Host/Hostess
Your Alaskan Summer Starts Here
Imagine starting your shift with a clear-day view of Denali – the highest peak in North America – rising above the spruce forest just outside the lodge windows. At HAP Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, tucked into the wilderness of Denali State Park near Trapper Creek, Alaska, you won’t just be working a summer job. You’ll be living inside one of the most spectacular landscapes on the planet, surrounded by international students who came for the same reason you did: adventure.
We’re looking for warm, energetic Hosts and Hostesses to be the very first smile our guests see when they walk into our restaurants. If you love people, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and want your Instagram feed to be full of glaciers, moose, and midnight sun – keep reading.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Greeting arriving guests with genuine hospitality and a friendly welcome
- Managing the waitlist, seating chart, and reservations during busy dining periods
- Escorting guests to their tables, presenting menus, and setting the tone for their meal
- Communicating with servers and kitchen staff to keep table rotation smooth and efficient
- Answering guest questions about the menu, the lodge, and local activities
- Keeping the host stand, entryway, and dining room presentation clean and inviting
- Assisting with light bussing, resetting tables, and supporting the front-of-house team as needed
Why Denali State Park?
Trapper Creek and Denali State Park sit in the heart of the Alaskan interior, roughly halfway between Anchorage and Fairbanks. This is real wilderness: hiking trails leaving straight from the property, rivers full of salmon, wildflower meadows, and daylight that stretches almost around the clock in June and July. On your days off you can hike Kesugi Ridge, go flightseeing over the Alaska Range, raft the Chulitna River, spot moose and bald eagles, or simply sit by a campfire under the Alaskan sky. By late August, the tundra turns gold and red – and the northern lights start to appear.
The Details
- Position: Host / Hostess
- Employer: HAP Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge
- Location: Denali State Park, Trapper Creek, Alaska
- Pay: $16.00 per hour
- Hours: approximately 42 hours per week
- Season: Summer through Fall
- Tips: Not applicable for this position
What You Get
Beyond a solid paycheck and consistent hours, you’ll gain real hospitality experience with one of Alaska’s most respected lodge operators – a name that looks great on any CV. You’ll build fluent, confident English through hundreds of daily guest interactions, make friends from a dozen different countries, and finish the season with stories most people only read about.
Who We’re Looking For
- University students aged 18–25 eligible for the Work & Travel USA program
- Good conversational English – you’ll be speaking with guests all day
- A friendly, outgoing personality and a genuine smile
- Ability to stand and move for the length of a shift
- Reliability, punctuality, and a team-first attitude
- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays
- An adventurous spirit – remote Alaska is not for everyone, but for the right person it’s unforgettable
Ready to spend your summer in the shadow of Denali? Apply now – positions at Alaska’s wilderness lodges fill quickly.
About Alaska
Alaska is the ultimate Work & Travel adventure - glaciers, Denali, midnight sun and untouched wilderness. Most students work in remote lodges, national-park resorts and on tour boats, earning some of the highest summer wages in the country.
