Lead Host

Mystic Lake Casino Hotel•Prior Lake, MN

About The Position

The Lead Host, also known as the Maitre D' for this location, serves as the primary steward of the guest experience from arrival through departure. This new role oversees the host stand, reservations and walk-in guests, seating flow, hospitality standards, and a seamless front-of-house experience aligned with service expectations. The position focuses on guest flow, first impressions, and service orchestration. The Lead Host greets guests and personally welcomes VIP, returning, and special-occasion guests; monitors the dining room and escalates concerns; and partners with management on service recovery. The role manages reservations and walk-in flow, seating assignments, wait-time communication, and pacing to balance server sections, accommodate guest requests, avoid bottlenecks, and support kitchen flow. During service, the Lead Host directs host-stand coordination, gives hosts and servers in-the-moment direction, and keeps the host stand and entry area organized and guest-ready. The position collaborates with restaurant leadership on service execution, operational concerns, guest feedback, and shift communications. Occasional duties include cleaning restaurant areas, serving food, bussing tables, and monitoring guest-satisfaction feedback. The role requires evening, weekend, and holiday work, with flexibility to adjust hours for reservations, events, and operational needs.

Requirements

3–5 years of front-of-house experience in an upscale or fine-dining restaurant.
Prior experience as a Maître d’, Lead Host, or in a comparable elevated guest-facing role.
Strong knowledge of reservation systems and table-management best practices.
Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
Ability to remain calm and polished and demonstrate sound professional judgment in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
Ability to collaborate and influence without formal authority.
Organization and attention to detail in a service environment.
Availability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, with flexibility to adjust hours based on reservations, events, and operational needs.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a steakhouse is preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the first point of contact for guests and set a polished, welcoming tone.
Personally greet VIP, returning, and special-occasion guests.
Monitor the dining room experience and proactively escalate guest concerns.
Partner with management to execute service recovery when needed.
Manage the reservation system and walk-in flow to optimize seating, pacing, and table turns.
Coordinate seating assignments to balance server sections, accommodate guest requests, rotate large groups, avoid bottlenecks, and support kitchen flow.
Anticipate high-volume periods and adjust seating strategies accordingly.
Maintain accurate wait times and communicate them clearly to guests.
Lead the host stand during service and ensure hosts meet standards and expectations.
Provide in-the-moment direction to hosts and servers regarding seating priorities, special requests, accessibility needs, and break times.
Keep the host stand and entry area organized, professional, and guest-ready.
Partner with the Restaurant Manager and Assistant Restaurant Manager to support smooth service execution.
Escalate staffing, performance, or operational concerns appropriately.
Provide input on guest feedback trends and service opportunities.
Support pre-shift alignment and post-shift communication as requested.
Assist with cleaning front and back restaurant areas, serving food, and bussing tables as needed.
Monitor guest-satisfaction metrics or feedback.