Maître d'

Job description

We invite you to join the world of luxury hospitality at Fairmont Southampton as our new Maître d’. Reporting to the Director of Food & Beverage and Assistant Director of Food & Beverage, the Maître d’ is responsible for leading front-of-house service excellence and dining room operations across Fairmont Southampton’s food and beverage outlets. This role oversees the guest arrival experience, dining room operations, service standards, and team performance, ensuring each guest enjoys a seamless, personalized, and memorable dining experience. As a key ambassador of Fairmont and Accor brand standards, the Maître d’ balances guest service excellence, operational efficiency, team leadership, and financial performance while driving continuous improvement and revenue growth across all outlets. Key Responsibilities Guest Experience & Service Leadership Lead and oversee the guest welcome experience, including greeting guests, managing reservations, assigning tables, and ensuring smooth dining room flow. Maintain a strong presence on the floor during service to engage with guests, anticipate needs, and resolve concerns promptly and professionally. Ensure consistent delivery of Fairmont and Accor service standards across all outlets and service periods. Build guest loyalty by creating personalized, memorable dining experiences and handling feedback proactively. Outlet Operations & Performance Oversee daily operations of assigned food and beverage outlets, ensuring service efficiency, quality, and brand consistency. Balance operational, administrative, and colleague needs to support a high-performing, guest-focused environment. Monitor reservations, seating plans, and service pacing to optimize capacity, guest satisfaction, and revenue potential. Take ownership of hygiene, cleanliness, and safety standards within assigned outlets, actively leading and supporting periodic hygiene checks. Financial & Business Management Support the achievement of established financial, operational, and service targets through effective floor leadership and service execution. Support cost control initiatives, expense management, and revenue optimization strategies. Identify opportunities to maximize revenue through effective upselling, outlet promotions, special events, sporting events, and golf partnerships. Collaborate with marketing and leadership teams to ensure proper promotion and visibility of food and beverage offerings. Team Leadership & Development Recruit, train, coach, and develop service colleagues to deliver consistent service excellence. Train employees on POS usage, service procedures, LQA standards, and self-cashiering controls. Foster a positive, professional, and collaborative team culture aligned with Fairmont values. Provide ongoing performance feedback, guidance, and support to encourage growth and accountability. Systems, Standards & Collaboration Ensure full compliance with POS procedures, self-cashiering processes, and internal controls. Maintain close and effective working relationships with culinary, sales, events, marketing, finance, and other supporting departments. Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance service delivery, operational efficiency, and guest satisfaction. Perform other reasonable duties as required to support overall food and beverage operations. What will you bring to this role? To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions: · Experience Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in restaurant service at a managerial or supervisory level , preferably in a luxury hotel or high-volume environment. Proven experience managing dining room operations and leading service teams. Education Certification, diploma, or degree in Hospitality Management or a related field is an asset. Food safety certification required or willingness to obtain. Competencies, Knowledge & Skills Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills. Excellent organizational, administrative, and time-management abilities. Solid understanding of food, wine, and service standards. Demonstrated ability to control costs, manage expenses, and support financial targets. Full experience with self-cashiering and Micros or similar POS systems required. Strong communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Personal Attributes, Culture & Values Passionate about service excellence and guest satisfaction. Professional, confident, and calm under pressure. High level of initiative with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision. Adaptable to change and motivated to contribute to a dynamic, growing organization. Embrace the Fairmont brand promise and luxury in your role and in all your interactions. Foster an inclusive environment where every individual feels valued and respected Create an environment where colleagues are empowered, supported and recognized Drive top performance to achieve exceptional results Circumstances Flexibility to work varied shifts, including mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events. Ability to stand, walk, and actively manage the floor throughout service periods. Employee Benefits: Join our team and enjoy a range of exclusive colleague perks, including complimentary upgrades, extended stays, discounted stays across Fairmont & Raffles properties, special dining and wellness discounts, and added luxuries to enhance your experience. We believe in taking care of our team, ensuring that your hard work is rewarded with exceptional benefits. Add any other benefits relevant to your property. What’s in it for you? As part of Accor , a global hospitality leader with over 5,500 hotels worldwide, you’ll enjoy: Opportunities for growth and development , mentorship, and international mobility Health insurance , retirement savings plans , and comprehensive wellness programs Worldwide travel discounts and preferred rates across the Accor portfolio A supportive, inclusive culture grounded in respect , teamwork , and professional development Start your journey with us today and explore the possibilities! #BeLimitless Our Values Respect: We value the needs, ideas and individuality of others. We treat everyone with fairness and dignity. Excellence: We make genuine connections, and we cherish every opportunity to make the people around us feel special. Belonging: We celebrate our differences. We support each other and we always stand together. Empowerment: We have authority to take initiative and anticipate moments that create unforgettable experiences. Integrity: We build trust through mutual respect and being authentic. Your team and working environment: Fairmont Southampton is a premier luxury resort and regarded as a leader in the hospitality industry. Our mission is to turn moments into memories for our Guests. An exciting hospitality career awaits you if you are committed to providing our Guests with an authentically local experience through providing warm and engaging service. Our Heartists work cohesively as part of the team in a demanding, multi-cultural diverse environment. Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: Fairmont is committed to creating an inclusive environment where diverse talent thrives. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join our team Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Join a dynamic team and be part of a network of 90 spectacular properties, and 34 more in the pipeline, in 30 countries around the globe. Our properties are located from the beaches of Hawaii to the unspoiled national parks of Canada, to the heart of London, to the deserts of the United Arab Emirates. About Fairmont Southampton Are you ready to join a team that thrives on excellence and embraces limitless potential? Fairmont Southampton, Bermuda’s largest resort, invites exceptional individuals to be part of our award-winning team and shape the future of hospitality. Following a multi-million-dollar renovation, our 593-room resort is Bermuda's largest, featuring nine restaurants, a 30,000-square-foot spa, an 18-hole par three golf course and a captivating Beach Club. Opportunities for growth and success are boundless. Our culture emphasizes respect, teamwork, and professionalism, supported by comprehensive benefits. Join our diverse and inclusive team, where your unique talents and perspectives are celebrated. Dare to go beyond the ordinary, unlock your potential and make a lasting impact at Fairmont Southampton. Together, let's create memories that exceed expectations. #BeLimitless About the Application Process: At Fairmont, we want to bring out your highest potential. Shortly after applying, you will receive an email from our partner AssessFirst prompting you to create a profile and complete a questionnaire. This is a mandatory step for your candidacy to be considered as it enables us to explore your compatibility with this role and our culture of luxury excellence.