Guest Arrival Expert (Bellstand) - Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch at Marriott International

POSITION SUMMARY

• First impressions are everything. When guests arrive at our hotels, we want that impression to be memorable. The same goes for departures. When guests leave, we want them to go with a smile and a feeling that we were there for them throughout their stay. We want to build an experience that is memorable and unique from start to finish.  Our Guest Arrival Experts take the initiative to deliver a wide range of services that guide guests through their arrival and departure experiences.  Open doors and assist guests/visitors entering and leaving property. Monitor and direct personal and commercial vehicle traffic on property, including guest vehicles, taxi cabs, limousines, and buses, to ensure vehicles are legally parked and to maintain a smooth and efficient flow of traffic. Monitor and maintain safety, security, and cleanliness of parking areas/levels, and report any vehicles/safety hazards, unauthorized personnel, or potential security problems to the manager/supervisor. Maintain security of vehicles and vehicle keys. Communicate parking procedures to guests/visitors. They are empowered to move about their space and do what needs to be done. Whether processing operational needs, addressing guest requests, completing reports, or sharing the highlights of the local area, services, and hours of operation, and local areas of interest and activities, the Guest Arrival Expert makes transactions feel like part of the experience. 
• Follow all company policies and procedures; report accidents, injuries, and unsafe work conditions to manager; complete safety training and certifications; maintain confidentiality of proprietary information; protect company assets. Welcome and acknowledge all guests according to company standards; anticipate and address guests’ service needs; assist individuals with disabilities; thank guests with genuine appreciation. Speak with others using clear and professional language; answer telephones using appropriate etiquette. Develop and maintain positive working relationships with others; support team to reach common goals. Comply with quality assurance expectations and standards. Stand, sit, or walk for an extended period of time or for an entire work shift. Move, lift, carry, push, pull, and place objects weighing less than or equal to 10 pounds without assistance. Perform other reasonable job duties as requested by Supervisors.
• No matter what position you are in, there are a few things that are critical to success – creating a safe workplace, following company policies and procedures, maintaining confidentiality, protecting company assets, upholding quality standards, and ensuring your uniform, personal appearance, and communications are professional.  Guest Arrival Experts will be on their feet and moving around (stand, sit, or walk for an extended time) and taking a hands-on approach to work (move, lift, carry, push, pull, and place objects weighing less than or equal to 50 pounds without assistance and objects weighing more than 75 pounds with assistance. Doing all these things well (and other reasonable job duties as requested) is critical for Guest Arrival Experts – to get it right for our guests and our business each and every time.

Safety and Security

• Follow property specific procedures for handling emergency situations (e.g., evacuations, medical emergencies, natural disasters).
• Maintain awareness of undesirable persons on property premises.
• Report work related accidents, or other injuries immediately upon occurrence to manager/supervisor.
• Identify and correct unsafe work procedures or conditions and/or report them to management and security/safety personnel.
• Follow company and department safety and security policies and procedures to ensure a clean, safe, and secure environment.
• Complete appropriate safety training and certifications to perform work tasks.

Guest Relations

• Actively listen and respond positively to guest questions, concerns, and requests using brand or property specific process (e.g., LEARN, PLEASED, Guest Response, LEAP, MYSTIQUE) to resolve issues, delight, and build trust.
• Address guests' service needs in a professional, positive, and timely manner.
• Anticipate guests' service needs, including asking questions of guests to better understand their needs and watching/listening to guest preferences and acting on them whenever possible.
• Assist other employees to ensure proper coverage and prompt guest service.
• Engage guests in conversation regarding their stay, property services, and area attractions/offerings, including social media where appropriate.
• Provide assistance to individuals with disabilities, including assisting visually, hearing, or physically-impaired individuals within guidelines (e.g., escorting them when requested, using words to explain actions, writing directions on paper, moving objects out of the way, or offering access to Braille or TDD phones).
• Thank guests with genuine appreciation and provide a fond farewell.
• Welcome and acknowledge each and every guest with a smile, eye contact, and a friendly verbal greeting, using the guest's name when possible.
• Stay up to date on the local area so that you are prepared to provide specific recommendations for guests.
• Communicate recommendations in a way that builds excitement and interest among guests and associates.
• Perform other reasonable duties as requested.
• Welcome and acknowledge each and every guest with a smile, eye contact, and a friendly verbal greeting, using the guest's name when possible.
• Thank guests with genuine appreciation and provide a fond farewell.

Working with Others 

• Support all co-workers and treat them with dignity and respect.
• Develop and maintain positive and productive working relationships with other employees and departments.
• Handle sensitive issues with employees and/or guests with tact, respect, diplomacy, and confidentiality.
• Partner with and assist others to promote an environment of teamwork and achieve common goals.

Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement

• Comply with quality assurance expectations and standards.

Physical Tasks

• Read and visually verify information in a variety of formats (e.g., small print).
• Move at a speed required to respond to work situations (e.g., run, walk, jog).
• Stand, sit, or walk for an extended period of time or for an entire work shift.
• Move, lift, carry, push, pull, and place objects weighing less than or equal to 50 pounds without assistance and objects weighing in excess of 75 pounds with assistance.
• Move over sloping, uneven, or slippery surfaces.
• Move up and down stairs and/or service ramps.
• Reach overhead and below the knees, including bending, twisting, pulling, and stooping.

Communications

• Speak to guests and co-workers using clear, appropriate and professional language.
• Discuss work topics, activities, or problems with coworkers, Managers, or managers discreetly and quietly, avoiding public areas of the property.
• Talk with and listen to other employees to effectively exchange information.
• Answer telephones using appropriate etiquette including answering the phone within 3 rings, answering with a smile in one's voice, using the callers' name, transferring calls to appropriate person/department, requesting permission before placing the caller on hold, taking and relaying messages, and allowing the caller to end the call.
• Provide assistance to coworkers, ensuring they understand their tasks.

Guest Services

• Arrange transportation (e.g., taxicab, shuttle bus) for guests/residents/visitors, and record advance transportation request as needed.
• Contact appropriate individual or department (e.g., Bell-person, Front Desk, Housekeeping, Engineering, Security/Loss Prevention) as necessary to resolve guest call, request, or problem.
• Follow up with guests to ensure their requests or problems have been met to their satisfaction.
• Manage access to technological devices within public spaces (e.g., television, remote control, computer, Internet, games, etc.) and provide basic troubleshooting assistance or refer to appropriate individual or department (e.g., Engineering, Security/Loss Prevention) as necessary.
• Contact appropriate individual or department (e.g., Bell-person, Front Desk, Housekeeping, Engineering, Security/Loss Prevention) as necessary to resolve guest call, request, or problem.

Policies and Procedures

• Maintain confidentiality of proprietary materials and information.
• Ensure uniform, nametags, and personal appearance are clean, hygienic, professional and in compliance with company policies and procedures.
• Protect the privacy and security of guests and coworkers.
• Protect company tools, equipment, machines, or other assets in accordance with company policies and procedures.
• Follow company and department policies and procedures.
• Perform other reasonable job duties as requested by Supervisors.

Greet/Escort Guests

• Supply guests/residents with directions and information regarding property amenities, services, and hours of operation, and local areas of interest and activities.
• Tag, store, and retrieve luggage from luggage storage, providing guests with proper claim tickets for their luggage.
• Open doors and assist guests/residents/visitors entering and leaving property.
• Monitor and direct personal and commercial vehicle traffic on property, including guest vehicles, taxi cabs, limousines, and buses, to ensure vehicles are legally parked and to maintain a smooth and efficient flow of traffic.

Parking

• Monitor and maintain safety, security, and cleanliness of parking areas/levels, and report any vehicles/safety hazards, unauthorized personnel, or potential security problems to the manager/supervisor.
• Maintain security of vehicles and vehicle keys.
• Communicate parking procedures to guests/visitors.