Host
Welcome Guests to One of America’s Most Iconic Island Destinations
Imagine spending your summer on an island where cars are banned, horse-drawn carriages clip-clop down Main Street, and the sun sets over the Straits of Mackinac right outside your workplace window. The Chippewa Hotel Waterfront and its world-famous Pink Pony Restaurant are looking for energetic, friendly university students to join their front-of-house team as Hosts for the Work & Travel USA season.
The Pink Pony is not just a restaurant – it’s a Mackinac Island institution. Known as the finish-line celebration spot for the Chicago-to-Mackinac sailing race, it welcomes thousands of guests each season with live music, lakeside views and unforgettable energy. As a Host, you are the face of that experience.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Greeting guests with a warm welcome and seating them efficiently
- Managing the waitlist, reservations and table rotation during busy service
- Answering guest questions about the menu, the hotel and the island
- Coordinating with servers, bartenders and management to keep service flowing smoothly
- Keeping the host stand, menus and entrance area clean and organized
- Assisting with light front-of-house support tasks as needed
Position Details
- Position: Host
- Employer: Chippewa Hotel Waterfront and Pink Pony Restaurant
- Location: Mackinac Island, Michigan
- Pay: $10.96 per hour
- Hours: approximately 40 hours per week
- Season: Summer to Fall
- Tips: Not applicable for this position
Why Mackinac Island?
Mackinac Island is a car-free, fudge-scented paradise in Lake Huron, connecting Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. You’ll bike the 8-mile shoreline road, explore historic Fort Mackinac, swim in crystal-clear water and live in a tight-knit international student community. Hundreds of Work & Travel students arrive every summer, so making friends from all over the world is guaranteed. The island is also famous for its Victorian architecture, Arch Rock and, of course, its legendary fudge.
What You’ll Gain
- Real hospitality experience at a nationally recognized waterfront property
- Fluent, confident English through daily guest interaction
- A genuinely social summer with students from dozens of countries
- Employer-supported housing options typical for island seasonal staff
- Great CV material and international references
Who We’re Looking For
- University students aged 18–25 eligible for the Work & Travel USA program
- Conversational to good English – you’ll be talking with guests all day
- A naturally friendly, outgoing personality and a big smile
- Ability to stay calm and organized during busy dinner rushes
- Comfortable standing for long shifts and working weekends and holidays
- Reliable, punctual and ready to work as part of a team
Spots on Mackinac Island fill up fast every season. If you want a summer of sunsets over the water, new friendships and a story you’ll tell for years – apply now for the Host position at the Chippewa Hotel Waterfront and Pink Pony Restaurant.
About Michigan
Michigan's Great Lakes shores, Mackinac Island and resort towns make for a classic lakeside summer. Students work in island hotels, resorts and restaurants surrounded by beaches and forests.
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