Host, Full-Time

Host Position

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. Enjoying new food and beverage experiences is part of your identity, and you know what it is to have a great restaurant experience. 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.

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 Host in either a free-standing or hotel restaurant.
• Experience with taking, making, and executing reservations in a reservation platform
• Basic computing skills in Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• TIPS 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

Additional Requirements

• Continuous standing and walking and negotiating wet tile floor and steps
• 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)

What You Will Get

• Work with an amazing team who is passionate about hospitality, celebrating diversity and embracing individuality!
• Paid time off including vacation to use when you choose
• Free parking in Ybor!!!
• Free shift-meal prepared by our in-house culinary experts
• Up to 50% off food when you dine at the restaurant as a guest
• Greatly discounted room rates for your out-of-town guests

Who We Are

Hotels done differently. It's not just a slogan or catchphrase, it is who we are in everything we do. We believe in the power of People, Place and Character; ensuring our properties are a place where individuals are valued and celebrated as a tribute to the neighborhoods and the people of the communities in which we operate; elevating our associates' pride in who they are, where they live and who we serve. Located in the heart of historic Ybor, a trolley ride away from downtown Tampa, Hotel Haya is a hub of activity. Blending Cuban, Italian, and Spanish influences, the property features 178 guest rooms, over 7000 square feet of banquet space, a world-class restaurant, airy caf, and lush courtyard with a pool. Hotel Haya is managed by Aparium Hotel Group which was founded in 2011. Since its founding, Aparium has grown into a new kind of hotel brand, one that ventures off the beaten path, both geographically and philosophically. It is a sophisticated hotel brand known for its singular ability to combine the business acumen of large hospitality companies with the charm of boutique hotels, bringing the disparate forces together in bustling, smaller markets.

The Role

The Host reports to the Food and Beverage Managers and work in a team environment with other restaurant 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. The Host is responsible for the beginning and the end of memorable guest experiences, welcoming your guests with genuine hospitality that reflects our town. Hosts own the arrival and departure experience in the restaurant, and it is critical that you hold that experience in high regard. The ability to learn managing reservations and scheduling software is necessary to ensure expert service to guests with allergies and restrictions. Ongoing food and beverage tasting, and training will allow you to expand your knowledge of beer, wine, and spirits. 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 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 set-up the host stand, reviewing reservations and making recommendations as to the setup of the room; 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
• Work in an organized and clean fashion by opening the restaurant for business at the prescribed time, assigning seating, following service standards, and maintaining a station chart and cover count
• Inspect the cleanliness of each section of the dining room and the private dining rooms and make necessary improvements as well as check each table prior to opening to ensure its properly set
• Pick up the daily menus and insert them properly in their covers; and inspect every menu and list to ensure their condition and appearance
• Develop a complete working knowledge of the menus, menu ingredients and what is unavailable for the day
• Know the server stations, their daily assignments, their personal timing patterns, and their maximum workload capacity, and of course balance and close shift properly
• Answer telephones according to hotel standard and take reservations or provide information regarding the restaurant or any other hotel service
• Carry trays, bus, and reset tables with linen, china, glass and silver as needed; complete side work assigned by manager
• Observe conditions of all physical facilities and relay any challenges to the food and beverage leadership team to make corrections and improvements as needed
• Communicate effectively 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, Caf, In-Room Dining, Pool, and Restaurants
• 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.