Host/Hostess

About Us Imagine yourself in 1930’s Chicago. Chicago celebrated its centennial by hosting the world’s fair in 1933. The speakeasies and gangsters were thriving. It was a distinguished time in Chicago’s history. The Gwen has a glorious past and an even more glorious future. Rooted in the history and heritage of downtown Chicago in the 1930’s, the Gwen serves as a city emblem of this golden era and yet is poised to bring luxury to a future generation of worldly travelers. This unmistakable inspiration comes to life with our historic façade, famously created by sculptress Gwen Lux in 1928. A female artisan making a mark in a predominantly 1930’s, male design city depicts and exciting atmosphere of change. The building has been home to many stories in an illustrious past. Health, dental and vision are just a start. We offer unlimited career potential, top of the line training, free lunch, Ventra Transit Benefit and we also provide your uniforms. Now we’re inviting you to re-create the Gwen experience. Let it be a canvas for your own personal stories.

Don't meet every single requirement of this job? At HEI we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still send in your information. You may be the perfect candidate for this or for other roles within our organization!

We value U.S. military experience and invite all qualified military candidates to apply.

Compensation

Salary Range: $25.50 - $25.50 HourlyTipped/Service Charge Eligible? NoDiscretionary Performance Bonus Eligible? No

Overview

The host or hostess is the critical first impression of the restaurant, and therefore is empowered to create memorable guest experiences.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Meet and greet guests as they arrive, offer choice of seating, then escort them to their table and present menu.

• Read, maintain, and make daily entries in the logbook to coordinate communication between shifts and management.

• Maintain proper set-up of dining room.

• Receive records and make any necessary arrangements for reservations and special functions in the restaurant.

• Comply with attendance rules and be available to work on a regular basis.

• Perform any other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills

• Ability to comprehend guest requests, memos, reservations, promotional materials, event orders and similar written materials.

• Ability to remember, recite and promote the variety of menu items.

• Ability to move throughout a crowded room to seat guests with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Ability to effectively deal with customer complaints and concerns in a friendly and positive manner. This involves listening to the nature of the concern, demonstrating empathy with the customer, and providing positive and proactive solutions.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, customers, and patrons.

• Effective verbal and written communication skills. Ability to adapt communication style to suit different audiences, such as effectively communicating with supervisors, coworkers, public etc.

Benefits

HEI Hotels and Resorts is committed to providing a comprehensive benefit program that offers you choices for your physical, mental and financial wellness, creating value in your most important investment - you!

For your physical and mental wellness we offer competitive Medical and Dental programs through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as Vision insurance programs ​through EyeMed. ​Our Vacation, Sick and Holiday programs are available for you to rejuvenate with time off. HEI also provides pet insurance through the ASPCA. For your financial wellness, HEI provides a wide array of coverage, including Supplemental, Spousal and Child Life insurance as well as Short and Long-Term Disability plans. Our 401(k) Savings Plan with matching funds, and discounts through our 'YouDecide' and Hotel Room Discount programs provide additional incentives for choosing HEI as the employer of your future. Specific details and eligibility of these programs vary by location and employment status.

HEI Hotels and Resorts is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.