Cheeca Lodge and Spa

81801 Overseas Highway

Islamorada, FL 33036

Website www.CheecaJobs.com

Managed by Northwood Hospitality

Hotel with 214 Rooms
Managed By Northwood Hospitality
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Compensation: $15.50 per hour, Full-Time

Job Description

Full Time (Part Time also available) Host/Hostess - Morada Bay Beach Cafe, Mile Marker 81.6, Islamorada, Florida Keys

Job Summary Morada Bay Beach Cafe is looking for a welcoming and professional Host/Hostess to join our team. In this role, you'll be the first point of contact for our guests, playing a vital part in creating a warm and inviting atmosphere at our unique beachside café.

Job Responsibilities

Guest Service

  • Greet and warmly welcome guests, ensuring they feel valued and comfortable.
  • Maintain a professional appearance and uphold the resort's high standards.
  • Be friendly, cheerful, and courteous, enhancing the guest experience.
  • Provide accurate information and respond positively to guest inquiries.
  • Promote the resort’s amenities and services with your knowledge and effective selling skills.
  • Address and resolve guest questions and complaints with supervisor support.

Preparation

  • Set up the host stand, manage reservations, and optimize dining space for guest satisfaction.
  • Maintain an accurate station chart and understand server capacity for optimal service.
  • Handle reservations and provide information about the restaurant and hotel amenities.
  • Inspect and maintain menus for quality and appearance.
  • Assist with special projects, such as menu changes.
  • Ensure proper table setup and cleanliness.

Skills and Experience

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Ability to create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere.
  • Professionalism in handling guest inquiries and issues.
  • Authorization to work in the United States.

Benefits for Full-Time Employees

  • 401(k) with employer matching.
  • AD&D insurance.
  • Dental, health, and vision insurance.
  • Employee discounts at Northwood Hotels.
  • Flexible spending and health savings accounts.
  • Life insurance.
  • Paid Time Off and 8 Paid Holidays.

As a Host/Hostess at Morada Bay Beach Cafe, you'll be a key player in our team, contributing to the memorable experiences of our guests in one of the most beautiful settings in the Florida Keys. We look forward to welcoming someone who is passionate about providing excellent service and enjoys working in a dynamic, scenic environment.

Posted August 11, 2026

About Cheeca Lodge and Spa

WELCOME TO CHEECA

A Legendary Tropical Hideaway

Since 1946 the historic Cheeca Lodge & Spa has enchanted guests with world-class fishing, exceptional accommodations, and gracious hospitality. Come experience this lush oceanfront retreat, considered the premier luxury resort in the Florida Keys.

The Legend of Our Grand Florida Keys Hotel Resort

You've found it...the crown jewel of Islamorada Florida Keys hotels. 

Hardy Keys pioneers called Conchs chose this very beach to carve out a tenacious living in the isolated beauty of the undiscovered Florida Keys. Here, they formed a Methodist congregation and built a two-room school house and a cemetery. Cheeca has preserved this Pioneer Cemetery, where members of the founding families of Islamorada are buried. You can explore it today; it is a designated historical site. The Angel with the Broken Wing watches over the grave of Etta Pinder, who died in 1914. Here lies the first footprint of Islamorada – "Purple Isle" in Spanish.

The early 1940's brought electricity and fresh water. Mrs. Clara Mae Downey from Olney, Maryland, opened the Olney Inn in 1946. She described this early bellwether of Cheeca as "different – rather comparable to the tropical estate of a gifted host." Clara's first guest was President Harry Truman, who cherished his time loafing around the pool and wondering amidst the resort's 22 quaint bungalows. 

Fast horses, high society and a healthy dose of Keys vivacity marked the reign of the Twitchell Family in the 1960's. Cynthia, better known as "Chee," was an heiress to the A&P grocery chain and owner of a top thoroughbred racing farm. "We took my nickname, combined it with my husband Carl's, and came up with "Cheeca," she recalled. The Twitchells completely refurbished the property, adding the main lodge, the oceanfront villas, tennis courts, golf course and Cheeca's trademark wooden fishing pier. Chee raised miniature tarpon and her beloved seahorses in the aquariums throughout the resort. "Suzy the Seahorse" became Cheeca's mascot and logo, gracing the resort's menus, brochures, towels and linens.

Avid outdoorsman and Coca Cola magnate Carl Navarre purchased Cheeca Lodge in 1976, hosting his Fortune 500 friends in for sunny days of sportfishing and golf. Celebrities flocked to the hotel and famous guests were reeling in giant bonefish right off the resort's pier. The "Sportfishing Capital of the World" was born, seducing wealthy adventurers from around the world.

In 2005, Cheeca Lodge underwent over $30 million dollars in renovations, restoring the property and its surrounding grounds to their original grandeur, ensuring that we will be a cherished destination for generations to come. Following a fire on New Year's Eve 2008, the Main Lodge was completely rebuilt once again, with a fabulous open-air lobby, a spectacular oceanfront banquet room with panoramic views, and an exclusive indoor / outdoor lounge area for club members.

About Northwood Hospitality

Founded in 2006, Northwood Hospitality (NWH) has established itself as a leading boutique operator with a true understanding of value creation. Our high-touch management philosophy focuses on providing a collaborative and hands-on approach with each hotel team. We rely on real-time operating data to drive both strategies and revenues.

People are our Passion

Our team members, guests, partners and our communities are our passion. We take a people-first approach to learning & developing, ensuring our team members have the skills and tools to succeed.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to create and nurture an environment that ignites our team members passions; we provide the tools & mentoring to empower them and foster a sense of belonging.

Our Mission

Our mission is to maximize asset value creation and performance.

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