New Gardena Hotel is a Japanese-friendly hotel located in Gardena, California, serving many guests from Japan as well as international business and leisure travelers.
We are currently looking for friendly and responsible Front Desk Associates to join our team. Students on OPT/CPT are welcome to apply.
This position is a great opportunity for students interested in hospitality, tourism, customer service, Japanese language, or cross-cultural communication.
Many of our guests are native Japanese speakers, so this role is especially ideal for students who are currently studying Japanese or have taken Japanese language courses in school and would like to use and improve their Japanese skills in a real-world environment.
At the same time, this position can also be a valuable opportunity for international students from Japan who are looking to gain professional experience in the United States while utilizing their cultural and language background as a strength.
New Gardena Hotel has received awards from Rakuten Travel for 14 consecutive years, and team members have the opportunity to experience Japanese-style hospitality and customer service standards while working in an English-speaking business environment in California.
This role is especially well suited for individuals who want to develop both English communication skills and professional Japanese business etiquette through hands-on hospitality experience.
Job Responsibilities
- Guest check-in / check-out
- Phone calls and guest assistance
- Reservation input and management
- Email communication
- Light cleaning of common areas
- Basic first response to facility issues
- General front desk operations
Preferred Qualifications
- Friendly and professional communication skills
- Interest in hospitality and customer service
- Ability to work in a team environment
- Japanese language study experience preferred
(current students or those who have taken Japanese courses are encouraged to apply) - Conversational Japanese is a strong plus, but fluency is not required
- Weekend availability strongly preferred
Available Shifts
A Shift: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
B Shift: 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
C Shift: 11:00 PM – 7:00 AM
We are especially looking for applicants who are available for weekend A shifts (morning shifts).
Compensation
- $18 – $20/hour (depending on experience)
- 1.5x pay for overtime and national holidays
Additional Information
- Part-time and full-time positions available
- OPT/CPT students are welcome
- Temporary hotel accommodation may be available for applicants relocating from outside the area until permanent housing is secured (subject to availability and season)
About Us
New Gardena Hotel has been serving the South Bay / Gardena community for many years and is popular among Japanese travelers and business guests.
We are a small team environment where employees can gain hands-on hospitality experience and interact with guests from diverse backgrounds on a daily basis.
We look forward to hearing from you!
