Hire The Right Restaurant Greeter or Host

The greeter or host is the first contact person a dining guest meets when they walk into your restaurant.

They are the first impression of your restaurant and should look the part.

They Are The Middleman Between Customers And The Kitchen

The host deals with people with a lot of potentially tricky questions.

How long until our table is open?

Why isn’t my to-go order ready?

I have two last-minute additions to my reservation, can they join us?

Will they be able to handle the occasionally stressed-out guest with professionalism and grace?

That’s usually is not a trait you’ll be able to teach somebody, either they either have it, or they don’t!

You can’t teach them to have a positive attitude when a customer is screaming at them because they’ve had to wait ten minutes longer than promised. It’s not a skill like training them to use the computer’s PPO System.

Top Ten Qualities To Look For  In A Greeter Or A Host

1. Friendly– Can make customers feel important and comfortable at the same time

2. Confident– A Host needs to speak with conviction! They need to assure guests throughout their experience. A sure host won’t take things personally under challenging situations.

3. Sharp– The host controls the flow of the restaurant! They should be aware of what is going on in the restaurant at all times. Decisions must be made under pressure to accommodate each guest. Being able to remember return guests by name and even recall their favorite table and server.

4. Personable– Look for a host or hostess that is sincere and will leave a good and lasting impression.

5. Composed- There is a lot of constant change in seating arrangements, so a host needs to be able to adapt while staying calm and collected. They need to remain composed at all times – both in the face of stressed out waiters and unruly guests.

6. Well-spoken– The way a host speaks is crucial. A host should always come off as knowledgeable and polite at all times. Even if flustered, a host should never show it. This interviewing tactic is becoming a routine procedure- a phone interview before an in-person to test a candidate’s phone voice, as taking calls is an essential part of being a hostess.

7. Compassionate- The hospitality industry is about emotion and connecting with people’s emotions. When you make someone else happy, it’s one of the greatest feelings in the world.

8. Enthusiasm-Great hosts genuinely want to come to work each day and give their customers the best experience possible. When a host is excited and proud of their work, it shows in the service guests receive. 

9. Team Player- A host is much more than just a host – they could get called on to serve tables, bartend, manage, bus, or wash dishes. They should be ready to sacrifice for the good of the team. Look for candidates who thrive on multi-tasking.  If a server is running thin, a hostess should be able to make guests wait even if it means dealing with their resulting anger.

10. Polished–  A host should always sharp, neat, and clean. Hosts should be well-manicured and presentable.

As  I’ve been told by many times in my life, “There is never a second chance to make a first impression.”

Seek out the right personality, and they may fall into place as a great member of your restaurant team.

To learn more abou how to hire the right staff for your restaurant startup check out my FREE resource page.