Part-Time Host

Restaurant Host

Located in the historic Hippee Building in downtown Des Moines, Surety Hotel celebrates the city's past while helping shape its future. Housed in a beautifully restored, 1913 Beaux-Arts landmark and now part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, Surety blends independent character with world-class hospitality. Inspired by the meaning of a surety bond, we make a promise as well; unmatched service, incredible design, and a superior level of hospitality rooted in connection and community. With 137 guest rooms and suites, vibrant gathering spaces, and onsite dining at Mulberry Street Tavern, Surety is both a destination for travelers and a point of pride for the City of Certainties.

Your past experiences have led you to understand that there is an art + science to the how and what a hospitality professional is responsible for. Food and beverage culture are just a part of your identity, as you keep up on new restaurant openings or which restaurants were just named the locals' favorite. Food culture interests you and you love when as the curator of an experience, you nail it. It is in your nature to take care of others. You delight in the smiles you share and the positive experiences that you create. You are probably known to your friends and family as a planner and enjoy organizing people or just about anything. You feel comfortable when things get busy, and you must make smart, in-the-moment decisions, as it's just natural for you to do so. Above all, it is your mission to spread joy to all you encounter.

The Restaurant Host reports to the F&B Managers and work in a team environment with other F&B professionals, including barbacks, bartenders, servers, dishwashers, cooks, and chefs. It is critical the person in this position possess a background and knowledge in basic service techniques and has a natural ability to manage time and assist customers. As the Restaurant Host you will be responsible for creating memorable guest experiences and making the first interaction without guests memorable. All of our service team members are expected to be reliable and responsible. You will arrive changed, polished and mentally ready to work on time. We put an emphasis on treating each other just like we treat our guests, sharing a smile, a helping hand, and a willingness to jump in to assist in any situation. You will also actively develop trusting and transparent relationships with your peers on the service team and other associates of the hotel. As a team member within Aparium Hotel Group you will work with a phenomenal group of peers who insist that you are collaborative, humble, experienced and open-minded no egos are allowed.

What You Will Do

• Uphold and model the company's principles of People, Place and Character, driving collaboration, intuition and translocal hospitality
• Assist in all aspects of a guest's experience from beginning to end by extending a friendly greeting in an inviting environment, ensuring proper steps of service to create exceptional guest experiences; executing on requests in a friendly and timely manner, ensuring satisfaction throughout and adjusting as necessary
• Participate in daily line ups and quarterly all staff meetings to further develop ideas and objectives with the service team while simultaneously providing constructive feedback and strategizing to overcome and correct any previously missed opportunities
• Be accountable for working knowledge of the menus, menu ingredients and what is unavailable for the day; and to serve alcohol safely, responsibly, and legally; and of course, accurately account for all monetary transactions during your shift
• Serve food and beverage items based upon each guest's specific requests by respecting the health and safety measures procedures to keep you and the guest safe and healthy
• Ensure your work stating is clean and organized, with the utmost respect for your guests, peers, and equipment; and ensure you demonstrate a sense of urgency for guest requests
• Demonstrate an understanding of basic culinary and beverage terms and strive to know more through constant study of your craft; use your knowledge of the food and beverage menu to create exceptional dining experiences
• Observe conditions of all physical facilities and relay any challenges to the food and beverage leadership team to make corrections and improvements as needed; and communicate promptly with the F&B and Culinary teams to ensure all guests get their food as ordered in timely fashion
• Assist in other areas of the F&B Department as needed, including but not limited to, Banquets, Bar and In-Room Dining
• Aparium Hotel Group does not discriminate based on disability, veteran status or on any other basis protected under federal, state, or local laws
• The hotel and company are a smoke-free, drug-free facility, and equal opportunity employer

What You Will Need

• Passion for the People, Place and Culture of our community, love of Restaurants and Guest Service also required
• Minimum of one (1) year experience as a Restaurant or Event/Banquet server in either a free-standing or hotel restaurant.
• (IPACT) Alcohol service certification and SafeStaff Certificate of Completion, or ability to obtain such within 30 days of hire
• Must meet local age requirements in order to serve alcohol
• Available to work a flexible schedule to include nights, weekends and holidays
• Fluency in English both verbally and non-verbally
• Evening availability required

Additional Requirements

• Continuous standing and walking and negotiating wet tile floor and steps
• Fine motor coordination is needed to pour beverages, decorate cocktails and folding napkins
• Ability to roll and/or carry tables and chairs
• Standing and walking is continuous for 4-5 hours at a time
• Lifting and carrying 30 lb. tray, crate or box is occasional
• Negotiating varied floor surfaces is continuous
• Carrying over shoulder is occasional
• Hand and elbow movements for polishing glassware, silver, setting up tables, shacking, pouring and mixing drinks
• Excellent sight and balance needed for negotiating varied floor surfaces
• Handling lighted candles, and handling hot fluids (coffee and tea)
• Must be able to work in extreme temperatures like freezers (-10*F) and kitchens (+110*F)

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Aparium Hospitality Services celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment, and a sense of belonging for all associates. We do not discriminate and believe every individual should be proud of who they are, and where they come from and take pride in who we serve. Aparium is an E-Verify employer.