Host Publisher - NAIA

Brought to you by DineAmic Hospitality and situated along the Chicago River in River North, NAIA is a sweeping Greek-Levantine dining destination inspired by the culture, cuisine, and hospitality of the Mediterranean. Led by internationally acclaimed Chef Athinagoras Kostakos, NAIA features vibrant mezze, fresh seafood, wood-grilled specialties, and an expansive beverage program in a stunning indoor-outdoor waterfront setting. Host Publishers are hospitality professionals responsible for managing the guest reservation experience while creating exceptional first and last impressions for every guest. In addition to traditional host responsibilities, Host Publishers serve as experts in OpenTable, utilizing the platform to maximize seating efficiency, manage reservations strategically, recognize VIP and repeat guests, optimize table utilization, and support restaurant revenue. This position requires extensive experience with OpenTable or a comparable reservation platform, exceptional organizational skills, strong communication, and the ability to make real-time decisions in a fast-paced, high-volume restaurant environment. Successful Host Publishers understand that every reservation is an opportunity to build guest loyalty while ensuring smooth dining room operations and balanced service for the team. **Essential Responsibilities + Duties** - Greet every guest with warmth, professionalism, and genuine hospitality. - Serve as the primary administrator of the restaurant's OpenTable reservation system. - Manage reservations, walk-ins, waitlists, and seating assignments to maximize table utilization and guest satisfaction. - Maintain an accurate and organized reservation book while proactively adjusting seating plans throughout service. - Utilize OpenTable guest profiles to recognize VIPs, repeat guests, special occasions, dining preferences, allergies, and guest notes. - Coordinate VIP arrivals, special requests, large parties, and celebrations with managers and service staff. - Strategically seat guests to balance server sections while maintaining efficient dining room pacing. - Monitor reservation trends, table turns, and dining room flow to maximize covers without compromising the guest experience. - Communicate continuously with managers, servers, bartenders, and support staff regarding table availability, pacing, reservations, and guest needs. - Manage guest wait expectations professionally while identifying opportunities to reduce wait times. - Answer phones professionally and assist guests with reservations, modifications, carryout inquiries, and general restaurant information. - Resolve reservation issues, seating conflicts, and guest concerns with professionalism while escalating complex situations to management when appropriate. - Process carryout orders and payments according to company procedures. - Document event and large-party inquiries through the designated inquiry platform. - Maintain cleanliness and organization of the host stand, entrance, lobby, and waiting areas. - Support service staff during peak business periods to ensure smooth restaurant operations. - Promote the restaurant's rewards program and guest engagement initiatives when appropriate. - Complete opening, running, and closing side work. - Follow all company policies, sanitation guidelines, and hospitality standards. - Assist with additional responsibilities as assigned within the scope of the role. **Minimum Qualifications** - 2+ years of high-volume restaurant host or reservation management experience preferred. - Significant experience using OpenTable is required. - Demonstrated ability to manage high reservation volumes while maintaining exceptional guest service. - Experience with Toast POS preferred. - Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills. - Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions under pressure. - Availability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and other peak business periods. **Physical Demands + Work Environment:…