Crossword Genius

Waiter and cook to join firm, missing hotel opening (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

steward

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'waiter' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'cook to join firm missing hotel opening' is the wordplay.
'cook' becomes 'stew' (stewing is a kind of cooking).
'to join' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'firm missing hotel opening' becomes 'ard' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'stew'+'ard'='STEWARD'

'and' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for steward that I've seen before include "Horse-racing official" , "Attendant on plane or ship" , "Ship's officer" , "One who looks after passengers" , "Administrator, manager, or waiter" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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