Hotel Manager (Pre-Opening)

Hotel Manager (Pre-Opening) – Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins and Holiday Inn Melbourne Bourke Street

Nestled in the heart of Melbourne's vibrant CBD, an exciting new holiday destination is coming to life – enter the boutique charm of Hotel Indigo and the modern comfort of Holiday Inn, offering a unique blend of hospitality experiences across 452 rooms. One of Melbourne’s most iconic CBD arcades is fast transforming, with the redevelopment of "Melbourne Walk" Arcade set to see IHGs first Australian dual-branded hotel project, opening in 2025.

Open the door into Hotel Indigo and guests can expect local character, modern design and warm, professional service with a vibrant and individual flavour, bringing the edgy laneway neighbourhood of Little Collins Street to life. Making the most of the retail haven, Holiday Inn will offer a modern, fresh and friendly stay for a wide variety of guests coming to enjoy the convenience and value they know and love from Holiday Inn, and all that Bourke Street Mall has to offer.

We are on the lookout for a dynamic and results-driven Hotel Manager to lead the operations across these flagship properties. Reporting into the General Manager, this key leadership role will manage daily hotel functions, drive guest satisfaction, and optimise overall business performance. The successful candidate will have a strong background in hospitality management, with the ability to effectively balance responsibilities across two locations whilst driving the achievement of overall business objectives.

A little taste of your day-to-day

Every day is different, but as part of the pre-opening team, you will play a key role in ensuring this new hotel is ready to welcome its first guests, including:

• Operations management: Manage daily hotel operations, ensuring both properties maintain exceptional service standards, cleanliness, and efficiency.
• Guest Satisfaction: Lead by example to deliver an outstanding guest experience, consistently addressing guest needs, handling escalated complaints, and implementing service improvements.
• Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop across the two hotels, ensuring high levels of engagement and performance. 
• Budget Management: Collaborate with the General Manager on financial planning, forecasting, and achieving revenue and profitability goals.
• Quality Control & Compliance: Ensure that both properties adhere to all legal, safety, and regulatory requirements, as well as internal company standards.
• Operational Efficiency: Implement best practices to optimize resources and streamline operations across the properties, focusing on cost control, energy efficiency, and sustainability initiatives.
• Sales & Marketing: Work with the sales and marketing teams to maximize room occupancy, increase bookings, and promote hotel services. Act as brand ambassador, embodying and communicating the identity of a dual-branded property in the market.
• Maintenance & Facility Management: Coordinate with maintenance teams to ensure both properties are well-maintained and functioning at optimal levels.

What we need from you

This role is pivotal to the success of our hotel opening and operation, in a highly competitive market, so to see this through we’re looking for a talented professional with the perfect blend of strategic vision, operational expertise, people leadership, and extensive financial expertise and business acumen. 

In addition, you will possess:

• Ability to work autonomously and manage workload and key deliverables within a project opening timeline.
• Capacity to build and lead a high-performing and engaged team and commitment to developing and coaching colleagues. 
• High level communication and relationship management skills, collaborating with a wide variety of stakeholders, both internal and external.
• Strong business acumen, results-oriented and commitment to driving continual improvement. 
• Proficiency in hotel management software and systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high attention to detail.
• Extensive experience within hotel operations in a senior leadership or hotel manager role and (ideally) prior involvement in a pre-opening.
• Experience working in a multi-property or cluster environment is highly desirable.
• Tertiary education within a Business, Hotel Management or related field (preferred). 

What you can expect from us

Not only will you benefit from a truly unique and career-defining opportunity as part of this exciting hotel opening, working with a talented and experienced General Manager and New Hotel Openings team, but you’ll receive a competitive salary that rewards all your hard work and a wide range of benefits designed to help you live your best work life – including, impressive room discounts and some of the best training in the business.

Most importantly, your career journey will be supported through our lifelong development programs, IHG career milestone celebrations, and transfer of leave entitlements as you move and grow with IHG.

Our mission is to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams where we celebrate differences and encourage colleagues to bring their whole selves to work. IHG Hotels & Resorts provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. We promote a culture of trust, support, and acceptance. Always welcoming different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. 

So, join us and you’ll become part of our ever-growing global family.