Restaurant host - Saudi National

Mӧvenpick Hotel & Residences Riyadh

The F&B Host/Hostess serves as the first point of contact and the "face" of the hotel’s dining outlets. This role is responsible for warmly welcoming guests, managing reservations, efficiently coordinating seating arrangements, and ensuring a seamless, premium first impression that aligns with Mövenpick’s renowned standards of hospitality.

Key Responsibilities

1. Guest Welcome & Seating Management

• Greet guests warmly and professionally upon arrival with a genuine smile, using their names whenever possible (especially for Accor Live Limitless/ALL members and VIPs).

• Escort guests to their designated tables, present menus, introduce their server, and ensure they are comfortably seated.

• Manage the flow of the restaurant floor efficiently, balancing table distributions among service staff to prevent bottlenecks.

• Extend a gracious and polite farewell to guests as they leave, ensuring their feedback is positive.

2. Reservations & System Administration

• Handle all incoming dining inquiries, bookings, and walk-ins utilizing the restaurant management system (e.g., TableCheck, OpenTable, or SevenRooms).

• Optimize seating capacity by strategically planning table allocations for breakfasts, lunches, theme nights, and special events.

• Maintain an updated guest history database, noting specific dietary preferences, seating requests, allergies, and special occasions (birthdays, anniversaries).

3. Operational Support & Communication

• Maintain a pristine, organized, and elegant reception desk/host station at all times.

• Collaborate closely with the service and kitchen teams to communicate table changes, special guest requests, VIP arrivals, or dietary restrictions.

• Assist the service team during peak operational hours by helping clear tables, presenting bills, or resetting tables if required.

• Stay thoroughly informed about daily specials, menu ingredients, hotel promotions, and operating hours across all hotel facilities.

4. Professional Etiquette & Brand Compliance

• Adhere strictly to Mövenpick grooming, uniform, and presentation standards.

• Handle guest complaints or wait-time frustrations diplomatically and professionally, escalating issues to the Restaurant Manager when necessary.

• Support hotel localization goals (Saudization) by embodying authentic local hospitality and fostering a welcoming cultural environment.

Skills & Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum of 1–2 years of experience in a host/hostess or guest-facing role within a 5-star hotel, luxury restaurant, or high-end lounge.

• Language: Excellent command of English (spoken and written) is required. Fluency in Arabic is highly advantageous to effectively communicate with local corporate clients and families.

• Technical Skills: Familiarity with modern restaurant reservation platforms and Point of Sale (POS) systems (e.g., Micros Symphony).

• Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional communication and presentation skills, high emotional intelligence, a vibrant personality, and the ability to remain calm and elegant under pressure.

• Flexibility: Willingness to work flexible shifts, including weekends, holidays, and split shifts according to business needs.