Photo of Cheeca Lodge and Spa, Islamorada, FL

Restaurant Host / Hostess

Cheeca Lodge and Spa

81801 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036

214 Room Hotel
Managed By Northwood Hospitality
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Compensation: NA, Full-Time

Job Description

Location: Cheeca Lodge and Spa, Islamorada, Florida Keys

Join our team at Cheeca Lodge and Spa, an exquisite resort nestled in the enchanting beauty of Islamorada, Florida Keys. We are looking for enthusiastic Part Time Hosts/Hostesses to welcome and make our guests feel cherished and at home in our renowned restaurant. If you have a passion for providing exceptional guest service and creating memorable dining experiences, we invite you to be a part of our exceptional team.

Job Responsibilities:

Guest Service

  • Greet and warmly welcome all guests to the restaurant, ensuring they feel valued and comfortable.
  • Maintain a clean and professional appearance at all times, upholding our resort's high standards.
  • Display a friendly, cheerful, and courteous demeanor, creating a positive atmosphere.
  • Respond to guest inquiries with accurate information and a positive attitude, ensuring guest satisfaction.
  • Promote the resort's amenities and services to guests using your personal knowledge and effective selling techniques.
  • Welcome and effectively address guest questions, issues, and complaints with the assistance of a supervisor as needed.

Preparation:

  • Set up the host stand, review the guest reservation book, and optimize the dining space to provide memorable guest experiences.
  • Maintain a station chart and cover count for the restaurant while understanding the workload capacity of each server to meet service standards.
  • Handle guest reservations and provide information regarding the restaurant or any other hotel amenity or service.
  • Inspect and maintain daily menus to ensure quality, condition, and appearance, gaining a comprehensive knowledge of all menu items and daily specials.
  • Assist with special projects such as menu changes and signage when required.
  • Ensure proper table setup and make minor adjustments as needed.
  • Examine each table for missing items and promptly remove any items that do not meet cleanliness standards.

Skills and Experience:

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • A commitment to maintaining a welcoming and inviting atmosphere.
  • Ability to handle guest inquiries and issues with professionalism and efficiency.
  • Must be authorized to work in the United States and provide documentation with 3 days of starting.

Benefits for Full-Time Employees:

  • 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching.
  • Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.
  • Comprehensive dental, health, and vision insurance.
  • Employee discounts at Northwood Hotels.
  • Flexible spending and health savings accounts.
  • Life insurance coverage.
  • Paid Time Off and 8 Paid Holidays

Join our dedicated team and become an integral part of the Cheeca Lodge and Spa family, where you'll contribute to creating unforgettable guest experiences in our beautiful resort setting.

Posted April 10, 2024

Cheeca Lodge and Spa

WELCOME TO CHEECA

A Legendary Tropical Hideaway

Since 1946 the historic Cheeca Lodge & Spa has enchanted guests with world-class fishing, exceptional accommodations, and gracious hospitality. Come experience this lush oceanfront retreat, considered the premier luxury resort in the Florida Keys.

The Legend of Our Grand Florida Keys Hotel Resort

You've found it...the crown jewel of Islamorada Florida Keys hotels. 

Hardy Keys pioneers called Conchs chose this very beach to carve out a tenacious living in the isolated beauty of the undiscovered Florida Keys. Here, they formed a Methodist congregation and built a two-room school house and a cemetery. Cheeca has preserved this Pioneer Cemetery, where members of the founding families of Islamorada are buried. You can explore it today; it is a designated historical site. The Angel with the Broken Wing watches over the grave of Etta Pinder, who died in 1914. Here lies the first footprint of Islamorada – "Purple Isle" in Spanish.

The early 1940's brought electricity and fresh water. Mrs. Clara Mae Downey from Olney, Maryland, opened the Olney Inn in 1946. She described this early bellwether of Cheeca as "different – rather comparable to the tropical estate of a gifted host." Clara's first guest was President Harry Truman, who cherished his time loafing around the pool and wondering amidst the resort's 22 quaint bungalows. 

Fast horses, high society and a healthy dose of Keys vivacity marked the reign of the Twitchell Family in the 1960's. Cynthia, better known as "Chee," was an heiress to the A&P grocery chain and owner of a top thoroughbred racing farm. "We took my nickname, combined it with my husband Carl's, and came up with "Cheeca," she recalled. The Twitchells completely refurbished the property, adding the main lodge, the oceanfront villas, tennis courts, golf course and Cheeca's trademark wooden fishing pier. Chee raised miniature tarpon and her beloved seahorses in the aquariums throughout the resort. "Suzy the Seahorse" became Cheeca's mascot and logo, gracing the resort's menus, brochures, towels and linens.

Avid outdoorsman and Coca Cola magnate Carl Navarre purchased Cheeca Lodge in 1976, hosting his Fortune 500 friends in for sunny days of sportfishing and golf. Celebrities flocked to the hotel and famous guests were reeling in giant bonefish right off the resort's pier. The "Sportfishing Capital of the World" was born, seducing wealthy adventurers from around the world.

In 2005, Cheeca Lodge underwent over $30 million dollars in renovations, restoring the property and its surrounding grounds to their original grandeur, ensuring that we will be a cherished destination for generations to come. Following a fire on New Year's Eve 2008, the Main Lodge was completely rebuilt once again, with a fabulous open-air lobby, a spectacular oceanfront banquet room with panoramic views, and an exclusive indoor / outdoor lounge area for club members.

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