South Africa: Guest Relations & Events Coordinator – Upmarket Champagne Bar Rosbank Area posted by HotelJobs

As the Guest Relations & Events Coordinator, you will be the premier face, voice, and energy of an upscale restaurant and premium champagne bar. This is a multi-faceted, high-impact role within a tight-knit, dynamic management team. You will seamlessly bridge the gap between front-of-house excellence and behind-the-scenes coordination. Your primary mandate is two-fold: acting the ultimate hostess to welcome high-profile guests and VIPs, while proactively managing bookings, corporate event sales, and seamless event execution. You will ensure the venue remains the destination of choice in Johannesburgs luxury dining and nightlife scene. Core Responsibilities: Elite Guest Relations & Hosting (The Face) Premium Welcomes: Act as the primary host and Hostess/Matre D during peak service hours, ensuring an upscale, warm, and sophisticated welcome for all guests. Relationship Building: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with regular patrons, high-profile clients, influencers, and VIPs. Floor Management: Oversee the floor during events, serving as the go-to person for clients to ensure an “I have a person who has it handled” level of trust. Brand Ambassadorship: Maintain impeccable standards of personal grooming and presentation, reflecting the premium brand identity of the establishment. Reservation; Diary Management, System Ownership: Take full ownership of the restaurant and bars reservation systems (e.g., Dineplan, OpenTable, or internal POS). Capacity Optimization: Strategically manage seating charts and daily floor plans to maximize venue capacity and flow. Inbound Communication: Handle all incoming booking enquiries via phone, WhatsApp, and email with rapid, professional, and polished communication. Event Coordination & Sales Lifecycle Management: Manage the entire event lifecycle from initial enquiry and custom quoting to final close-out. Revenue Generation: Proactively drive group bookings, corporate lunches, private parties, and venue hires to ensure the space is consistently activated. Logistics: Develop detailed event timelines, run sheets, and floor logistics for every booking. Internal Collaboration: Collaborate closely with the Kitchen (Chef) and Floor (General Manager) to coordinate custom menus, beverage pairings, and staffing requirements. Brand Activation & Innovation Concept Brainstorming: Work alongside management to brainstorm and implement fresh concepts (e.g., themed supper clubs, luxury brand collaborations, champagne tastings, and DJ sessions). Market Awareness: Stay attuned to Johannesburg market trends to keep the venues entertainment and dining programming cutting-edge. Requirements & Qualifications Experience: 23 years of premium hospitality experience in an upscale restaurant, luxury hotel, or high-end event environment. Experience as a VIP Hostess, Matre D, or Event Coordinator is highly preferred. Systems: Proficiency in restaurant reservation platforms (e.g., Dineplan/OpenTable) and POS/Inventory systems. Communication: Top-tier verbal and written communication skills with an elegant, professional telephone and email manner. Education: Grade 12 Matric essential; a hospitality or event management qualification is highly advantageous. Mobility: Must possess a valid South African Drivers License and own reliable vehicle (essential for evening finishes). Key Attributes: A warm, charismatic, and confident personality with exceptional interpersonal skills. Highly organized with strong administrative capabilities and meticulous attention to detail. Ability to remain calm, poised, and solution-driven under high-pressure, fast-paced service conditions. Working Hours & Operational Schedule: This role requires a flexible schedule inherently tied to the hospitality industry. Standard working days will mostly be Wednesday through Sunday, with a rotation of nights, weekends, and public holidays as required by management and events.