JAMES VARGAS
Aramark
Sarasota,FL
1
Certification
10
years of professional experience
Experienced tourism and hospitality professional with 10+ years of experience in high-volume guest service, restaurant management, national-park tourism, and multi-day destination travel. Currently serving as a Tour Director in Interior Alaska, leading groups of up to 50 guests while coordinating transportation, lodging, excursions, dining, accessibility needs, and constantly changing travel logistics. Recognized for creating highly personalized guest experiences through destination knowledge, storytelling, organization, communication, and genuine enthusiasm. Proven ability to remain composed under pressure, resolve problems quickly, and make guests feel personally cared for throughout their journey. 97%+ TD Overall guest satisfaction across primary Alaska tours, including multiple 4.00/4.00 ratings.
Work History
Tour Director
- Lead multi-day Alaska land-tour programs for major cruise-line partners including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line.
- Lead groups of up to 50 guests through Anchorage, Seward, Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks.
- Coordinate complex daily operations involving motor coaches, rail transportation, hotels, excursions, restaurants, luggage, transfers, and guest schedules.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for guests throughout the land portion of their vacation.
- Provide destination commentary covering Alaska history, geography, wildlife, culture, and local attractions.
- Manage weather disruptions, transportation changes, excursion issues, lost-property situations, and other unexpected challenges while maintaining a positive guest experience.
- Coordinate special requests and accessibility needs with transportation, lodging, and excursion partners.
- Provide personalized recommendations for restaurants, hikes, excursions, shopping, and independent activities.
- Create additional guest-engagement experiences including Bingo, trivia, destination videos, daily itinerary texts, and group photo sharing.
- Maintain frequent communication with guests before and throughout each tour.
- Build strong relationships with guests through personal interaction and individualized attention.
- SELECTED PERFORMANCE
- 97%+ TD Overall guest satisfaction across primary tours.
- Multiple tours received 4.00/4.00 TD Overall ratings.
- Repeatedly recognized by guests as knowledgeable, professional, organized, positive, approachable, and exceptionally helpful.
- Received guest feedback recommending consideration for leadership opportunities and training other Tour Directors.
- Consistently praised for going above and beyond, personalized service, destination knowledge, and creating memorable experiences.
FOH Restaurant Manager
3 Years 4 Months- Lead front-of-house restaurant operations in one of Alaska's busiest seasonal tourism destinations.
- Lead front-of-house teams including servers, hosts, and baristas in a high-volume seasonal environment.
- Train and onboard employees while maintaining service, safety, sanitation, and guest-experience standards.
- Manage scheduling, inventory, daily operations, and staffing requirements.
- Resolve guest concerns and service issues professionally.
- Coordinate with kitchen, management, and other departments to maintain smooth operations.
- Work effectively in an environment serving travelers from across the United States and around the world.
Server
1 Year 5 Months- Provided high-volume table service in a busy, guest-focused restaurant environment.
- Managed multiple tables while maintaining accuracy, speed, and personalized service.
- Demonstrated strong food and beverage knowledge and made recommendations based on guest preferences.
- Processed POS transactions and worked closely with kitchen, bar, and front-of-house teams.
- Handled guest concerns professionally and adapted service to a wide range of customer expectations.
Dog Care & Training Assistant
1 Year 5 Months- Assisted with dog sitting, boarding, daily animal care, and training activities.
- Followed individualized care and training instructions for dogs with different temperaments and behavioral needs.
- Maintained safe, clean, and organized boarding and training environments.
- Communicated with owners regarding routines, care instructions, and individual animal needs.
- Managed multiple animals while maintaining close attention to safety and behavior.
FOH Restaurant Manager / Server
5 Months- Supervised front-of-house staff across multiple dining outlets in a high-volume national-park tourism environment.
- Provided hands-on service including seating, order taking, serving, and bussing during peak periods.
- Trained and mentored employees on service standards and sanitation.
- Managed scheduling and coordinated shift coverage.
- Resolved guest concerns while maintaining a professional and welcoming atmosphere.
- Gained extensive experience serving travelers in a major U.S. national-park destination.
Restaurant Manager
10 Months- Managed full-service restaurant operations across both front and back of house.
- Handled scheduling, inventory, daily operations, and team communication.
- Led employees through busy service periods while maintaining service standards.
- Resolved customer complaints and handled service recovery.
- Planned promotions and events to increase guest engagement and revenue.
- Coordinated staff and operational priorities to keep service running efficiently.
Connection Specialist
1 Year 1 Month- Matched buyers, sellers, and renters with Zillow Premier Agents through a high-volume customer-contact environment.
- Managed a large volume of calls while meeting performance and quality metrics.
- Maintained accurate CRM records and customer information.
- Provided clear, accurate information while adapting communication to individual customer needs.
- Worked in a performance-driven environment requiring strong communication, organization, and follow-through.
Server / Bartender
1 Year 10 Months- Provided full-service dining and beverage service in a busy restaurant environment.
- Managed multiple tables while maintaining accuracy, speed, and personalized service.
- Recommended menu items and beverages based on guest preferences.
- Prepared alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
- Processed transactions and maintained accurate orders.
- Assisted with training new employees and maintaining restaurant standards.
Education
High School Diploma
Skills
Tour & Travel Operations: Multi-day itineraries
Group leadership
Transportation logistics
Excursion coordination
Hotel operations
Guest communications
Accessibility coordination
Schedule management
Guest Experience: Personalized service
Destination interpretation
Concierge-style recommendations
Guest engagement
Conflict resolution
Special occasions
Customer recovery
Hospitality & Leadership: Restaurant management
High-volume service
Staff training
Scheduling
Bartending
Barista service
POS systems
Cash handling
Team leadership
Certification: ServSafe Food Handler
Skills: Restaurant & Hospitality Management
Tour & Travel Operations
Group Leadership
Staff Training
Scheduling & Shift Management
Customer Service
Conflict Resolution
Excursion Coordination
Guest Communications
Inventory Management
POS Systems
CRM Systems
Bartending & Mixology
Barista Service
Event Planning & Banquets
Microsoft Office
Accessibility Coordination
Alaska Destination Knowledge
National Park Tourism
Animal Care & Boarding
Certification
Certification: ServSafe Food Handler
Timeline
Server
Yard House
11.2024 - 04.2026Read More
Dog Care & Training Assistant
Jim LaClaire's Dog Training
11.2024 - 04.2026Read More
FOH Restaurant Manager
Aramark
04.2023 - CurrentRead More
FOH Restaurant Manager / Server
Xanterra Travel Collection
05.2022 - 10.2022Read More
Restaurant Manager
Barrel House Bar & Grill
07.2021 - 05.2022Read More
Connection Specialist
Zillow Group
11.2019 - 12.2020Read More
Server / Bartender
Los Agaves Mexican Restaurant
02.2017 - 12.2018Read More
Reedsburg Area High School
High School Diploma
Read More
Tour Director
Premier
Read More