Host/Hostess

Job Description

We invite you to join the world of luxury hospitality at Fairmont Southampton as our new Host/Hostess. Reporting to the Maître’ d, the Host ensures guests are welcomed warmly, seated efficiently, and enjoy a personalized dining experience. The role requires multitasking, attention to detail, and a commitment to excellence in guest service.

Key Responsibilities 

Guest Reception & Service

• Consistently provide a professional, friendly, and engaging welcome to all guests, ensuring an exceptional first impression.
• Seat guests according to floor plan strategy, ensuring fairness among servers and guest satisfaction with table placement.
• Present menus, take drink orders, and assist with menu explanations, including wine pairings and specials.
• Anticipate guest needs and respond promptly, maintaining a courteous and professional demeanor at all times.

Reservations & Floor Management

• Oversee the restaurant reservation system, including bookings in person, over the phone, and via digital applications.
• Communicate reservation changes, cancellations, or VIP arrivals to management and service staff throughout the shift.
• Identify and communicate VIP guests, special occasions, and guest preferences to ensure personalized service.
• Understand daily restaurant operations, table layouts, room capacities, and service standards to optimize guest flow and dining experience.
• Monitor waiting lists during peak periods and implement procedures to minimize guest wait times.

Operational Support

• Ensure tables are properly set, check folders and menus are stocked and clean, and the hostess station is organized.
• Maintain cleanliness, presentation, and organization of host stand, menus, and guest-facing materials at all times.
• Assist in delivering food and beverages to guests as needed.
• Support servers, management, and restaurant operations by understanding POS system operations and shift-end reporting.
• Follow all outlet policies, procedures, and service standards, and perform additional duties as assigned.
• Demonstrate basic working knowledge of the POS system to support service flow and reporting as required.
• Maintains professional grooming, posture, and appearance in line with Fairmont brand standards.

Qualifications

What will you bring to this role? 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions: ·

Experience

• Minimum 1 year of experience in a restaurant, hotel, or luxury dining environment.
• Familiarity with reservation systems and point-of-sale technology is an asset.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent

Competencies, Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of restaurant operations, service principles, and guest engagement.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to multitask, work efficiently under pressure, and maintain composure in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work as part of a multicultural team.

Personal Attributes, Culture & Values

• Service-oriented, friendly, and professional.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on guest satisfaction.
• Reliable, adaptable, and committed to excellence.
• Embrace the Fairmont brand promise and luxury in your role and in all your interactions. 
• Foster an inclusive environment where every individual feels valued and respected 

Circumstances

• Flexibility to work a variety of shifts including evenings, weekends, holidays, extended hours. as required by operational needs.
• Comfortable performing physically demanding and repetitive tasks in a dynamic work environment.

Additional Information

Employee Benefits:

Join our team and enjoy a range of exclusive colleague perks, including complimentary upgrades, extended stays, discounted stays across Fairmont & Raffles properties, special dining and wellness discounts, and added luxuries to enhance your experience. We believe in taking care of our team, ensuring that your hard work is rewarded with exceptional benefits. Add any other benefits relevant to your property.

What’s in it for you?

As part of Accor, a global hospitality leader with over 5,500 hotels worldwide, you’ll enjoy:

• Opportunities for growth and development, mentorship, and international mobility
• Health insurance, retirement savings plans, and comprehensive wellness programs
• Worldwide travel discounts and preferred rates across the Accor portfolio
• A supportive, inclusive culture grounded in respect, teamwork, and professional development

Start your journey with us today and explore the possibilities! #BeLimitless

Our Values

Respect: We value the needs, ideas and individuality of others. We treat everyone with fairness and dignity.

Excellence: We make genuine connections, and we cherish every opportunity to make the people around us feel special.

Belonging: We celebrate our differences. We support each other and we always stand together.

Empowerment: We have authority to take initiative and anticipate moments that create unforgettable experiences.

Integrity: We build trust through mutual respect and being authentic.

Your team and working environment:

Fairmont Southampton is a premier luxury resort and regarded as a leader in the hospitality industry.  Our mission is to turn moments into memories for our Guests.  An exciting hospitality career awaits you if you are committed to providing our Guests with an authentically local experience through providing warm and engaging service.

Our Heartists work cohesively as part of the team in a demanding, multi-cultural diverse environment.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

Fairmont is committed to creating an inclusive environment where diverse talent thrives. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join our team