Greeter Job Description: Duties, Skills & Examples

Whether it’s a restaurant, store, or event, the person who greets you at the door can quietly shape your entire experience. That greeter is usually the first human interaction customers have with a business.

 A good greeter can make a busy space feel organized and welcoming. A weak one can create confusion, long waits, and frustrated customers before service even begins.

If you’re hiring a greeter, this guide breaks down what a greeter actually does, what to include in a greeter job description, and how the role changes by setting.

TL;DR: What to know when writing a greeter job description

Greeters are a critical part of customer experience and operational success, and your greeter job description should reflect that.

Greeters manage guest flow, confirm reservations or tickets, coordinate with staff, and help prevent bottlenecks during busy periods.

Door greeters add entry control. In high-traffic environments, they may check IDs or tickets, manage lines, and enforce entry rules.

The role varies by setting. Restaurant greeters focus on waitlists and pacing, store greeters help with navigation and loss prevention, and event greeters handle check-ins and crowd movement.

Strong greeters improve operations. They reduce confusion, shorten perceived wait times, prevent front-of-house overload, and help teams stay organized.

Great greeters have these core skills: Clear communication, situational awareness, patience, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

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What is a greeter?

Typically, the first human interaction a customer has with a business. They’re responsible for welcoming guests and helping them get started (like answering basic questions and directing customers to the correct place or staff member).

You’ll find greeters in many settings, including:

• Restaurants and cafés
• Retail stores
• Hotels
• Conferences and events
• Healthcare offices
• Entertainment venues

No matter the setting, greeters support customer experience and operations through clear communication, warm first impressions, and keeping people moving smoothly from the door to where they need to be.

Greeter job description and template

Below is a greeter job description template you can customize for your specific needs, like if you’re looking for an event greeter or a store greeter.

Job summary

Our [enter your business type, e.g., restaurant, store, event space ] is looking for a greeter to welcome guests as they arrive and help them feel comfortable and informed. 

You will support the customer experience by being our first impression to guests, answering basic questions, and guiding guests to the right place. 

This role will be a good fit for you if you’re friendly, a clear communicator, observant, and able to stay calm in busy environments.

Key duties

• Welcome guests warmly and professionally as they enter.
• Direct guests to seating, service counters, event check-in, or appropriate staff.
• Manage waitlists or check-in processes when needed.
• Answer basic questions about menus, store layout, schedules, or events.
• Communicate guest needs, delays, or issues to managers or support staff.
• Help manage traffic flow during busy periods or peak hours.
• Maintain a clean, organized entrance area.

Required skills

• Friendly, approachable communication style.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Clear verbal communication and active listening.
• Ability to multitask and stay organized during busy periods.
• Basic problem-solving skills and situational awareness.
• Dependable and punctual.

Work environment

You’ll be working in a [enter your specific business type], where you’ll be stationed near entrances, host stands, or check-in areas. You’ll regularly interact with guests and coordinate with other team members. 

You’ll spend much of your shift standing. The environment may be fast-paced and noisy, especially during peak service hours or large events. 

Schedule expectations

We’re looking for someone comfortable adapting their schedule to align with peak business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. 

Your shifts will be [indicate: part-time or full-time], with coverage required during high-traffic periods, special events, or seasonal rushes.

If this job sounds like the right role for you, we encourage you to apply! If you have any questions, please contact us at [insert contact info].

What does a greeter do? Core duties and responsibilities

When you’re writing a greeter job description, you should have a good idea of what the role includes. This depends on the environment, but the basics are consistent.

In general, a greeter’s core duties and responsibilities include:

• Welcoming guests as they arrive.
• Confirming reservations, appointments, or tickets.
• Answering basic questions.
• Directing guests to the right place.
• Communicating guest flow issues to the team.

Greeters do more than say hello to customers. They help manage traffic, prevent confusion, and keep operations running smoothly.

Customer interaction duties

A greeter’s customer interaction duties include:

• Welcoming guests with a friendly, professional greeting.
• Answering basic questions about hours, menus, locations, or next steps.
• Directing people appropriately, whether that’s to a host stand, service counter, event check-in, or another staff member.

Beyond customer-facing tasks, greeters play an important behind-the-scenes role in keeping operations organized and flowing.

Operational support duties

A greeter’s operational support duties include:

• Managing waitlists or check-in systems and setting realistic expectations.
• Coordinating with staff to communicate guest arrivals, delays, or capacity limits.
• Monitoring entry flow to prevent bottlenecks at doors, lobbies, or host stands.

Greeters are also an extra set of eyes at the front door, which helps with safety.

Environment and safety awareness

A greeter’s position allows them to spot issues early and help maintain a safe, orderly environment.

This includes:

• Observing guest behavior and noticing signs of confusion, distress, or conflict.
• Maintaining order at entrances, especially during high-traffic periods or events.
• Flagging safety or accessibility concerns to managers when needed.

Door greeter job description and duties

While all greeters help create a smooth, welcoming entry experience, door greeters take on a more focused role, where they also manage access, crowd flow, and basic security.

A door greeter job description can include common tasks like these:

• Monitor entrances and exits.
• Check IDs, tickets, or reservations.
• Manage lines and crowd flow.
• Enforce basic entry rules.
• Communicate issues to management.

Door greeters are common in busy restaurants, bars and nightclubs, event venues, and high-traffic retail stores.

What does a greeter do at a restaurant?

A greeter at a restaurant helps with welcoming guests and managing operations, especially during busy periods. 

The role typically includes welcoming guests as they enter, confirming reservations or party size, and answering basic menu or layout questions.

Greeters also manage the waitlist and need to know how to estimate wait times accurately to notify guests.

They communicate delays or table readiness to guests, and seat guests or coordinate with servers to do so.

The importance of a greeter in restaurants 

The person who greets you at a restaurant is often mistaken for a purely hospitality role, but in reality, they control the flow of service. They help prevent overwhelmed servers, long lobby backups, missed reservations, and frustrated guests.

In many restaurants, the greeter role overlaps with the host role, especially in smaller teams.

Store greeter vs. event greeter

Store greeter responsibilities

A store greeter plays a slightly different role than a restaurant greeter.

Store greeters often:

• Welcome customers as they enter.
• Answer questions about store layout.
• Direct customers to departments or staff.
• Promote sales or loyalty programs.
• Help deter theft through visible presence.

Retail greeters improve customer experience by making large or busy stores feel more approachable.

Event greeter responsibilities

An event greeter helps guests feel oriented in unfamiliar or high-energy environments. Because events are time-bound and fast-moving, event greeters need strong communication skills and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

Event greeters typically:

• Check in attendees.
• Scan tickets or confirm registration.
• Provide schedules or maps.
• Direct guests to sessions, seating, or amenities.
• Answer logistical questions.

Skills and qualities of a good greeter

No matter where you are, the best greeters tend to have these core skills and qualities:

Clear, confident communication and a friendly but professional demeanor help greeters make a good first impression on guests while sharing information clearly.

Situational awareness, patience, and the ability to multitask allow greeters to quickly spot issues, especially during busy periods, keep guests calm and informed, and communicate updates to other team members.

Conflict-resolution skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure help greeters handle delays, frustration, or misunderstandings without escalating tension.

Greeters matter more than you think

Greeters are often treated as entry-level or nice-to-have roles, but their impact is measurable.

A strong greeter can boost customer satisfaction, increase sales, and improve loss prevention. They can also help reduce guest complaints, shorten perceived wait times, prevent FOH overload, and encourage repeat visits.

When the right person is in the role, businesses experience fewer bottlenecks, calmer teams, and more positive guest interactions. 

That’s why having a clear greeter job description matters—it sets expectations around guest flow, communication, and hands-on support when things get busy, no matter the setting.

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