Index

Intro
Main Duties
Employment Requirements
All Titles
Exclusions

Intro

Maîtres d’hôtel and hosts/hostesses greet patrons and escort them to tables, and supervise and co-ordinate the activities of food and beverage servers. They are employed in restaurants, hotel dining rooms, private clubs, cocktail lounges and similar establishments.

Main Duties

Maîtres d’hôtel and hosts/hostesses perform some or all of 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 co-ordinate 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 dining establishment.

Employment Requirements

Completion of secondary school is usually required.
Several weeks of on-the-job training are usually required.
Maîtres d’hôtel require experience as a formal or captain waiter/waitress or other food service experience.

All Titles

chief host/hostess – food serviceschief host – food services, chief hostess – food services
dining room host/hostessdining room host, dining room hostess, host, dining room, hostess, dining room
host/hostess – restaurant or cocktail loungehost – restaurant or cocktail lounge, hostess – restaurant or cocktail lounge
host/hostess, dining room
host/hostess, food servicehost, food service, hostess, food service
host/hostess, restauranthost, restaurant, hostess, restaurant, restaurant host, restaurant hostess
maître d’
maître d’hôtel
restaurant host/hostess

Exclusions