Front Office Receptionist

SP - The Palace Hotel Southend (SENCR); Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 9,800 - 13,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meal on shift

Paid holidays

Training & career development

Discounted rooms

Wellbeing program

Job summary

The Palace Hotel, Southend-on-Sea by IHG is seeking a passionate Front Office Receptionist to join the team. The role is Part-Time, 24 hours per week with weekend availability essential, and involves a welcoming check-in/out experience, handling guest enquiries, and supporting smooth Front Office operations.

Ideal candidates will have experience in a customer-facing role, strong communication skills, and the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Customer-facing hospitality experience advantageous.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience using Opera would be advantageous; training can be provided.

Responsibilities

• Provide a warm and professional welcome; ensure smooth check-in/out.
• Handle guest enquiries, requests and reservations with superb service.
• Process payments and maintain accurate guest records; support Front Office operations.
• Collaborate with other hotel departments to meet guest needs and uphold service standards.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Multitasking

Organizational skills

Hospitality experience

Tools

Opera PMS

Job description

The Palace Hotel, Southend-on-Sea is on the lookout for a passionate Front Office Receptionist to join the team!

Join the excitement and become part of the team at The Palace Hotel, Southend-on-Sea by IHG – an exciting new addition to IHG Hotels & Resorts.

As the hotel prepares for its future transition to Garner, we're bringing a fresh, purposefully different hospitality experience to Southend-on-Sea. Featuring 137 guestrooms, Garner is designed for guests who are in love with life, not luxury – delivering quality stays at an affordable price in a welcoming environment full of character. The hotel's future evolution will introduce the welcoming, flexible approach that defines the Garner experience, creating comfortable stays that make every journey possible.

We are looking for someone who can work Part-Time, 24 hours per week. Weekend availability is essential.

To be successful in this role, you will be responsible for a range of duties while demonstrating the following skills and experience…

• Providing a warm and professional welcome to guests, ensuring a seamless check-in and check-out experience.
• Handling guest enquiries, requests and reservations while delivering exceptional customer service at all times.
• Processing payments, maintaining accurate guest records and supporting the smooth operation of the Front Office department.
• Working closely with other hotel departments to ensure guest needs are met and service standards are consistently achieved.
• Previous experience in a customer-facing role, ideally within hospitality, would be advantageous.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a friendly and professional approach.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail with the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience using hotel systems such as Opera would be advantageous, although training can be provided.

Joining our team means becoming part of a welcoming brand that values genuine hospitality, individuality and creating positive experiences for every guest, every stay. In return, we offer a wide range of benefits and opportunities designed to support your wellbeing, development and career grow such as…

• Financial security – A competitive salary, guaranteed hours, a free meal on shift, paid holidays!
• Growth and development – extensive training, opportunities for career progression across the world. IHG has been recognised as a ‘Best Employer 2025’ in the UK by Mercer.
• Colleague perks- worldwide discounted room rates and discounted F&B whilst on employee rate (IHG has over 6,000 hotels and growing), plus generous friends and family rate. Discounts through our portal on your supermarket shop, experiences and loads of retailers on our perks portal.
• Wellbeing–employee assistance programme available 24/7 and much more

You must meet the legal requirements to work in the UK.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Please let us know if you require any adjustments or support at any stage, and your recruiter will assist you accordingly.

At IHG Hotels & Resorts, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We firmly believe that all our colleagues deserve to be treated equally and have the same opportunities to develop and grow their skills within our business and provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and colleagues without regard to an individual's, race, colour, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or familial status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.