Founding Team Host

Chetola Resort • Blowing Rock, NC

17d • Onsite

About The Position

Haven is a new chef-driven restaurant in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, seeking founding front-of-house team members. Backed by Chetola Resort, Haven offers the excitement of a new opening with the stability of an established hospitality destination. This role is more than a typical host position; it's an opportunity to join before opening and help shape the guest experience, service standards, systems, culture, and identity from the ground up. Founding team members will be instrumental in bringing the concept to life and setting the standard for future employees. Haven's menu is rooted in Appalachian cuisine, showcasing hyper-seasonal ingredients from local farms and producers through a small plates and tasting menu experience, inspired by global culinary traditions and modern techniques. The host position at Haven emphasizes exceptional hospitality, starting with a genuine welcome, remembering names, responding to special requests, maintaining a calm presence, and anticipating guest needs. The front door is where every dining experience begins and ends, and the host is the first and last impression, creating an atmosphere where guests feel welcomed, valued, and eager to return. The ideal candidate brings warmth, professionalism, curiosity, composure under pressure, strong attention to detail, and a passion for taking care of others, with the understanding that the restaurant will provide training and development.

Requirements

• Previous host, restaurant, hotel, guest service, retail, or hospitality experience preferred
• Genuine warmth and a natural desire to make people feel welcome
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• A polished, professional, and approachable presence
• The ability to remain calm, gracious, and solutions-oriented under pressure
• Strong organization and attention to detail
• The ability to manage multiple priorities without losing sight of the guest experience
• Comfort communicating with guests in person and by phone
• Good judgment and the ability to handle sensitive guest situations with discretion
• Curiosity about food, beverage, hospitality, and the story behind the restaurant
• The ability to learn and confidently communicate detailed information about the restaurant experience
• A collaborative mindset and respect for both front- and back-of-house teammates
• Reliability, accountability, and a strong work ethic
• Comfort receiving feedback and a genuine desire to improve

Nice To Haves

• Experience in fine dining, tasting menu, farm-to-table, luxury hospitality, or other chef-driven restaurants is a plus
• Candidates from hotels, resorts, guest services, retail, events, and other hospitality-focused environments who have a natural ability to connect with people and stay composed in a fast-moving setting are welcome.

Responsibilities

• Create a warm, genuine, and memorable first and final impression for every guest
• Welcome guests with confidence, professionalism, and authentic hospitality
• Manage reservations, walk-ins, waitlists, and special requests with accuracy and care
• Thoughtfully coordinate seating to support guest preferences, reservation timing, server sections, and the overall flow of the dining room
• Maintain awareness of table status, pacing, turn times, and service progression throughout the restaurant
• Communicate accurate wait times and proactively keep waiting guests informed
• Review reservations and guest notes in advance to anticipate birthdays, anniversaries, dietary considerations, accessibility needs, VIPs, and other special occasions
• Answer phone calls and respond to guest questions with warmth, confidence, and accurate information
• Develop strong knowledge of the restaurant concept, menu, beverage program, ingredients, sourcing, and overall guest experience
• Explain the restaurant and dining experience in a way that is engaging, approachable, and never scripted
• Recognize returning guests and help build meaningful guest relationships over time
• Coordinate closely with servers, bartenders, support staff, culinary teams, and restaurant leadership
• Communicate guest preferences, special requests, and service opportunities clearly to the appropriate team members
• Help manage the arrival experience during peak periods with calm, organization, and professionalism
• Maintain a clean, organized, polished, and welcoming entrance and host area
• Assist with menus, reservation notes, guest communications, and other front-of-house details
• Participate in pre-opening training, menu tastings, mock services, and ongoing hospitality education
• Provide thoughtful feedback as reservation systems, seating strategies, service standards, and guest experience procedures are developed and refined
• Uphold the highest standards of hospitality, professionalism, discretion, and guest care

Benefits

• Opportunities for advancement as the restaurant grows
• In-depth menu, ingredient, beverage, and hospitality education
• Access to exceptional local and regional products and producers
• A professional restaurant environment focused on hospitality, learning, excellence, and teamwork
• Meaningful input into the systems, standards, and culture we build together
• Ongoing opportunities to deepen your knowledge of restaurant operations and hospitality
• The opportunity to develop valuable skills in reservations, guest relations, dining room pacing, and service coordination
• Scheduling practices designed to support work-life balance whenever operationally possible
• The opportunity to be part of a new restaurant from the very beginning

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed