Maîtres d'hôtel and Hosts/Hostesses

Nature of work

Maîtres d'hôtel and hosts/hostesses greet patrons and escort them to tables and supervise and coordinate the activities of food and beverage servers. They work for restaurants, hotel dining rooms, private clubs, cocktail lounges, and similar businesses.

Job duties

Maîtres d'hôtel and hosts/hostesses may perform the following duties:

• Receive and record patrons' reservations and assign tables.
• Greet patrons at entrance of dining room, restaurant, or lounge and escort them to tables or other seating areas.
• Speak with patrons to ensure satisfaction with food and service and attend to complaints.
• Order necessary dining room supplies and equipment.
• Inspect dining and serving areas and equipment.
• Supervise and coordinate activities of food and beverage servers and other serving staff.
• Accept payment from patrons for food and beverage.
• Maintain financial statements and records and ensure safe keeping.
• Prepare work schedules and payrolls.
• Interview candidates for food and beverage server positions and train new employees.
• May be responsible for marketing and advertising the business.

Sample job titles

• dining room host/hostess
• food service host/hostess
• maître d'
• restaurant host/hostess

Skills

• You should be friendly, well-spoken, well-groomed, and enthusiastic about the service. Good organizational and mathematical skills are necessary. You must be pleasant to both your customers and co-workers, even when working under pressure. Maîtres d'hôtel and hosts/hostesses are on their feet most of the time requiring physical fitness and stamina. For some positions, knowledge of a second language is an asset.

Job requirements

• High school is usually required.
• Several weeks of on-the-job training are usually required.

Other considerations

• These jobs are heavily influenced by tourism activity. Therefore, employment levels tend to vary throughout the year and peak in the summer months. Also, many job openings are created each year as workers in these positions change jobs. However, due to the limited entry requirements, there are often many people available to fill these positions. They may work 40 hours or more per week, and many are expected to work evenings, weekends, and holidays. Maîtres d'hôtel require experience as a formal or captain waiter/waitress or other food service experience.

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

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