Head Butler

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

 

As the original house of luxury, St. Regis continues to redefine modern luxury through service. At the core is the Butler program, an icon to our heritage and the heart and soul of new luxury. It is high-touch, personalized, creative and original. It is brought to life by all talent but serving as the primary face to the program is our Butler team, who are the ultimate luxury ambassadors.

 

The Head Butler is a department head with responsibility for the successful functioning and delivery of our critical and differentiating butler services to guests. You set the tone for and are primarily accountable to providing a seamless face to the guest pre-arrival, during the guest stay and at departure. Butler services are accomplished by directly managing the Butler team – comprised of Butlers and Butler Valets – and strong coordination with other departments. The Head Butler leads by working to continually improve guest and associate satisfaction, and maximize the financial performance of the department.

 

While the St. Regis brand is steeped in history with roots that can be traced back to the early 1900s, every team member is part of a trailblazing future to redefine modern luxury through service. The Executive Butler’s success is rooted in a deep passion for service, uncompromising standards, leadership excellence, the ability to anticipate needs, impeccable interpersonal skills and technology skills to successfully lead the Butler program.

 

CANDIDATE PROFILE 

 

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED; 2 years of experience in butler services, guest relations, or related professional area; completion of a formal butler training program.

OR

• 2-year degree from an accredited university in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Hospitality, Business Administration, or related major; completion of a formal butler training program; no work experience required.

 

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES

 

Managing Butler Services

• Manages day-to-day butler services operations verifying that quality and standards exceed the expectations of guests on a daily basis. This includes all pre-arrival activities, Butler Service Desk operations, and Butler staff in order to provide a seamless butler program for guests.

• Manages VIP guests. Recognizes repeat and important guests and builds rapport in order to develop personal guest contact, obtains preferences and proactively anticipates guest needs and requirement.

• Manages VIP guests’ schedules as appropriate to support potential needs.

• Manages the guest experience so that a high level of privacy is afforded and confidentiality is kept on behalf of VIP guests when possible.

• Supervises Butler Service Desk and verifies resources provide seamless services during the on-site guest journey.

• Conducts daily stand-ups and communicates clear and consistent messages through stand-ups regarding the Butler team updates and goals to produce desired results.

• Obtains list of check-ins and VIP guests both to prepare work assignments for the Butler team.

• Keeps the Butler team focused on the critical components of operations to drive guest satisfaction and the desired financial results.

• Encourages and builds mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among departments such as Front Office and Housekeeping whose touch points intersect with butler services and Butler team members.

• Serves as a role model to demonstrate appropriate behaviors and sets the bar for execution of butler services through training and mentorship.

• Continuously strives with the team to provide the bespoke and uncompromising services.

• Supports and trains other departments who deliver on signature services (e.g., housekeeping, room inspections, delivery).

 

Supporting Management of Front Desk Team

• Utilizes interpersonal and communication skills to lead, influence, and encourage others; advocates sound financial/business decision making; demonstrates honesty/integrity; leads by example.

• Encourages and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

• Serving as a role model to demonstrate appropriate behaviors.

• Supervises and manages employees. Manages all day-to-day operations. Understands employee positions well enough to perform duties in employees' absence.

• Establishes and maintains open, collaborative relationships with employees and ensures employees do the same within the team.

• Supervises all areas of the Front Office in the absence of the Front Office or Assistant Front Office Manager.

 

Guest Relations

• Sets the standard and tone for how Butler team members drive guest relations.

• Coaches team members to recognize and build rapport with guests.

• Establishes processes to obtain guest preferences and proactively anticipate guest needs and requirements.

• Verifies Butler teams manage guests’ schedules to anticipate potential needs.

• Verifies Butler teams maintain a high level of privacy, discretion and confidentiality on behalf of guests when possible.

• Verifies Butler teams address guests' service needs in a professional, positive, and timely manner, consistent with company policy.

• Fosters positive guest relations by coaching team members to actively listen and respond positively to guest questions, concerns, and requests using brand or property specific process (e.g., LEARN, PLEASED, Guest Response, LEAP) to resolve issues, delight, and build trust. ?

• Assists other employees to verify proper coverage and prompt guest service.

 

Managing Departmental Costs

• Manages areas of operation to budget by reviewing operating statements, budget worksheets and payroll progress reports.

• Manages department controllable expenses and cost per occupied room to achieve or exceed budgeted goals.

• Supervises and approves the budgeting and ordering of product and supplies in support of butler services.

• Manages departmental budget in such a way that the overall property financial goals are met, and supporting staff are educated on relevant details as appropriate.

 

Conducting Human Resources Activities 

• Interviews, hires and develops Butler team members with the appropriate skills to meet the business needs of the operation.

• Communicates performance expectations in accordance with job descriptions for each position and monitors progress.

• Reviews staffing levels and modifies as appropriate so that butler services are delivered at the expected level, balanced with meeting financial and operational objectives. In reviewing staffing levels, creates monthly/weekly schedules, meeting departmental and individuals’ needs. Includes control of attendance by using software used by Human Resources Department.

• Establishes and maintains open, collaborative relationships with employees and verifies employees do the same within the team.

• Verifies recognition of employees is taking place across areas of responsibility.

 

 

 

Marriott International is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive, people-first culture. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, such as disability and veteran status, or any other basis covered under applicable law.

Combining timeless glamour with a vanguard spirit, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts is committed to delivering exquisite experiences at more than 50 luxury hotels and resorts in the best addresses around the world. Beginning with the debut of The St. Regis hotel in New York by John Jacob Astor IV at the dawn of the twentieth century, the brand has remained committed to an uncompromising level of bespoke and anticipatory service for all of its guests, delivered flawlessly by a team of gracious hosts that combine classic sophistication and modern sensibility, as well as our signature Butler Service. We invite you to explore careers at St. Regis. In joining St. Regis, you join a portfolio of brands with Marriott International. Be where you can do your best work,​ begin  your purpose,  belong  to an amazing global​ team, and  become  the best version of you.