Location: Mala Boutique Hotel, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Job Type: Full-time
Open to: Tanzania, Kenya, Eastern Europe, and South Africa
Tasks
Overview:
To oversee and continuously elevate the look, feel, and guest experience of the hotel, ensuring every guest-facing element reflects the intended standard, atmosphere, and brand.
Key Responsibilities:
Guest-facing experience & hosting
• Act as a warm, visible host during dinner events
• Engage with guests naturally, learn names, preferences, and occasions
• Create a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere without being intrusive
• Act as a bridge between guests and the wider team when needed
Interiors & visual up-keep (rooms & public areas)
• Regularly walk through rooms, villas, and shared spaces with a critical eye
• Identify when furniture, soft furnishings, décor, or finishes are tired
• Propose replacements or updates aligned with the hotel’s style
• Source and select new items where approved (lighting, art, cushions, accessories)
Food & beverage presentation (not kitchen operations)
• Ensure dishes leaving the kitchen are well-presented and consistent
• Flag presentation issues and work with kitchen staff to correct them
• Oversee table settings, plating style, garnish consistency, and timing
• Maintain visual standards without managing recipes or prep
Uniforms, tables & soft details
• Ensure uniforms are clean, well-fitted, and styled correctly
• Oversee napkins, table linens, cushions, décor, candles, and lighting
• Flag when items need replacing, tailoring, or refreshing
• Maintain a consistent “look” across services and spaces
Brand & atmosphere ownership
• Be the internal reference point for “does this feel right?”
• Maintain consistency across:
• Interior styling
• Guest interaction tone
• Food presentation
• Help train staff by example, not instruction-heavy management
Requirements
Person Specification
• Naturally warm, confident, and observant
• Strong eye for aesthetics and detail
• Comfortable speaking with guests one-on-one
• Notices small things others overlook
• Calm, tasteful, not flashy
• Hospitality or lifestyle background preferred (boutique hotel, restaurant, events, retail, design-led café)
Benefits
- Accommodation
- Meals
Please include your interior design portfolio in your application. For faster processing of your application, please fill out this job application form:
Desired Skills and Experience
Interior Design Interior Styling Hotel presentation Guest experience Guest hosting Visual presentation Food and Beverage Presentation Table setting Guest interaction Food presentation Hotel branding
Hostly is a UK-based Airbnb management company with operations in Zanzibar, Tanzania. They manage properties like Coco Rise Villas in Bwejuu, offering amenities such as an outdoor swimming pool, garden, and bar. They also oversee Mala Boutique Hotel in Zanzibar.
- Location
- Zanzibar Central/South
- Website
- www.hostly.org.uk/