A host's primary responsibility is to ensure that guests have a positive experience when they enter a restaurant.  Hosts are often the first person a guest sees, and they play a key role in setting the tone for the guest's entire dining experience. 

Here are some of the duties and responsibilities of a host:  

• Greeting guests:   Hosts welcome guests as they enter the restaurant and make them feel welcome  

   

   

• Managing reservations:   Hosts help guests with reservations and schedule reservations for large parties  

   

   

• Seating guests:   Hosts seat guests at tables and in the waiting area  

   

   

• Providing menus:   Hosts provide guests with menus and answer any initial questions  

   

   

• Estimating wait times:   Hosts provide accurate wait time estimates to incoming guests  

   

   

• Managing seating:   Hosts optimize seating to ensure even workload for wait staff  

   

   

• Answering phones:   Hosts answer incoming calls to the restaurant  

   

   

• Handling special requests:   Hosts tend to special guest needs and requests  

   

   

• Ensuring safety:   Hosts protect the establishment and patrons by adhering to sanitation, safety, and alcohol control policies  

   

   

• Helping wait staff:   Hosts help dining room staff by setting and clearing tables, replenishing water, and serving beverages  

   

   

Hosts should have strong interpersonal skills, a warm and friendly disposition, and excellent time management, communication, and organizational skills.