Front Office Manager

Mercure Chennai Sriperumbudur

Hotel for travellers looking for local and authentic experiences

Mercure Chennai Sriperumbudur, the only international brand in Sriperumbudur-Oragadam industrial area and automobile hub. It is a 45-min drive from Chennai airport, and Mahindra world city and just 29 mins from Marimalai Nagar. The hotel features an all-day dining restaurant with alfresco, multiple meeting spaces, a fitness center, travel desk and entertainment facilities. This hotel, located opposite to Apollo Tyres, is also in close proximity to major corporations & IT companies.

Singaperumal Koil and Chengalpattu industrial areas are in vicinity. Kanchipuram famous for its historic temples and Kanjeevaram sarees, Mahabalipuram for its historic monuments and beaches are within an hour drive. Guests can visit historical monuments at Mahabalipuram, the famous Ekambareshva and Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram amongst many others. Chennai city Centre is easily accessible to guests via the highway.

Job Purpose

This position is responsible for the supervision and management of the overall Front Office operations by ensuring that all sections of Front Office’s service standards delivery are maintained in accordance to the Hotel’s strategic plan and standard.

Reporting Lines to General Manager

Primary Responsibilities

Front Office Operation

• Participate in daily operations meetings to liaise and coordinate closely with support departments regarding general administration and operations issues
• Check that all Front Office employees report to work punctually and are well groomed before each of their shift
• Conduct daily briefings and ensure that all pertinent information is well received by team members
• Communicate all log entries by Duty Managers to ensure that all issues and concerns raised are closed with thorough follow up actions
• Ensure the efficient and effective operation of the Front Office and that departmental standards and procedures set out are strictly adhered to
• Liaise with Reservations Department in a high house situation and recommend actions to be taken. Check on closed-out dates to ensure efforts are made to achieve 100% occupancy with the highest yield possible
• Coordinate full house situations and makes all necessary arrangements to handle overbooking and pledge relocates
• Liaise with Finance Department to ensure that credit procedures are properly carried out
• Analyze market trend, review rooming list and motivate Front Office employees to up-sell rooms with the view of achieving higher yield and increasing revenue
• Coordinate and monitor major group movements for meetings and conferences, and ensure that action plans cover all areas of operations handling
• Makes courtesy calls to VIPS, long stay and corporate guest to obtain feedback and pro-act to handle any lapses in service standards
• Handle all guest correspondences and ensure prompt follow-ups
• Manage daily room inventory and coordinate with Housekeeping to ensure requested rooms are cleaned according to arrival times

Team Management

• Interview, select and recruit Front Office employees
• Identify and develop team members with potential
• Conduct performance review with the team
• Constantly monitor team members’ appearance, attitude and degree of professionalism
• Prepare detailed induction programs for new employees
• Develop, conduct maintain all staff training programs for team members, focusing on their development needs, providing them with new skills to meet the changing needs of the business
• Prepare weekly staff schedules keeping in mind anticipated business, operating budgets and standards of service
• Prepare payroll and gratuity reports
• Conduct monthly departmental meetings to provide information to team members, obtain their feedback, rectify operation issues and provide a regular forum for department communication

Other Responsibilities

• Maintain complete knowledge of all food & beverage services, outlets and hotel services/features
• Be well versed in hotel fire & life safety/emergency procedures
• Attend all briefings, meetings and trainings as assigned by management
• Report for duty on time wearing clean and complete uniform at all times
• Maintain a high standard of personal appearance and hygiene at all times
• Perform other reasonable duties assigned by the Management of the Hotel

Knowledge and Experience

• Diploma in Tourism & Hospitality Management
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in a similar capacity
• Excellent reading, writing and oral proficiency in English language
• Ability to speak other languages and basic understanding of local languages will be an advantage
• Good working knowledge of MS Excel, Word, & PowerPoint

Competencies

• Strong leadership, interpersonal and training skills
• Good communication and customer contact skills
• Results and service oriented with an eye for details
• Ability to multi-task, work well in stressful & high-pressure situations
• A team player & builder
• A motivator & self-starter
• Well-presented and professionally groomed at all times