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Host Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

Last updated: April 15, 2023

A Host, or Greeter, is responsible for welcoming customers to a food service environment and ensuring that they are seated and receive attentive service. Their duties include maintaining a waitlist of patrons during busy meal service, passing out menus and accepting phone calls.

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Host duties and responsibilities

A Host’s duties primarily focus on ensuring the guests have a positive experience as soon as they enter the restaurant. Examples of Host duties and responsibilities include:

  • Greeting customers as they walk into the restaurant
  • Helping guests with reservations and guiding them to their table
  • Giving guests accurate wait time estimates and seating them in the waiting area
  • Providing customers with menus and answering any initial questions they may have
  • Optimizing seating at different tables to ensure even workload for wait staff
  • Answering phones and scheduling reservations with large parties
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Host Job Description Examples

Example 1

Carrabba'S Italian GRILL offers high quality, flavorful, handmade Italian dishes served in a warm, casual environment. Food and hospitality are the passions here, and service is engaging and generous.

Authentic aromas and distinctive flavors emanate from a lively and interactive exhibition kitchen where each meal is prepared to order.

Our success is the direct result of dynamic, dedicated, fun-loving people with a passion for great food and hospitality who enjoy being part of a devoted, hard-working team.

NOW Hiring:
  • HOSTS / Hostesses

    Daytime Shift, typically 10:30am - 4:00 p.m.

    Carrabba's Italian Grill is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

    Carrabba's Italian Grill is a well established, full service restaurant concept that has growth opportunities for team members in a full service casual dining restaurnat company. At Carrabbas you can grow your career with us.

    This restaurant front of house job for Hosts or Hostesses will focus on guest seating or greeting or reception / reservations duties in which you will be expected to provide great customer service.

    This is a tipped role where the advertised pay is an estimate of the base pay + tips based on current averages.

    Job Types: Full-time, $15.00 - $18.00 per hour

    • Example 2

    Air Ventures is a well-established, growth-oriented owner and operator of full service and quick service restaurants in airports across the United States. Our employees enjoy providing superior service to our guests from around the world. We are currently hiring hosts for our concept in theDulles international Airport, Wolfgang.

    Be a part of something great! We offer competitive pay, medical insurance, meal discounts, opportunity for advancement and more!

    Summary/Objective

    This position is responsible for greeting guests at the door. The host/hostess seats and presents clean menus to guests in a friendly, professional and quick manner.

    Essential Functions
  • Greets and seats guests, presents menus to guests, informs them of specials and soups.
  • Treats all guests in a manner to ensure their complete satisfaction. Always strives to exceed guests' expectations.
  • Takes names on a waiting list.
  • Runs the floor plan board.
  • Observes tables and keeps track of clean, dirty and occupied tables.
  • Buses and resets tables.
  • Takes guest information and es wait times to guests accurately when tables are not immediately available.
  • Cleans, organizes and stocks menus at host area.
  • Answers phone and answers questions concerning the menu and restaurant.
  • Interacts with guests as they arrive and as they leave the restaurant to ensure positive dining experience.
  • Fills to-go orders, if applicable.
  • Maintains restrooms throughout shift.
  • Sweeps foyer and front entrance area frequently.
  • Performs other duties as directed.

    Preferred Education and Experience
  • Prior restaurant experience.
  • High school diploma or GED.

    Additional Eligibility Qualifications
  • Must be eligible for and maintain SIDA badge required to work in airport.
  • Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
  • Must be at least 18 years of age.

    AAP/EEO Statement

    Air Ventures LLC provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Air Ventures LLC complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

    Air Ventures LLC expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Air Ventures LLC's employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

    Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

    Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

    Benefits:
  • Dental insurance
  • Flexible schedule
  • Health insurance
  • Vision insurance
    Physical Setting:
  • Casual dining restaurant
    Schedule:
  • Day shift
  • Holidays
  • Monday to Friday
  • Night shift
  • Weekend Location: One location

    • Example 3

    Who We Are

    At Pacific Science Center, our mission is to ignite curiosity in every child and fuel a passion for discovery, experimentation, and critical thinking in all of us. Our colleagues are passionate lifelong learners who live our mission every day. Join our collaborative team and come help steward our warm and welcoming community learning environment at PacSci!

    Your Role

    The Guest Services Host is responsible for providing excellent customer service to Pacific Science Center visitors and customers. They ensure guests are welcomed and served in a manner that makes their experience memorable and consistent with Pacific Science Center's mission and values. They seek opportunities to enhance the guest experience by performing usher duties, accurately handling ticketing and concessions sales transactions, and sharing information about onsite operations programs and membership opportunities.

    We have multiple openings available, including full-time, part-time, and seasonal!

    What you'll be doing
  • Warmly greeting visitors as by facilitating entry, exiting and care guests via validation of tickets, and responding to guests needs in the Theaters.
  • Monitoring guest communications via phone, email, and social media¯
  • Responding to inquiries in a manner consistent with Pacific Science Center's mission and values
  • Processing transactions in a quick, efficient, and helpful manner
  • Proactively responding to individual needs with a positive attitude

    We'd love to hear from you if you:
  • Have 6+ months of experience in customer service
  • Understand best practices and principles of guest services industry
  • Are able to maintain a positive attitude during times of stress and serve the public in a friendly and courteous manner

    Our Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access

    We, at Pacific Science Center, believe that science is for everyone. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for colleagues and guests. Please see our commitments to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (I.D.E.A.) posted at [website]

    Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Temporary

    Pay: $18.00 - $19.00 per hour

    Benefits:
  • Dental insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Employee discount
  • Flexible spending account
  • Health insurance
  • Health savings account
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Paid training
  • Parental leave
  • Vision insurance
    Schedule:
  • Day shift
  • Evening shift
  • Holidays
  • Weekend availability

    COVID-19 considerations:
    Pacific Science Center mandates that all new hires and employees must have the COVID-19 vaccination. Reasonable accommodations will be made for those who cannot get the vaccine due to health reasons or sincerely-held religious beliefs.

    Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Seattle, WA 98109: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work Location: One location

    • Example 4

    Come join our team! Henry's Pub in beautiful downtown Loveland is looking for a part time host/foodrunner. Must be friendly, punctual, and a team player. Restaurant experience preferred but not required. We are a fast paced, busy restaurant that takes reservations and has a waitlist. Our hosts are paid minimum wage $12.56 hour and are tipped out by servers to average $17 or more an hour.

    Please include current availability in response. Must have weekend availability. Preference given to those with open availability. Start times are 4 and 4:45PM on weekday shifts and 3 and 4PM on weekend shifts. Must be available at these times to be considered.

    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

    Job Type: Part-time

    Pay: $17+ per hour

    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

    Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.

    Answer phones in regards to reservations/wait lists/transfer to other departments.

    Removing dishes and glasses from tables and sanitizing between parties.

    Coordinate with and assist fellow employees to meet guests' needs and support the operation of the restaurant.

    Inspect restrooms for cleanliness and availability of supplies and clean restrooms when necessary.

    Job Type: Part-time

    Pay: From $17.56 per hour

    Benefits:
  • 401(k) matching
  • Employee discount
  • Flexible schedule
  • Paid sick time
  • Paid time off
    Physical Setting:
  • Upscale casual restaurant
    Schedule:
  • Day shift
  • Monday to Friday
  • Night shift
  • Weekend availability
    Supplemental Pay:
  • Tips

    COVID-19 considerations:
    We follow all health department recommendations for the safety of our patrons and our staff.

    Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Loveland, CO 80537: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work Location: One location

    • What does a Host do?

    Hosts work at sit-down restaurants ranging from casual family diners to fine dining establishments to make customers feel welcomed and provide attentive service from the moment a customer enters the dining room. They are also in charge of fairly assigning tables to waitstaff so that servers can split the workload fairly and get a fair opportunity to earn tips during their shift. Hosts lead guests to their tables, manage reservations and communicate with front of house staff about when they have a new party in their section. Hosts support bussers in clearing tables, wiping down menus and organizing silverware.

    Host skills and qualifications

    A Host should have skills that allow them to interact with guests and help keep restaurant operations running smoothly. Some qualifications for a Host include the following:

    • High school diploma or GED
    • Prior customer service experience in the hospitality industry
    • Positive attitude and interpersonal skills
    • Good communication skills and phone etiquette
    • Flexibility when working alternating shifts
    • Ability to stand for long periods of time

    Host Salary Expectations

    A Host makes an average of $12.50 per hour. Pay rate may depend on level of experience, education and the geographical location.

    Host education and training Requirements

    Hosts typically need a high school diploma or GED for a Host position, but some employers offer this position without any formal qualification. High school students often prefer to work part time as Hosts while working toward their diploma. A bachelor’s degree is often helpful for Hosts looking to pursue a supervisory role. The job of a Host generally does not require any formal training.

    Host experience requirements

    Although an entry-level Host position does not require any specific experience, it generally helps for the candidate to have some experience working with people. Candidates with a customer service background, and phone handling experience are ideal for the position. Exact experience requirements vary with the specific job profile and career growth planned for the position. For example, if the Host is required to serve alcohol, the Host should have relevant experience and a thorough knowledge of different types of drinks.

    Job description samples for similar positions

    If this Host job description template isn’t what you’re looking for, see our job descriptions for related positions:

    Ready to Hire a Host?Build a Host Job Description

    Frequently asked questions about Hosts

    What is the difference between a Host and a Waiter?

    Hosts are the first person to greet guests and set them up at a table, where they then interact with a Waiter or Waitress who takes care of their needs for the rest of the dining experience. Hosts assign tables to Waiters and explain menu items while they wait. Some restaurants have Waiters act as Hosts during slow shifts when there is usually not a wait before customers can eat. Hosts exclusively work in the front-of-house providing customer service, while Waiters move between the kitchen and the dining room to deliver food to tables and bus dishes.

    What are the qualities of a good Host?

    To be a good Host, a candidate should have a friendly and welcoming demeanor to provide excellent hospitality to their patrons. Good Hosts remain calm under pressure and are able to keep track of how many tables each Server is managing, how many people are in each party and when a new table is likely to become available. They communicate clearly and are highly organized, able to quickly call customers when their table is ready while greeting new diners at the door. Successful Hosts are helpful, fair, composed and professional when speaking with customers.

    Who does a Host report to?

    Hosts report to a restaurant’s General Manager or a Head Server depending on the size of the restaurant. Some restaurants have a single host on each shift while others have multiple Hosts that work together to seat customers in different parts of the restaurant. They consult with the General Manager or the Head Server to determine their schedule, plan ahead for large reservations and refine their system for managing the flow of diners throughout a shift.

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