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Maitre d’Hotel

Kaiwhakarite Hōtera

Maitres d'hotel oversee the service of food and beverages to guests in restaurants and other eating places. They also check reservations, greet guests and supervise the waiting staff.

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Secondary education

There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a maitre d’hotel. However, home economics (food and nutrition) and English are useful.

Study fields

Study levels

  • Up to NCEA Level 3
  • Certificate

Useful experience

Useful experience for maitres d'hotel includes any customer service work in the hospitality, tourism or retail industries.

What you will do

Maitres d'hotel may do some or all of the following:

  • receive and confirm reservations
  • supervise waiters, waitresses and wine stewards
  • train new staff
  • hold pre-service briefings with staff
  • liaise with kitchen staff about specials and menu changes
  • allocate table sections for service
  • ensure tables are set correctly
  • greet and seat guests
  • offer and serve drinks to guests
  • deal with any problems that may arise
  • check bills
  • order stock
  • organise the clean-up and closing of the restaurant.

Depending on the restaurant, maitres d'hotel may also do cashing up and other accounts work.

Skills and knowledge

Maitres d'hotel need to have:

  • waiting skills
  • knowledge of table service and menu items
  • barista (coffee-making) skills
  • wine knowledge
  • bar service skills.
Pay

Maitres d’hotel earn an average of

$27

per hour

Job opportunities
Good
Chances of getting a job as a maitre d'hotel are good due to a shortage of workers.

Industry

Hospitality

Maitres d'hotel oversee the service of food and beverages to guests in restaurants and other eating places. They also check reservations, greet guests and supervise the waiting staff.

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

There are no specific entry requirements to become a maitre d'hotel.

If you're working in a cafe or restaurant that serves alcohol, you may be required to hold a General Manager's Certificate. To apply you must be over 20 years old and hold a Licence Controller Qualification (LCQ).

Maitres d'hotel gain skills on the job, but there may be opportunities to work towards different hospitality qualifications.

Chances of getting a job

Good demand for maitres d'hotel

Job opportunities for maitres d'hotel are good because low unemployment and an increase in job vacancies means there is a shortage of people available to do this role.

Types of employers varied

Maitres d'hotel work for:

  • hotels
  • restaurants
  • private clubs
  • cocktail lounges.

Find out more about training

Hospitality New Zealand
0800 500 503 - info@hospitality.org.nz - www.hospitality.org.nz
Restaurant Association of New Zealand
0800 737 827 - info@restaurantnz.co.nz - www.restaurantnz.co.nz
ServiceIQ
0800 863 693 - intel@serviceiq.org.nz - www.serviceiq.org.nz

Progression and specialisations

Maitres d'hotel may progress to work in roles such as cafe/restaurant manager or event manager, especially in larger restaurant and hotel chains.

Many hotels have training programmes that rotate employees through a number of different roles.

Working conditions

Maitres d'hotel:

  • usually work irregular and long hours, often during the evenings and weekends
  • often have to be on call when they are not working
  • work in hotels, restaurants, cafes or other eating places
  • work in conditions that may be noisy, hot and stressful.

Physical Requirements

Maitres d'hotel need to be reasonably fit and healthy as they spend long periods on their feet.

Useful personal qualities

Maitres d'hotel need to have:

  • a reliable work ethic
  • a polite, friendly nature
  • confidence when dealing with others
  • good communication skills
  • the ability to lead and motivate staff
  • the ability to make decisions under pressure
  • strong attention to detail.

Industry

Hospitality

Maitres d'hotel oversee the service of food and beverages to guests in restaurants and other eating places. They also check reservations, greet guests and supervise the waiting staff.

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