Key vocabulary

  • Reservation: A booking made in advance for a table or service.
  • Seating Chart: A diagram showing the arrangement of tables and seats.
  • Walk-in: A guest who arrives without a reservation.
  • Waitlist: A list of guests waiting for a table.
  • Turnover: The rate at which tables are vacated and reset for new guests.

Career path

Hosts/Hostesses can advance to roles such as Lead Host, Assistant Manager, or Restaurant Manager.

Salary

In the USA, hosts/hostesses typically earn between $20,000 and $35,000 annually, with variations based on experience and location.

Benefits

Common benefits in the USA include health insurance, tips, and employee discounts.


Host / Hostess Job Description

Job Title

Host / Hostess

To help you :
✅ A clear, concise sentence to describe the role
✅ The job title must be clear and reflect the role, as it's the first thing candidates see
✅ Needs to match with the keywords candidates search for on job boards and search engines.
🚫 Avoid company-specific titles.

Company Description

This section is specific to your business activity - we cannot provide you with a ready-to-use template.
To help you, here are the elements that must be included:
✅ Your mission
✅ The products and/or services that support this mission
✅ The type and number of customers you serve
✅ Your mid- and long-term goals, with concrete figures
✅ Any other ambitious projects (geographic expansion, new verticals, etc.)

💡 Bonus: Add engaging content like photos, videos, CEO podcasts, or anything else that showcases your vision and ambitions.

Job Brief

As a Host/Hostess, you will be the face of our establishment, responsible for creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for our guests. You will manage reservations, greet guests, and coordinate seating to ensure a seamless dining experience.

To complete this section, here are the essential elements that must be included :
✅ A clear and concise sentence describing the role
✅ Its position in the organizational chart
✅ The scope of responsibility including (if applicable) the size of the team to be managed
✅ One or two specific, long-term objectives for the position

Key Responsabilities

  • Warmly greet guests upon arrival and guide them to their tables.
  • Efficiently manage the reservation system and seating chart.
  • Communicate effectively with the kitchen and serving staff.
  • Provide guests with information about the menu and specials.
  • Maintain cleanliness and organization at the entrance.
  • Monitor guest satisfaction and address any issues promptly.
  • Assist in the coordination of special events and large parties.

Skills & Qualifications

🎓 A high school diploma or equivalent is preferred.

💪 Previous experience in a customer service or hospitality role is beneficial.

🎯 Main Hard Skills

  • Reservation Management
  • POS System Proficiency
  • Effective Communication
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Multitasking

🙂 Main Soft Skills

  • Empathy
  • Patience
  • Teamwork
  • Adaptability

Conditions & Benefits

This section is specific to your company - we cannot provide you with a ready-to-use template.
To help you, here are the elements that can be included:
✅ Employment type: Full-time, part-time, freelance, contract, etc.
✅ Location: City + any location-specific benefits
✅ Work schedule: Remote, in-office, or hybrid (ideally with details on the expected balance)
✅ Salary: You can choose to provide a range or leave it unspecified.
✅ Benefits: Outline what you offer in terms of healthcare, wellness programs, parental leave, transportation stipends, and more.

💡 Tip: Work conditions are one of the most important factors for candidates when considering a job. Transparency and honesty go a long way.

Interview Process

This section is specific to your company - we cannot provide you with a ready-to-use template.
To help you, here is a typical process:
1️⃣ Initial phone screening with (Recruiter’s Name), our (Recruiter’s Title) - 30 min
2️⃣ Interview with (Hiring Manager’s Name “HM”), our (HM’s Role) - 45 min
3️⃣ Case study with (HM’s Name), our (HM’s Role) - 1 hour in person
4️⃣ Cultural fit interview with (HM’s Manager’s Name), our (Manager’s Role) - 30 min in person
5️⃣ Team meeting with (HM’s Team Name) – in person
6️⃣ Reference checks

FAQ

🔹What are the key duties of a Host/Hostess ?

The key duties include greeting guests, managing reservations, coordinating seating, and ensuring guest satisfaction.

🔹How does a Host/Hostess collaborate with other team members ?

They communicate with serving staff and the kitchen to ensure efficient service and address any guest needs.

🔹What essential skills are required for a Host/Hostess ?

Essential skills include customer service, communication, organization, and problem-solving.

🔹What is the typical career progression for a Host/Hostess ?

Hosts/Hostesses can advance to roles such as Lead Host, Assistant Manager, or Restaurant Manager.

🔹What benefits are commonly offered to Hosts/Hostesses in the USA ?

Common benefits include health insurance, tips, and employee discounts.

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