VIP/Guest Relations Manager

Wish You Were Here Group; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Élephante Dallas is seeking a polished VIP & Guest Relations Host to shape the guest experience at our new Dallas location.

The role requires welcoming guests with warmth, recognizing VIPs, and cultivating enduring relationships within Dallas’s hospitality and social scenes. You will manage reservations, seating priorities and discreetly protect guest privacy in a fast-paced setting.

Qualifications

• Two+ years in VIP relations or luxury hospitality.
• Experience in high-volume, fine-dining environments.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a warm, polished welcome to every guest.
• Recognize VIPs, regulars, notable guests and special-occasion parties upon arrival.
• Build relationships with local tastemakers, hotel concierges and other influential guests.
• Learn guest profiles and preferences and maintain accurate notes.
• Proactively identify potential Élephante regulars.
• Coordinate VIP reservations and personalized experiences.
• Maintain discretion and protect guest privacy.
• Partner with host, reservations and management to deliver a seamless arrival experience.
• Review reservations and VIP notes before each shift; balance VIP priorities.
• Communicate accurate wait times; handle seating delays diplomatically.
• Coordinate with managers, servers, security and other teams on arrivals and arrangements.
• Ensure departures are acknowledged and greetings reinforce relationships.
• Help develop relationships with luxury hotels, buildings and lifestyle partners.
• Represent the brand professionally at approved community events.

Skills

VIP relations

Luxury hospitality

Guest-facing

Event coordination

Tools

SevenRooms

OpenTable

Resy

Job description

Reports to:General Manager and Director of VIP & Guest Relations

Employment Type:Full-Time

Schedule:Evenings, weekends, holidays and key events required

Instagram: @elephante @wishyouwerehere

Position Overview

Élephante Dallas

Location:Dallas, Texas

Department:Operations / Guest Relations

Reports to:General Manager and Director of VIP & Guest Relations

Employment Type:Full-Time

Schedule:Evenings, weekends, holidays and key events required

Instagram: @elephante @wishyouwerehere

Élephante is seeking a polished, energetic and highly connected VIP & Guest Relations Host to help shape the guest experience at our new Dallas location.

Élephante is seeking a polished, energetic and highly connected VIP & Guest Relations Host to help shape the guest experience at our new Dallas location.

This role extends well beyond a traditional host position. The VIP & Guest Relations Host will serve as a visible ambassador for Élephante, welcoming guests with warmth, recognizing and cultivating VIP relationships, assisting with strategic seating and ensuring every arrival and departure feels personal and effortless.

The ideal candidate understands Dallas’s hospitality, entertainment, fashion, business and social communities. They possess excellent judgment, natural charisma and the ability to make every guest feel recognized—whether they are a longtime VIP, a first-time visitor or someone celebrating an important occasion.

Key Responsibilities

• VIP and Guest Relations
  • Deliver a warm, polished and personalized welcome to every guest.
  • Recognize VIPs, regulars, notable guests and special-occasion parties upon arrival.
  • Build meaningful relationships with local tastemakers, community leaders, business executives, hotel concierges and other influential guests.
  • Learn and maintain accurate guest profiles, including preferences, seating history, important dates and relevant service notes.
  • Proactively identify guests with the potential to become loyal Élephante regulars.
  • Conduct thoughtful follow-up with VIPs and key guests following their visits.
  • Assist with VIP reservations, special requests and personalized experiences.
  • Maintain discretion and protect the privacy of all guests.
    

Door and Reservation Management

• Partner with the host, reservations and management teams to deliver a seamless arrival experience.
• Maintain a confident, composed and welcoming presence at the door during high-volume service periods.
• Review reservations, VIP notes, special occasions and priority guests before each shift.
• Assist management with strategic table assignments while balancing VIP priorities, reservation commitments and operational needs.
• Communicate accurate wait times and manage guest expectations with professionalism and care.
• Handle difficult conversations, reservation challenges and seating delays calmly and diplomatically.
• Coordinate discreetly with managers, servers, security and other team members regarding guest arrivals and special arrangements.
• Ensure guest departures are acknowledged and use farewell interactions to strengthen relationships.
  

Relationship Development and Outreach

• Help build and maintain Élephante Dallas’s VIP and local guest database.
• Conduct approved outreach to priority guests regarding reservations, events, new offerings and special experiences.
• Support the development of relationships with luxury hotels, residential buildings, membership clubs, corporate offices and lifestyle partners.
• Identify opportunities to introduce new guests to the restaurant while protecting the quality and integrity of the brand.
• Partner with the marketing and events teams on openings, special events, cultural moments and strategic guest-list development.
• Represent Élephante professionally at approved community and industry events.
  

Service and Brand Standards

• Embody Élephante’s standards of warmth, confidence, sophistication and genuine hospitality.
• Remain knowledgeable about the menu, beverage program, restaurant layout, hours of operation and current events.
• Communicate guest preferences and important information clearly to the service and management teams.
• Monitor the guest experience throughout the restaurant and alert management to any concern or opportunity for recognition.
• Assist in resolving guest issues promptly, discreetly and thoughtfully.
• Maintain professional grooming, wardrobe and presentation standards at all times.
• Participate in pre-shift meetings, training sessions and ongoing guest-relations initiatives.
  

Qualifications

• Two or more years of experience in VIP relations, luxury hospitality, nightlife, fine dining, high-volume restaurants, hotels or a comparable guest-facing environment.
• Existing knowledge of the Dallas market and its hospitality, social, business and cultural communities strongly preferred.
• Naturally warm, confident and engaging personality.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong memory for names, faces, preferences and personal details.
• Excellent judgment, emotional intelligence and situational awareness.
• Ability to remain composed and gracious in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Skilled at balancing VIP expectations with fairness, operational realities and the overall guest experience.
• Comfortable communicating by phone, text, email and reservation-platform messaging.
• Experience with reservation and guest-management systems such as SevenRooms, OpenTable or Resy is preferred.
• High level of discretion when working with celebrities, executives, public figures and other notable guests.
• Reliable, punctual and available to work evenings, weekends, holidays and special events.
• Must meet all applicable legal requirements for employment in Texas.
  

What Success Looks Like

Success in this position will be measured through:

• VIP and priority-guest recognition.
• Quality and accuracy of guest profiles and preference notes.
• Growth in repeat visits from key guests and local regulars.
• Responsiveness to VIP reservation requests and outreach.
• Guest feedback and recovery outcomes.
• Strength of relationships developed within the Dallas community.
• Seamless communication with reservations, management and service teams.
• Consistent representation of Élephante’s hospitality and brand standards.
  

Ideal Personal Qualities

The successful candidate will be:

• Warm without being overly familiar.
• Confident without being intimidating.
• Socially aware and naturally observant.
• Organized, responsive and detail-oriented.
• Discreet and trustworthy.
• Resourceful when solving guest requests.
• Collaborative and respectful toward every department.
• Passionate about creating memorable experiences and building long-term relationships.
  

Physical and Scheduling Requirements

• Ability to stand and move throughout the restaurant for extended periods.
• Ability to work in a busy, high-energy environment.
• Availability during peak evening hours, weekends, holidays, restaurant events and high-profile services.
• Ability to use mobile devices, reservation systems and other guest-management technology throughout a shift.
  

About Élephante

Élephante is a coastal Italian-inspired dining destination created by Wish You Were Here Group. Known for its transportive atmosphere, vibrant energy and elevated yet approachable hospitality, Élephante brings together thoughtful food, expressive cocktails, design and culture to create an experience that extends beyond the dining table.

The Dallas location will introduce the Élephante experience to one of the country’s most dynamic hospitality markets, with the VIP & Guest Relations Host playing an essential role in building its community from opening day.

Equal Opportunity

• Wish You Were Here Group is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all employees.