Luxury Lobby Host: Warm Welcomes & Guest Experience

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

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