Host

Dawn Ranch Lodge; Guerneville (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Dawn Ranch Lodge in Guerneville, CA seeks an experienced Host to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere and manage seating for a refined dining experience.

You will greet guests, manage reservations and waitlists, and coordinate seating with the dining team to ensure smooth flow during peak periods.

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to handle difficult situations calmly and effectively.
• Basic computer skills and familiarity with POS/PMS systems.
• Able to provide a professional and welcoming demeanor at all times.
• Proven work experience, hotel level preferred.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Greet guests upon arrival with warmth and professionalism.
• Manage reservations, walk-ins, and waitlists efficiently using the restaurant’s booking system.
• Escort guests to tables and provide information about the dining experience and features.
• Communicate wait times accurately and manage guest expectations with tact.
• Coordinate seating with captains, sommeliers, and management to balance section flow.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of the host station and entrance area.
• Assist with phone and online reservation management.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Customer service

POS familiarity

Hospitality

Tools

POS/PMS systems

Job description

Job DetailsLevel: ExperiencedJob Location: Dawn Ranch Lodge - GUERNEVILLE, CA 95446Position Type: Full-Time/Part-TimeSalary Range: $18.00 - $19.00 HourlyTravel Percentage: NoneJob Category: Restaurant - Food Service

ABOUT US

Dawn Ranch is a natural preserve and boutique hotel destination nestled riverside at the edge of Guerneville in Sonoma’s wine-rich Russian River Valley. The cottage-style hotel and event venue offer an authentic, historic, and unique Sonoma wine country escape among 22 acres of ancient giant redwoods, native meadows, and vintage apple trees. The hotel also features unique wellness experiences including a premium spa which offers outdoor baths, massages, and body treatments. Other activities include yoga, meditation, and perfume-making. Dawn Ranch’s food program balances elevated cuisine with casual excellence, from fine dining at the Lodge overseen by Chefs Juliana Thorpe & Ignacio Zuzulich to picnics overlooking the roiling Pacific Ocean. Local ingredients from the fertile valley make our varied cuisine an emerging staple of Northern California fare. Dawn Ranch is the perfect destination to co-create luxury and inspiration in Sonoma.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Host is the first point of contact for guestsat The Lodge, responsible for creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere thatsetsthe tone for an exceptionalfinedining experience. This role requires polished interpersonal skills, impeccable professionalism, and the ability to manage seating efficiently whilemaintainingsmooth flow in the dining room.

Essential Duties:

• Able to greet guests upon arrival and provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
• Manage waitlists, including estimating wait times and updating guests on their status.
• Answer any phone calls and respond to online reservations, providing accurate information and availability.
• Providing menus, making recommendations, and answering questions about menu items and specials.
• Able to use repetitive hand and body motions such as grasping, writing, typing, listening, hearing, and visual acuity.
• Able to walk, including climbing stairs, and ladders, standing to a significant degree, kneeling, reaching, bending, lifting, feeling, talking, hearing, and see.
• Able to stand for long periods of time or for the duration of a shift.

Specific Requirements of this role:

• Warmly greet and welcome guests upon arrival with genuine hospitality and professionalism.
• Manage reservations, walk-ins, and waitlists efficiently using the restaurant’s booking system.
• Escort guests to their tables while providing information about the dining experience andspecial features.
• Communicate wait times accurately and manage guest expectations with tact and courtesy.
• Coordinate seating withCaptains, sommeliers, and management to maintain balanced section flow and optimal guest service.
• Monitor table turnover and availability to maximize seating capacity without compromising guest experience.
• Assist with managing the flow of guests during busy periods, ensuring smooth transitions and minimizing wait times.
• Serve as the face and voice of the restaurant by maintaining a polished and professional demeanor at all times.
• Respond promptly and courteously to guest inquiries, special requests, and concerns.
• Support team members by communicating guest preferences or special needs to relevant staff.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of the host station and entrance area.
• Assist with phone and online reservation management.
• Support opening and closing procedures as assigned by management.

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to handle difficult situations calmly and effectively.
• Basic computer skills and familiarity with POS/PMS systems.
• Able to provide a professional and welcoming demeanor at all times.
• Proven work experience, hotel level preferred.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays.

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind: Company is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Company are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Company will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics and encourages applicants of all ages.