Professional Summary
Accomplished Front-of-House Host with extensive experience coordinating dining room reception, guest flow, and VIP relations across high-volume fine dining and upscale hospitality venues in Cologne.
Recognized for optimizing table turnover, managing multi-station reservation platforms, and maintaining gracious hospitality standards during peak dinner services and private banquets.
Work Experience
Rheinterrasse Bellevue Gastronomie
Cologne
Lead Host & Reservation Coordinator
Apr 2019 – Present
- Direct front-of-house reception, seating allocations, and floor pacing for a 160-seat fine dining restaurant averaging 280 covers per evening.
- Oversee OpenTable and SevenRooms reservation books, balancing walk-in traffic with advance VIP bookings to sustain fluid table turnover.
- Liaise closely with kitchen leadership and head sommeliers regarding private dining buyouts, timing adjustments, and special dietary requests.
- Train and mentor junior hosting staff on professional greeting etiquette, floor awareness, and diplomatic guest recovery procedures.
Brasserie Domquartier
Cologne
Senior Restaurant Host
Aug 2013 – Mar 2019
- Managed evening welcoming operations and seating plans for an upscale 120-cover French brasserie in central Cologne.
- Handled high-volume reservation inquiries, private room bookings, and waitlist management during major trade fair periods.
- Collaborated with shift supervisors to resolve seating delays smoothly, maintaining high guest satisfaction ratings.
Hotel am Mediapark Gastronomie
Cologne
Front-of-House Host
May 2008 – Jul 2013
- Coordinated guest greeting, cloakroom reception, and table assignments for the hotel signature dining room and lounge.
- Maintained daily guest preference logs for hotel residents, corporate accounts, and regular international diners.
Education & Training
Alfred-Müller-Armack-Berufskolleg
Vocational Training Certificate (IHK) · Restaurant Management (Restaurantfachmann) · Cologne · Completed with Distinction · Aug 1990 – Jun 1993
Completed dual vocational training combining classical table service, dining room staging, beverage knowledge, and hospitality administration.
Selected Projects
Digital Table Management Transition
Feb 2021 – Jun 2021
- Led the front-of-house transition from manual ledger booking to an integrated digital reservation and guest-tagging platform.
- Configured customized floor maps and pacing guidelines that reduced average peak waiting times by 15%.
Core Competencies
Guest Reception & Greeting
Table Turnover Optimization
Reservation Systems (OpenTable, SevenRooms)
VIP & Concierge Relations
Queue & Waitlist Coordination
Dining Room Etiquette & Protocol
Event & Private Dining Reception
Guest Recovery & Conflict Resolution
Cross-Department Service Communication
Point of Sale (POS) Systems
Languages
German
C2
English
C1
French
B1
Certifications
Certificate in Food Hygiene and Safety (IfSG § 43)
Gesundheitsamt Köln · Feb 2019
Advanced Hospitality Service & Guest Communication
DEHOGA Nordrhein · Oct 2016
Community Involvement
Kölner Tafel e.V. Partner Network
Cologne · Mar 2020 – Nov 2023
- Hospitality Volunteer Coordinator
- Organized meal service intake, welcoming community members and maintaining orderly guest flow during weekend community meal programs.