Front Office Receptionist

UniLodge Living Group; Canberra; On-site; AUD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Attractive remuneration

Inclusive culture

Viva Engage forums

Team events

Exclusive travel privileges

Referral bonus up to $1,000

Job summary

Essence Hotels & Apartments in Canberra is seeking a Front Office Receptionist to greet guests and residents and manage enquiries, bookings, check-ins, and check-outs with a professional, welcoming approach. You will uphold the Essence brand in every interaction.

The role requires strong customer service, organisational skills, and proficiency with computer systems. Australian work rights and a valid National Police Check are required.

Qualifications

• Front Office Receptionist is the first point of contact for guests and residents.
• Handling bookings, check-ins/outs, enquiries, and administration.
• Ability to maintain a professional front-of-house presence and reflect the Essence brand.

Responsibilities

• Provide friendly, professional service as the first point of contact for guests, residents, and visitors.
• Manage daily reception activities including bookings, check-ins and check-outs, enquiries, shift handovers, and balance sheets.
• Respond to enquiries with care and efficiency, ensuring a positive guest experience while prioritising safety and privacy.
• Complete front office administration, including systems usage, account processing, and timely communication.
• Assist with sales, inspections, tours, and coordination with internal teams and contractors.

Skills

Reception & front desk

Customer service

Hospitality

Multi-tasking

Computer literacy

Australian work rights

Job description

Our Journey

Part of the UniLodge Living Group, Essence Hotels & Apartments benefits from the strength, expertise and vision of one of Australasia’s leading accommodation providers. Backed by this established parent company, Essence combines deep operational capability with an innovative and guest-centric approach to hospitality.

With an established presence in Brisbane and Melbourne, Essence has earned a strong reputation for delivering thoughtfully curated guest experiences across the business, leisure and extended-stay markets. Every aspect of our offering is designed around the needs of today’s traveller, combining beautifully appointed spaces, intuitive service and a genuine sense of connection.

As we continue to grow, we are excited to be expanding our footprint into Canberra. This marks an important chapter in our journey and reflects our commitment to bringing our distinctive approach to hospitality to one of Australia’s most dynamic and evolving markets.

Role Overview

The Front Office Receptionist is the first point of contact for all guests and residents and plays a key role in delivering a welcoming, professional, and service-driven experience at Essence. The role is responsible for managing all resident and guest enquiries in person, over the phone, and via email, providing prompt, knowledgeable, and courteous support at all times. The Front Office Receptionist ensures the reception area is professionally presented and that all customer interactions are handled efficiently and to the highest standards, consistently upholding the Essence brand and image.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide friendly, professional service as the first point of contact for guests, residents, and visitors, both in person and via phone and email, while representing the Essence and ANU brands.
• Manage daily reception activities including bookings, check-ins and check-outs, enquiries, shift handovers, sales and maintaining a tidy, well-presented front-of-house area.
• Respond to enquiries and issues with care and efficiency, ensuring a positive experience for guests and residents with a strong focus on safety, privacy, and wellbeing.
• Complete front office administration accurately, including systems use, account processing, shift balancing, arrears monitoring, and timely communication.
• Assist with sales and other operations such as inspections/tours, maintenance
• coordination, enquiry tracking, and application processing, working closely with internal teams and contractors.

Core Capabilities

You are a customer-focused professional who enjoys being the first point of contact and takes pride in delivering positive, welcoming experiences. With a friendly manner and strong attention to detail, you thrive in a fast-paced front-of-house environment and understand the importance of representing a brand with professionalism and care.

You will bring:

• A warm, professional communication style and a natural customer-service mindset
• Experience or interest in reception, hospitality, or front-of-house operations
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks at once
• Confidence using computer systems and handling phone and email enquiries
• Unrestricted working rights in Australia & Valid National Police Check

Benefits with Essence Hotels & Apartments

Joining Essence means becoming part of a forward-thinking organisation with a clear vision for growth, an unwavering commitment to excellence, and a passion for creating memorable experiences for every guest, every stay.

We offer:

• Attractive remuneration indicative of your experience and impact.
• A refined and inclusive culture where individuality is respected and meaningful contribution is valued
• A genuine voice at the table, with opportunities to shape our future through engagement forums and Viva Engage
• A connected community, brought to life through curated team events, celebrations and social initiatives
• Exclusive travel privileges, with preferred rates across Essence Hotels & Apartment
• Rewarding referral recognition, with up to $1,000 for introducing exceptional talent to our growing teams.

If you are a passionate hospitality professional who takes pride in delivering exceptional experiences and empowering high-performing teams, we would love to hear from you.

This is a unique opportunity to join Essence Hotels & Apartments at an exciting stage of our growth, as we expand our presence into the Canberra market.

Essence Hotels and Apartments is part of the UniLodge Living Group. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from diverse backgrounds.