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Casino Host
Casinos and casino hotels usually have a number of restaurants, each with its own personality and flavor. The casino or casino hotel restaurant Host or Hostess is responsible for giving customers their first impression of the restaurant. This person greets and welcomes customers. Functions include making sure that customers have a pleasant and enjoyable meal and ensuring that service is prompt and courteous. After the Host or Hostess greets customers, the individual escorts them to their seats and provides menus. Sometimes the restaurant is busy and the Host or Hostess takes the name and number of people in the party and puts the information on a waiting list. The individual informs the people the approximate time it will take for a table to be ready. He or she may also direct the customers to a lounge or other area to wait until their table is available. Other functions of the Host or Hostess may include:
- Answering the restaurant telephone
- Scheduling dining reservations
- Handling complaints of dissatisfied customers
- Organizing special services that may be required
- Acting as cashier
Salaries for Casino Host
Restaurant Hosts and Hostesses generally are paid an hourly wage ranging from approximately USD 7.00 to USD 12.00 per hour. In some dining establishments they receive tips. Individuals may have earnings of USD 15,000 to USD 35,000 or more depending on a number of factors, including the geographic location, size, and prestige of the specific casino or casino hotel. Other variables include the size, prestige, and type of restaurant, as well as if the person augments his or her income with tips.
Generally, Hosts or Hostesses working in fine restaurants have higher earnings than their counterparts working in other types of dining establishments.
Employment Prospects for Casino Host
Employment opportunities are abundant for restaurant Hosts and Hostesses. Individuals work various hours depending on the specific job. Casinos and casino hotels often feature a wide variety of restaurants, including fine dining restaurants, coffee shops, family-style restaurants, buffet-style restaurants, and ethnic eateries, among others.
Las Vegas, Reno, Laughlin, Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City, Biloxi, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Detroit offer the greatest number of job possibilities. Other employment settings include casino hotels in other areas of Nevada, Mississippi, New York, Louisiana, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Arizona, and California. Other regions hosting Indian gaming and land-based or riverboat gaming facilities offer additional opportunities. New casinos and casino hotels are constantly under construction. More casinos and casino hotels are opening every year as areas legalize gambling.
Advancement Prospects for Casino Host
Restaurant Hosts and Hostesses can climb the career ladder by locating similar jobs in better or more prestigious facilities. In larger establishments, they may also advance to supervisory jobs, including maitre d’hotel, dining room supervisor, or restaurant manager. Experience and/or additional training may be required.
Education and Training
Training requirements vary from job to job. Some jobs do not require any type of prior training, while others provide on-the-job training. Most restaurants in the casino and casino hotel industry prefer to hire high school graduates or those with the GED equivalent.
Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits
Experience requirements also vary. In some restaurants, this is an entry-level position. In others, prior experience in the hospitality, service, or food and beverage industries is required or preferred. Hosts and Hostesses should be friendly, well-spoken people with a neat and clean appearance. Customer service skills are mandatory. Individuals should also be organized and have the ability to prioritize.
Unions and Associations
Individuals interested in pursuing a career as a Host or Hostess should contact the National Restaurant Association (NRA) for more information.
Special Requirements
Depending on the specific state and facility in which an person works he or she may need to meet minimum age requirements, and also hold a TAM (Techniques of Alcohol Management) card and a valid health card from the local public health department.
Tips for Casino Host
1. Stop by human resources departments to inquire about job openings.
2. Check out openings in privately owned restaurants located in casino complexes.
3. Jobs are often advertised in the classified sections of newspapers in areas hosting gaming. Look under classifications such as “Host/Hostess,” “Restaurant Host/Hostess,” “Food Service,” “Casino Restaurant,” and “Casinos.”
4. Jobs may also be listed on casino job hotlines. These are frequently updated messages listing jobs available. You can call each casino directly to get its job hotline phone number.
5. Surf the net. Many casino Web sites list their job openings.