Front Desk Manager

Sonesta Hotels International Corporation; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

Health Savings Account with Company D

401(k) Retirement Plan with Company D

Paid Vacation and Sick Days

Sonesta Hotel Discounts

Educational Assistance

Paid Parental Leave

Company Paid Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Employee Perks and Discounts

Hospital Indemnity & Critical Illness

Job summary

Sonesta International Hotels in Chicago seeks a Front Office Manager to lead daily Front Office operations, ensuring a welcoming guest experience from check-in to check-out. The role balances guest service, team leadership, and hotel operations in a fast-paced environment.

The ideal candidate has a hospitality background, strong communication, and a track record in front desk excellence. This on-site role offers growth within Sonesta’s People People culture and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management or related field preferred.
• 3+ years in Front Office, hotel operations, guest services, or leadership in hospitality.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day Front Office operations including Front Desk, Bell Services, Valet, guest services, check-in/check-out, and lobby experience management.
• Supervise, train, schedule, coach, and develop Front Desk Agents, Bell/Valet staff, and guest service teams.
• Ensure high guest satisfaction and efficient operations while monitoring productivity and financial performance.
• Monitor guest feedback and service recovery to ensure prompt resolutions.
• Oversee room inventory, reservations coordination, upselling, and occupancy optimization.
• Collaborate with Housekeeping, Engineering, F&B, Revenue Management, and leadership for seamless guest experiences.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and ongoing team development initiatives.

Skills

Front Office Ops

Team Leadership

Guest Services

Communication

Conflict Resolution

Upselling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management

Tools

PMS systems

Reservations systems

Job description

We're People People. Are you?

We're Sonesta International Hotels-the 8th largest hotel company in the U.S. (and growing fast ).

With a dynamic mix of full-service and focused hotels across major cities, our diverse portfolio of owned, managed, and franchised properties means we're everywhere our guests need us to be.

But here's the thing-we're not just in the business of hotels, we're in the business of people. We bring service with passion, loyalty with purpose, and create experiences that genuinely connect-delivering quality, value, and memorable stays across 1,000+ properties in eight countries (and counting).

What this role is all about

Are you a people person with a passion for hospitality? First impressions matter - and our Front Office team helps set the tone for every guest stay. As the Front Office Manager, you'll lead the daily operations of the front desk while creating seamless, welcoming, and memorable guest experiences from check-in to check-out.

This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a fast-paced hospitality environment and loves balancing guest service, team leadership, and hotel operations. You'll oversee Front Desk operations, support guest satisfaction, lead and develop teams, and help ensure every guest interaction reflects the warmth and energy of Sonesta's People People culture.

If you're service-driven, organized, collaborative, and passionate about hospitality leadership - we'd love to meet you.

What you'll be doing

• Lead day-to-day Front Office operations including Front Desk, Bell Services, Valet Services, guest services , check-in/check-out processes, and lobby experience management.
• Supervise, train, schedule, coach, and develop Front Desk Agents , Bell/Valet Staff, possibly Concierge Staff and guest service teams to deliver exceptional hospitality experiences.
• Ensure smooth hotel operations while maintaining high levels of guest satisfaction, service quality, and operational efficiency.
• Monitor guest feedback, online reviews, service recovery situations, and guest concerns to ensure prompt and professional resolution.
• Oversee room inventory management, room assignments, reservations coordination, upselling initiatives, and occupancy optimization.
• Partner closely with Housekeeping, Engineering, Food & Beverage, Revenue Management, and hotel leadership teams to support seamless guest experiences.
• Support hiring, onboarding, employee engagement, performance management, and ongoing team development initiatives.
• Monitor departmental productivity, labor management, operational reporting, cash handling, and Front Office financial performance.
• Ensure compliance with hotel operational standards, safety procedures, brand standards, and guest service expectations.
• Maintain strong knowledge of PMS systems, reservations systems, hotel procedures, loyalty programs, and hospitality operations.
• Support VIP arrivals, group business, special requests, and elevated guest experience opportunities.
• Help create a welcoming, energetic, and guest-focused environment aligned with Sonesta's People People philosophy.
• Any other duties as assigned

What great looks like

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business, or related field preferred.
• 3+ years of Front Office, hotel operations, guest services, or hospitality leadership experience preferred.
• Previous supervisory or management experience within hotels or hospitality environments preferred.Strong knowledge of Front Desk operations, PMS systems, reservations, room inventory management, and guest service standards.
• Excellent communication, leadership, conflict resolution, and customer service skills.
• Ability to multitask and thrive in a fast-paced hospitality environment.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and operational management skills.
• Experience managing guest recovery situations and creating exceptional guest experiences.
• A passion for hospitality, leadership, teamwork, guest engagement, and operational excellence.
• Flexible availability including mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call support as needed.

Anticipated Pay Range & Additional Job Information

Pay range is $60,000 - $67,000 and are eligible for a Bonus Plan.

The base pay offered may vary based on various factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and specific/overall experience.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account with Company Match
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Paid Vacation and Sick Days
• Sonesta Hotel Discounts
• Educational Assistance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Company Paid Short Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Various Employee Perks and Discounts
• Hospital IndemnityCritical Illness Insurance
• Accident Insurance

WHO WE ARE

We are an organization made up of people, thoughts and ideas - all working towards fulfilling our simple mission: To wow every guest, team member, partner & community we operate in by delivering quality, value & amazing hospitality.

We will achieve our mission by being passionate about exceeding expectations - by being persistent, resilient, and constantly seeking new and creative ways to succeed. Doing the Right Thing and Going Beyond are our principles that guide everything we do.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

Our Commitment to You

Sonesta is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.