Front Office Manager

Highgate; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Highgate seeks a Front Office Manager for its iconic hotel in Times Square. You will supervise Guest Services and Uniformed Services, ensuring attentive, friendly, efficient service before and during guests’ stays while maximizing room revenue and occupancy. Leadership and SOP adherence are essential.

You will oversee daily operations, coach staff, manage schedules, and collaborate with Accounting on follow-up items, ensuring a seamless guest experience and adherence to Highgate Hotel standards.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to provide exceptional guest service.
• Supervisory experience required.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills across all levels of staff.

Responsibilities

• Respond to guest requests, problems, and complaints in a courteous manner and follow up for satisfaction.
• Motivate, coach and discipline Guest Services personnel per SOPs.
• Maximize room revenue and occupancy through daily status reviews and rate variance analysis.
• Coordinate scheduling, payroll budgets and productivity requirements.
• Ensure accurate cash handling and adherence to hotel policies.

Skills

Customer service skills

Supervisory experience

Effective communication

Multitasking & prioritization

Attention to detail

Education

Associate degree

Bachelor’s degree

4-year college degree

Tools

Windows

Microsoft Office

Job description

Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company with over $15 billion of assets under management and a global portfolio of more than 400 hotels spanning North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. With a 30-year track record as an innovator in the hospitality industry, this forward-thinking company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate continues to demonstrate success in developing a diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts, featuring contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team of seasoned hospitality leaders and corporate offices worldwide, Highgate is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. www.highgate.com

Location

Located in the heart of Manhattan's Times Square, the iconic Row NYC has completed a $140+ million transformation of all guest rooms and public spaces. The hotel is surrounded by 24 Broadway theaters, is 1 block from Restaurant Row and is close to Jacob Javits Convention Center, Macy’s, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building and many of NYC’s top attractions. The hotel offers 1,331 newly built guestrooms with a variety of bedding configurations including king, queen, double/double and twin.

Overview

The Front Office Manager is responsible for ensuring the operation of the Guest Services and Uniformed Services in an attentive, friendly, efficient and courteous manner, providing all guests with quality service prior to and throughout their stay, while maximizing room revenue and occupancy.

Responsibilities

• Respond to all guests’ requests, problems, complaints and/or accidents presented at the Front Desk or through reservations, comment cards, letters and/or phone calls, in an attentive, courteous and efficient manner. Follow up to ensure guest satisfaction.
• Motivate, coach, counsel and discipline all Guest Services personnel according to Highgate Hotel S.O.P.'s.
• Carry a cell phone at all times.
• Develop employee morale and ensure training of Guest Services personnel.
• Maximize room revenue and occupancy by reviewing status daily. Analyze rate variance, monitor credit report and maintain close observation of daily house count. Monitor selling status of house daily, i.e. flash report, allowances, etc.
• Participate in required M.O.D. program as scheduled.
• Assist with employee schedule according to business forecast, payroll budget guidelines and productivity requirements.
• Ensure that no-show revenue is maximized through consistent and accurate billing.
• Maintain Highgate Hotel S.O.P.'s regarding Purchase Orders, vouchering of invoices and checkbook accounting.
• Maintain a professional working relationship and promote open lines of communication with managers, employees and other departments.
• Work closely with Accounting on follow-up items, i.e., returned checks, rejected credit cards, employee discrepancies, etc.
• Operate all aspects of the Front Office computer system, including software maintenance, report generation and analysis, and simple programming.
• Monitor proper operation of the P.B.X. and ensure that employees maintain Highgate Hotel S.O.P.'s in its use.
• Ensure staff greet and welcome all guests approaching the Front Desk in accordance with Highgate Hotel S.O.P.'s.
• Ensure implementation of all Highgate Hotel policies and house rules. Understand hospitality terms.
• Ensure sign off of all Service Standards by Position for Guest Services staff.
• Ensure logging and delivery of all messages, packages, and mail in a timely and professional manner.
• Must maintain constant communication with Housekeeping, Reservations and the Credit Manager.
• Coordinate all aspects of the ongoing implementation of the Highgate Hotel philosophy of service.
• Ensure correct and accurate cash handling at the Front Desk.
• Follow and enforce all Highgate Hotel credit policies.
• Ensure that employees are, at all times, attentive, friendly, helpful and courteous to all guests, managers and other employees.
• Maintain and monitor "Lost and Found" procedures and policies according to Highgate Hotel standards.
• Ensure participation within department for monthly Highgate Hotel team meeting.
• Focus the Guest Services Department on their role in contributing to the Guest Service and audit scores.
• Monitor all V.I.P.'s, special guests and requests.
• Maintain required pars of all front office and stationary supplies.
• Review daily Front Office work and activity reports generated by Night Audit.
• Review Front Office log book and Guest Request log on a daily basis.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of progressive experience in a hotel or a related field; or a 2-year college degree and 3 or more years of related experience; or a 4-year college degree and at least 1 year of related experience.
• Supervisory experience required.
• The ability to demonstrate exceptional Customer Service Skills.
• Must be proficient in Windows and Microsoft Office.
• Able to work long hours as sometimes required.
• Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor at all times.
• Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all level of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service oriented manner.
• Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.
• Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
• Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service-oriented manner.
• Attend all hotel required meetings and trainings.
• Participate in M.O.D. coverage as required.
• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotel Standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.
• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming.
• Comply with Highgate Hotel Standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.
• Maximize efforts towards productivity, identify problem areas and assist in implementing solutions.
• Must be effective in handling problems, including anticipating, preventing, identifying and solving problems as necessary.
• Must be able to understand and evaluate complex information, data, etc. from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.
• Opera Cloud experience preferred.
• Perform other duties as requested by management.