Front Office Manager

Highgate Hotels•Arlington, VA

18h

About The Position

The Front Office Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of Guest Services, Concierge, and Night Audit to ensure service is delivered in an attentive, friendly, efficient, and courteous manner. This role is accountable for providing an exceptional guest experience before arrival, throughout the stay, and upon departure, while maintaining the highest service standards. The Front Office Manager works collaboratively with hotel leadership to maximize room revenue and occupancy through effective operational control, service recovery, team leadership, and brand standard compliance.

Requirements

At least 5 years of progressive experience in a hotel or a related field; or a 2-year college degree and 3 or more years of related experience; or a 4-year college degree and at least 1 year of related experience.
Supervisory experience required.
The ability to demonstrate exceptional Customer Service Skills.
Must be proficient in Windows and Microsoft Office.
Able to work long hours as sometimes required.
Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor at all times.
Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all level of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service oriented manner.
Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.
Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service-oriented manner.
Attend all hotel required meetings and trainings.
Participate in M.O.D. coverage as required.
Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotel Standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.
Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, which include wearing nametags.
Comply with Highgate Hotel Standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.
Maximize efforts towards productivity, identify problem areas and assist in implementing solutions.
Must be effective in handling problems, including anticipating, preventing, identifying and solving problems as necessary.
Must be able to understand and evaluate complex information, data, etc. from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.
Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.
Perform other duties as requested by management.

Responsibilities

Respond to all guests’ requests, problems, complaints and/or accidents presented at the Front Desk or through reservations, comment cards, letters and/or phone calls, in an attentive, courteous and efficient manner.
Follow up to ensure guest satisfaction.
Motivate,train, counsel and discipline all Guest Services personnel according to Highgate Hotel S.O.P.'s.
Prepare and conduct all Guest Services interviews and follow hiring procedures according to Highgate Hotel S.O.P.'s.
Maximize room revenue and occupancy by reviewing status daily.
Analyze rate variance, monitor credit report and maintain close observation of daily house count.
Monitor selling status of house daily, i.e. flash report, allowances, etc.
Attend daily and monthly Rooms Merchandizing meetings.
Participate in required M.O.D. program as scheduled
Review Guest Services staff's worked hours for payroll compilation and submit to Accounting on a timely basis
Prepare employee Schedule according to business forecast, payroll budget guidelines and productivity requirements.
Ensure that no-show revenue is maximized through consistent and accurate billing.
Ensure that Wage Progress, Productivity and the Ten Day Forecast are completed on a timely basis according to Highgate Hotel S.O.P.'s.
Maintain a professional working relationship and promote open lines of communication with managers, employees and other departments.
Work closely with Accounting on follow-up items, i.e., returned checks, rejected credit cards, employee discrepancies, etc.
Operate all aspects of the Front Office computer system, including software maintenance, report generation and analysis, and simple programming.
Ensure staff greet and welcome all guests approaching the Front Desk in accordance with Highgate Hotel S.O.P.'s.
Ensure implementation of all Highgate Hotel policies and house rules.
Understand hospitality terms.
Ensure sign off of all Service Standards by Position for Guest Services staff.
Assist in preparation of revenue and occupancy forecasting.
Ensure logging and delivery of all messages, packages, and mail in a timely and professional manner.
Must maintain constant communication with all Departments
Coordinate all aspects of the ongoing implementation of the Highgate Hotel philosophy of service.
Ensure correct and accurate cash handling at the Front Desk.
Follow and enforce all Highgate Hotel credit policies.
Ensure that employees are, at all times, attentive, friendly, helpful and courteous to all guests, managers and other employees.
Establish and maintain key control system.
Ensure participation within department for monthly Highgate Hotel team meeting.
Focus the Guest Services Department on their role in contributing to the Guest Service and audit scores.
Monitor all V.I.P.'s, special guests and requests.
Maintain required pars of all front office and stationary supplies.
Review daily Front Office work and activity reports generated by Night Audit.
Review Front Office log book and Guest Request log on a daily basis.