FRONT OFFICE MANAGER

Job Purpose: To maintain a high quality of services offered to guests through management of the functional areas of reservations, guest registration, bell services, telephone services and guest accounting so as to maintain established operational standards and maximize profits of the hotel. Concierge and garage services may also report to this position.

Job Responsibilities:

• Supervise Front Desk staff: hiring, firing, performance evaluations, training, and development. Schedule staff according to labor standards and forecasted occupancy.
• Maintain standards of guest service quality. Contribute to the profitability and guest satisfaction perception of other hotel departments. Increase level of guest satisfaction by delivery of an improved product through employee development, job engineering and quality image.
• Achieve budgeted revenues and expenses and maximizes profitability related to the guest services department.
• Develop short term and long term financial and operational plans for the guest service department which relate to the overall objectives of the hotel. Participate in the preparation of the annual hotel budget.
• Manage the reservation function to maintain highest possible room occupancy and average daily rate through suggestive selling by employees.
• Maintain procedures for credit control and handling of financial transactions, security of monies, guest security and emergency procedures.
• Receive departmental related guest complaints and ensures corrective action is taken.
• Ensure staff uses guest interaction skills. Reward employees who meet/exceed guest expectations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Skills:

• Analyze and interpret business records and statistical reports; interpret policies established by administrators.
• Use mathematical skills to interpret financial information and prepare budgets.
• Understand the government regulations covering business operations.
• Make business decisions based on production reports and similar facts, experience, and opinion.
• Plan and organize the work of others.
• Change activity frequently and cope with interruptions.

Management Activities:

• Interview, select and train associates
• Set and adjust associates’ rates of pay and hours of work
• Direct the work of associates
• Appraise associates’ productivity and efficiency for purpose of recommending promotions or other changes in status
• Handle associate complaints
• Discipline associates
• Plan the work
• Determine the techniques to be used
• Apportion the work among associates
• Determine types of materials, supplies, machinery, equipment/tools used or merchandise to be bought, stocked & sold
• Control the flow and distribution of materials or merchandise and supplies
• Provide for the safety and security of the employees or the property
• Plan and control the budget
• Customarily and regularly direct the work of at least 2 or more full-time associates or their equivalent (1 full-time associate at 40 and 2 half-time associates at 20 hours each, are equivalent to 2 full-time associates).
• Authority to hire or fire other associates, or makes suggestions and recommendations as to the hiring, firing , advancement, promotion or any other change of status of other associates are given particular weight.

Discretion & Independent Judgment:

• Develops financial and operational plans for the guest service department which relate to the overall objectives of the hotel.
• Participates in the preparation of the annual hotel budget.
• Develops operational plans for the guest service department which relate to the overall objectives of the hotel.
• Maintains procedures for credit control and handling of financial transactions.
• Develops short term and long term financial and operational plans for the guest service department which relate to the overall objectives of the hotel. Participates in the preparation of the annual hotel budget.
• Supervises Front Desk staff. Receives departmental related guest complaints and ensures corrective action is taken.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to speak and hear in English. Close and distance vision. Frequently lifts/carries up to 25 lbs. Continual use of manual dexterity and gross motor skills with frequent use of bi-manual dexterity and fine motor skills.
• Additional physical & visual requirements
• Stand for long periods of time
• Walk extended distances
• Lift/carry 6-25 lbs.
• Reach hands and arms in any direction
• Able to work overtime and irregular hours

Working Conditions:

Continually works in normal office conditions and in close proximity to others.

Education - Bachelor’s Degree in Management, Hotel Administration, Business or related field.

Experience - Minimum 1 year experience on night audit, 2 years experience in front desk operations, and 1 year experience in either direct sales or retail trade; OR, an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Licenses/Certifications - N/A