Sommelier

Company Description

About Orient Express

Artisan of travel since 1883, Orient Express sublimates the art of travel with its luxury trains, hotels, and sailing yachts. The brand has just launched its first hotel, Orient Express La Minerva, in Rome – which will be followed by Orient Express Venezia at Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in 2026. The experience continues with the recent launch of La Dolce Vita Orient Express train, followed by Orient Express Corinthian in 2026, the first of two Orient Express Sailing Yachts, and finally, the return of L’Orient Express train to railways. Since 2022, Orient Express is part of Accor Group’s leading collection of luxury brands with a century-old legacy in the hotels and fine- dining sectors. In 2024, Accor and LVMH entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of Orient Express. Follow the journey at @orientexpress on Instagram or visit the website at www.orient-express.com.

About Orient Express Venezia at Palazzo Donà Giovannelli

Orient Express will open its second hotel in Italy at the exceptional in Venice. Architect and interior designer Aline Amar d’Amman, alongside her studio Culture in Architecture, has been entrusted to design and decorate the space. Venice, once the gateway to Constantinople and a mythical stop on the legendary Orient Express train – that opened its doors in 1919 with the completion of the Simplon tunnel linking Switzerland to Italy – will be the home of the second Orient Express hotel, set to open in 2026.

Job Description

We are seeking an exceptional Sommelier to join our luxury hotel team. This pivotal role is responsible for elevating our guests’ dining experiences by providing expert wine recommendations, delivering engaging and personalized service, and meticulously managing our wine program. You will be instrumental in turning moments into cherished memories, upholding the highest brand standards, and contributing significantly to our hotel’s reputation for culinary excellence.

As our Sommelier, you will orchestrate a world-class wine experience from start to finish. You will be responsible for providing in-depth wine knowledge, suggesting perfect pairings, and managing the hotel’s wine dispensary with precision to maximize revenue and ensure unparalleled guest satisfaction. Your expertise will enhance our guests’ meals, making every interaction memorable and embodying our commitment to luxury service.

Key Responsibilities

Expert Wine Curation & Service:

• Provide professional, current, and comprehensive knowledge of local and international wines, guiding guests through selections that perfectly complement their dishes and preferences.
• Actively engage with guests, describing wines, up-selling appropriate selections, and creating personalized recommendations to enhance their dining journey.
• Develop harmonious food & wine pairings in collaboration with the Culinary team for new and existing menus, aligning with culinary offerings and financial objectives.
• Maintain an updated and appealing wine list, liaising with F&B management.
• Regularly inspect the quality of open wines across all F&B outlets and manage wine preservation systems (e.g., Coravin).

Operational Excellence & Inventory Management:

• Control the hotel’s wine dispensary, ensuring tight stock control, accurate requisitions, and efficient inventory management.
• Ensure all beverage sales are accurately billed, processed, and accounted for, maintaining strict adherence to financial procedures.
• Organize, supervise, and assist with beverage service, ensuring proper handling, use, storage, and cleaning of all liquor service equipment.
• Ensure all polishing, mise-en-place, and breakdown duties are completed to the highest standards.
• Comply strictly with licensing/liquor regulations for all beverage service.

Guest Experience & Engagement:

• Consistently demonstrate a commitment to service excellence, actively creating personalized and creative “Sparkle moments” for guests.
• Take ownership of guest experiences, especially those that have been negatively impacted, transforming them into memorable interactions.
• Proactively promote wine sales and identify opportunities to maximize overall hotel revenue.
• Be knowledgeable about hotel information to confidently answer guest inquiries.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Assist Food & Beverage Leaders in developing and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Develop, maintain, and deliver comprehensive wine-related training programs for all Food & Beverage teams, enhancing their product knowledge and sales capabilities.
• Actively monitor industry trends, new products, and service innovations related to beverages, presenting implementation plans to F&B leaders.

Compliance & Professionalism:

• Adhere to all hotel security, fire regulations, health and safety legislation, and hygiene standards (HACCP).
• Maintain impeccable grooming standards and a professional demeanor at all times, ensuring punctuality and full uniform compliance.
• Assist in general restaurant operations as needed to support the team.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Sommelier or similar role within a luxury hotel or high-end restaurant environment.
• Certifiate from Cape Wine Academy, WSET Level 2 or higher, or equivalent certification in related studies is a prerequisite.
• Extensive and current knowledge of national and international wines
• Demonstrated ability to create sophisticated and well-complimented food and wine pairings
• Excellent reading, writing, and oral proficiency in Italian and English. Strong interpersonal skills to engage effectively with diverse guests and colleagues.
• High degree of professionalism, creativity, business acumen, energy, and determination. Must be well-presented and professionally groomed at all times.
• Proven organizational skills, ability to set and meet deadlines with quality results, and computer literacy.

Additional Information

• A competitive package (base salary and yearly bonus)
• Medical Insurance, integrating Collective Labor Agreement one and extended to the family
• Ticket Restaurant
• Annual leave
• ALL – Heartist® Program: Employee benefit card offering discounted rates at all ACCOR locations and partner venues worldwide.
• Learning & development: Opportunity to develop your talent and grow within your property and across the world!
• Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: We are an inclusive company and our ambition is to attract, recruit and promote diverse talent.

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