South Africa: Hotel General Manager – Atlantic Seaboard posted by HotelJobs

A well established Conferencing & Leisure Hotel in the Atlantic Seaboard region is requiring a strategic, hands-on General Manager. The successful candidate will take total accountability for the strategic direction, operational execution, and financial performance of a the clients mid-to-large-scale hotel property (100+ rooms). This role requires a hands-on leader dedicated to optimizing guest satisfaction, driving revenue across rooms and food & beverage (F&B) sectors, ensuring strict compliance with corporate standard operating procedures (SOPs), and fostering high employee engagement. Key Responsibilities 1. Strategic & Financial Management P&L Accountability: Manage the propertys Profit and Loss (P&L) statement, accurately forecasting revenues, managing operational costs, and optimizing EBITDA. Budgeting & Forecasting: Formulate annual capital expenditure (CapEx) and operational budgets in alignment with corporate financial objectives. Revenue Optimization: Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Management teams to execute dynamic pricing, yield management, and distribution strategies to maximize RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room) and ARR (Average Room Rate). Procurement & Asset Management: Oversee property procurement processes, inventory control, and supplier contracts to minimize waste and exploit economies of scale. 2. Operational Excellence & Guest Experience Daily Operations: Direct and oversee all hotel departments including Front Office, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage (restaurant, bar, and conferencing), Maintenance/Facilities, and Security. Quality Assurance: Enforce strict adherence to brand standards, service protocols, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) across all departments. Guest Relations: Monitor and review guest feedback platforms (e.g., TripAdvisor, OTA reviews, internal guest satisfaction surveys). Implement immediate corrective actions to resolve guest grievances and sustain high review scores. Facility Maintenance: Direct preventative maintenance schedules and asset management strategies to ensure the physical property, equipment, and grounds remain in pristine condition. 3. People Leadership & Culture Talent Management: Oversee the recruitment, onboarding, training, and continuous performance evaluation of the property’s management team and line staff. Performance Culture: Establish clear departmental objectives, conduct regular performance reviews, and implement succession planning. Employee Engagement: Cultivate a collaborative, high-performance working environment to minimize staff turnover and maintain high morale. 4. Compliance, Health & Safety Legal Compliance: Ensure full property adherence to national and local statutory regulations, including labor laws (BCEA/LRA), liquor licensing, health and safety acts (OHSA), and municipal bylaws. Risk Management: Implement and test emergency response protocols, crisis management plans, and property security measures to safeguard guests, staff, and assets. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Financial Performance: Achievement of budgeted Gross Operating Profit (GOP), EBITDA targets, and cost-control metrics (Labor cost % and F&B cost % vs. budget). Market Share: Movement and ranking within the competitive set (CompSet) regarding RevPAR Index (RPI) and Market Penetration Index (MPI). Guest Satisfaction: Achievement of target scores on internal Guest Satisfaction Surveys (GSS) and external online reputation metrics (e.g., ReviewPro/TripAdvisor ratings). Operational Audits: Performance scores achieved during internal, corporate, and external quality assurance and brand standard audits. Staff Retention & Development: Employee turnover rates and successful completion percentages of scheduled corporate training initiatives. Minimum Requirements: A Bachelors Degree or National Diploma in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a closely related field from a recognized institution. A minimum of 5 to 7 years of experience as a Hotel General Manager or Deputy General Manager within a reputable 4-star or 5-star hotel environment. Proven track record managing a property with extensive Food & Beverage (F&B) operations, banqueting, and conference facilities catering to up to 150+ delegates. Demonstrated experience in managing comprehensive property budgets, P&L statements, and executing revenue management strategies. Systems Proficiency: Advanced working knowledge of Property Management Systems (PMS) (e.g., Opera, Apex, or similar), Point of Sale (POS) systems, and MS Office Suite. Leadership: Strong command presence with proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop diverse, cross-functional teams. Commercial Acumen: Deep understanding of hospitality market dynamics, financial indicators, and profit drivers. Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interface effectively with corporate executives, staff, suppliers, and guests. Flexibility: Willingness to work irregular hours, weekends, and public holidays as dictated by hotel operational requirements.