Sommelier, Restaurant R’evolution

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental & Vision Insurance

HSA with Company Match

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Vacation & Sick Time

Parental Leave

Life Insurance

Short-Term & Long-Term Disability

Hospital Indemnity & Critical Illness

Educational Assistance

Hotel Discounts

Employee Perks

Job summary

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation in New Orleans is seeking a passionate Sommelier to curate and deliver elevated wine experiences across our dining outlets and events. You’ll work closely with Culinary and Food & Beverage teams to design pairing menus, educate guests, and drive beverage sales while ensuring guest satisfaction.

The role demands wine knowledge, guest engagement, and a hospitality mindset. Evening and weekend availability is required to support high-end service moments.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of wine regions, varietals, food pairings, wine service standards, and beverage trends.
• Excellent communication, storytelling and guest engagement skills.
• Ability to drive beverage sales and create elevated guest experiences.
• Flexible availability including evenings, weekends, holidays, and event support.

Responsibilities

• Curate and manage hotel wine programs, wine lists, and beverage offerings across restaurants, bars, lounges, banquets, and special events.
• Provide elevated guest service by recommending wine pairings and educating guests on selections.
• Partner with Culinary and Food & Beverage teams to develop pairing experiences and seasonal offerings.
• Train and support restaurant and beverage teams on wine knowledge, service standards, and upselling opportunities.
• Maintain wine inventory, ordering, storage, rotation, pricing, and cellar management.

Education

Court of Master Sommeliers or equivalent

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

At Sonesta, exceptional dining experiences are all about the details — and the right wine experience can elevate a meal into something unforgettable. As a Sommelier, you’ll curate and deliver elevated wine and beverage experiences while helping guests discover pairings, flavors, and moments they’ll remember long after their stay. This role is perfect for someone who’s passionate about wine, hospitality, guest engagement, and creating sophisticated yet approachable dining experiences. You’ll work closely with Culinary, Food & Beverage, and restaurant teams to manage wine programs, support service excellence, and drive beverage sales and guest satisfaction across the hotel’s dining outlets and events. If you’re knowledgeable, service-driven, and passionate about hospitality and wine culture — we’d love to meet you.

What you’ll be doing

• Curate and manage hotel wine programs, wine lists, and beverage offerings across restaurants, bars, lounges, banquets, and special events.
• Provide elevated guest service by recommending wine pairings, educating guests on selections, and creating memorable dining experiences.
• Partner closely with Culinary and Food & Beverage teams to develop food and wine pairing experiences, seasonal offerings, and specialty beverage programs.
• Train and support restaurant and beverage teams on wine knowledge, service standards, tasting notes, and upselling opportunities.
• Maintain strong knowledge of wines, vineyards, varietals, regions, vintages, spirits, and beverage trends.
• Monitor wine inventory, ordering, storage, rotation, pricing, and cellar management to maintain quality and profitability.
• Support beverage sales growth through upselling initiatives, wine dinners, tastings, promotions, and guest engagement opportunities.
• Ensure proper wine presentation, opening, decanting, serving, and storage procedures are consistently followed.
• Partner with vendors, distributors, and suppliers to source wines and maintain strong beverage partnerships.
• Assist with banquet functions, VIP experiences, private dining, weddings, and special events as needed.
• Follow responsible alcohol service guidelines, sanitation standards, and hotel operational procedures at all times.
• Help create an elevated, welcoming, and guest-focused atmosphere aligned with Sonesta’s People People culture.
• Any other duties as assigned.

Anticipated Pay Range & Additional Job Information

What great looks like:

• Previous Sommelier, beverage service, fine dining, restaurant, hotel, luxury hospitality, or Food & Beverage experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of wine regions, varietals, food pairings, wine service standards, and beverage trends.
• Court of Master Sommeliers, WSET, or equivalent wine certification preferred.
• Excellent communication, storytelling, and guest engagement skills with a warm and approachable service style.
• Ability to drive beverage sales and create elevated guest experiences through personalized recommendations.
• Strong organizational skills with experience managing wine inventory, ordering, and cellar operations preferred.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced hospitality and fine dining environment.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills with Culinary and Food & Beverage teams.
• Flexible availability including evenings, weekends, holidays, and event support as needed.
• A passion for hospitality, wine culture, guest experience, and creating memorable dining moments.

How we reward you

At Sonesta, we know showing up for our guests starts with showing up for our people. That means supporting your health, your financial future, and everything in between. Here’s a snapshot of what we offer:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with Company Match
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Paid Vacation & Sick Time
• Paid Parental Leave
• Company-Paid Life Insurance
• Company-Paid Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness & Accident Insurance
• Educational Assistance
• Sonesta Hotel Discounts (yes, you’ll want to use these)
• Additional Perks & Employee Discounts

Our Commitment to You

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.

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.