Lobby Lounge Host

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica is seeking a guest-facing hospitality professional to deliver exceptional service in a luxury dining environment. You will be the heartbeat of the guest arrival experience, greeting guests, setting the tone, and ensuring they feel welcomed and valued from arrival.

Reporting to F&B leadership, you will manage seating, coordinate with the service team, handle reservations with OpenTable, and uphold Forbes 5-star standards and impeccable personal

Qualifications

• Previous Food & Beverage experience in an upscale or luxury environment required.
• Experience with POS and reservation systems required (OpenTable strongly preferred).
• Knowledge of the Los Angeles and Santa Monica dining scene required.
• Strong understanding of Forbes 5-star / LQA service standards.
• Ability to remain calm, poised, and professional under pressure.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Natural warmth, hospitality mindset, and guest-first attitude.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to read guest behavior and needs.

Responsibilities

• Greet guests within 5 feet and 5 seconds with eye contact, a warm smile and sincere welcome.
• Use guest names when known and introduce yourself to create a personal connection.
• Read guest cues to anticipate purpose of visit (celebration, business, leisure).
• Communicate guest preferences, milestones, and notes to the team.
• Escort guests to tables at a comfortable pace and provide seating assistance.
• Deliver thoughtful farewells, thanking guests personally and inviting return visits.
• Handle guest concerns with empathy, urgency, and ownership.
• Manage seating, reservations, and table pacing using OpenTable.
• Respond to reservation inquiries promptly and professionally.
• Book future reservations accurately, capturing guest preferences and details.
• Manage wait times transparently and provide comfortable waiting experiences.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of menus and notify management when replacements are needed.
• Ensure dining room remains visually polished and presentable.
• Assist with light table maintenance and support service staff.
• Maintain impeccable personal presentation and follow safety standards.

Skills

Guest service excellence

Calm under pressure

Strong communication

Guest-first mindset

Tools

OpenTable

POS systems

Job description

Company Description

Situated atop the scenic bluffs overlooking Santa Monica Beach, Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows is just a stone's throw away from some of Southern California’s best attractions including Santa Monica Pier and its historic carousel as well as Third Street Promenade -- famous for its fine restaurants, live entertainment, movie theatres, shopping, local artists' scene and a weekly farmer’s market.

Company Description

Situated atop the scenic bluffs overlooking Santa Monica Beach, Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows is just a stone's throw away from some of Southern California’s best attractions including Santa Monica Pier and its historic carousel as well as Third Street Promenade -- famous for its fine restaurants, live entertainment, movie theatres, shopping, local artists' scene and a weekly farmer’s market.

What Is In It For You

• Employee benefit card offering discounted rates in Accor worldwide for you and your family
• Learning programs through our Academies designed to sharpen your skills
• Ability to make a difference through our Corporate Social Responsibility activities, like Planet 21
• Career development opportunities with national and international promotion opportunities. The sky is your limit
• Pay Rate Range: $27.23-$34.04 USD Gross hourly

Job Description

Reporting to Food & Beverage Leadership, you are the heartbeat of the guest arrival experience. A genuine smile, cheerful energy, and graceful composure are essential. As the first point of contact, you set the tone for a luxury dining experience by ensuring every guest feels welcomed, recognized, and personally valued from the moment they arrive. Guest Experience & First Impressions

Guest Experience & First Impressions

What You Will Be Doing

• Greet every guest within 5 feet and 5 seconds with eye contact, a warm smile, and sincere welcome
• Use guest names when known and introduce yourself to create a personal connection
• Read guest cues to anticipate purpose of visit (celebration, business, leisure, etc.)
• Communicate guest preferences, milestones, and special occasions to the service team
• Escort guests to tables at a comfortable pace and provide gracious seating assistance when appropriate
• Deliver thoughtful farewells, thanking guests personally and inviting return visits
• Handle guest concerns with empathy, urgency, and ownership

Anticipatory & Personalized Service

• Review VIPs, reservations, and special occasions prior to service
• Communicate guest preferences, allergies, and notes to the team
• Update guest profiles in OpenTable after visits to enhance personalization
• Anticipate guest needs before they are requested (seating, accessibility, etc.)
• Maintain awareness of dining room atmosphere and guest flow at all times

Floor & Reservation Management

• Manage seating, reservations, and table pacing using OpenTable
• Respond to reservation inquiries promptly and professionally
• Book future reservations accurately, capturing guest preferences and details
• Manage wait times transparently and provide comfortable waiting experiences

Dining Room Presentation & Upkeep

• Maintain cleanliness and organization of menus and notify management when replacements are needed
• Ensure dining room remains visually polished throughout service
• Assist with light table maintenance and support service staff when needed
• Maintain impeccable personal presentation at all times
• Follow all service, safety, and sanitation standards

Qualifications

• Previous Food & Beverage experience in an upscale or luxury environment required
• Experience with POS and reservation systems required (OpenTable strongly preferred)
• Knowledge of the Los Angeles and Santa Monica dining scene required
• Strong understanding of Forbes 5-star / LQA service standards
• Ability to remain calm, poised, and professional under pressure
• Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities
• Natural warmth, hospitality mindset, and guest-first attitude
• Strong attention to detail and ability to read guest behavior and needs