Assistant General Manager at Kauai Growth - Highgate Hotels

Compensation Type: Yearly Highgate Hotels:

Highgate is a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in U.S. gateway markets including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a rapidly expanding presence in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Highgate’s portfolio of global properties represents an aggregate asset value exceeding $20B and generates over $5B in cumulative revenues. The company provides expert guidance through all stages of the hospitality property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition.  Highgate also has the creativity and bandwidth to develop bespoke hotel brands and utilizes industry-leading proprietary revenue management tools that identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive out performance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the industry’s most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in London, New York, Dallas, and Seattle.

Location:

Kauai County

Hawaii 96746

USA

Overview:

 

The Assistant General Manager is responsible for continually focusing on achieving hotel profitability through revenue generation, cost control, guest satisfaction and developing employees, while maintaining the integrity of the hotel. This role will be based in Kauai at the "currently under development" stunning Coco Palms resort.

 

The Project:

 

Reef Private Equity is currently restoring the historic Coco Palms Resort in Wailua on the island of Kauai.

 

The Coco Palms has been an iconic destination for many decades, and is listed on the National Register and Hawaii Register of Historic Places.

 

For almost a thousand years it was the home of the Ali'i (Hawaiian Royalty), and thus it is the site of some of the most important legends and historical events for Native Hawaiians. The site contains artifacts from that era including a lagoon with origins hundreds of years ago in two Royal Hawaiian fishponds.

 

From 1953 until its destruction by Hurricane Iniki in 1992, Coco Palms Resort was a world renowned hotel noted for its Hollywood connections, Hawaiian-themed weddings, torch lighting ceremonies, and the invention of many of the things we associate with Hawaiian hotels.

 

Reef Capital Partners is restoring the Coco Palms, rebuilding a resort with 350 guest rooms, 3 restaurants, 22K sf of meeting space, 12K sf of retail space, 10K sf spa, 3 swimming pools, 2 other F&B outlets, a 300 seat cultural center, and a 15 acre Coconut Grove.

 

All permits and approvals needed to complete the project have been obtained, and demolition and initial light construction have begun; demolition should be complete in summer 2024, and vertical construction should be complete in 2026.

Responsibilities:

Our vision for the restoration includes honoring the sacred pre-contact history of this land (which is the most important part of the history), honoring the legacy of the Coco Palms hotel, providing guests with a modern and authentic Hawaiian cultural experience, and once again making the Coco Palms a hub for the entire Kauai community.

 

The Assistant General Manager is responsible for accomplishing this vision, including overseeing the day-to-day restoration, demolition, and construction operations as well as design and programming of the hotel. This involves working closely with the brand, the property manager, project managers, interior designers, the architects, cultural advisers, owner's reps, accounting, legal, and risk management teams, directing consultants, and others.

 

Perhaps most importantly the Assistant General Manager is responsible for building community relationships and engaging the community in the restoration work.

• Plays a pivotal role in hotel sales efforts, including calling on top ten accounts, meeting clients, hosting luncheons and receptions, and meeting with on-site contacts on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.
• Tour the operating departments daily, making adjustments as needed via department heads.
• Conduct weekly staff meetings, including weekly training sessions presented by managers and self using the steps to effective training according to Highgate Hotel standards, and the review of previous and future sales and operations efforts.
• Meet all financial review dates and corporate directed programs in a timely fashion.
• Hold a monthly financial review with all department managers, M.I.D.'s and available supervisors.
• Ensure that all department heads maintain budgeted productivity levels and Highgate Hotel standard checkbook accounting procedures.
• Develop managers for future advancement through competency training and corporate sponsored training programs.
• Participate in required M.O.D. coverage as scheduled.
• Maintain direct contact with and monitor the development of management trainees.
• Adhere to all Highgate Hotel policies and procedures and train new managers to ensure compliance.
• Oversee and assist in the Highgate Hotel budget process as required.
• Ensure that training in service standards is taking place in each department using the steps to effective training according to Highgate Hotel standards, including compliance in all departments to Highgate Hotel Garden Standard of the Week training.
• Assist in creating a positive team-oriented environment which focuses on the guest, through employee development and motivation.
• Inspect rooms regularly (weekly at a minimum) with both the Housekeeping Manager and Property Engineer.
• Ensure complete processing of invoices daily by using the A/P process.
• Ensure that all appropriate information for financial documents is received by the Corporate Office monthly, in compliance with the monthly accounting calendar.
• Ensure the cleanliness and maintenance of the physical property through inspections and preventive maintenance programs with department managers.
• Ensure that employees are at all times attentive, friendly, courteous and efficient in their interactions with guests, managers and all other employees.
• Forecast monthly the hotel's financial position, by estimating revenues and line-by-line expenses. Analyze previous and projected data to generate an accurate reforecast.
• Prepare and conduct all management interviews and follow hiring procedures according to Highgate Hotel S.O.P.'s. Ensure that all managers are in compliance with the standards in their interviewing and hiring procedures for departmental staff.
• Interview all prospective final candidates for any vacant management position within the hotel prior to any offer being extended.
• Perform all Executive Committee members performance appraisals according to Highgate Hotel S.O.P.’s, and ensure that managers are in compliance with the standards in their administration of performance appraisals to their staff.
• Motivate, coach, counsel and discipline all management personnel according to Highgate Hotel S.O.P.'s and ensure that managers are in compliance with the standards in their administration of counseling and disciplinary steps.
• Perform any other duties as requested by the Vice President or Regional Director of Operations.
• Ensure that all employees receive fair and equitable treatment according to Highgate Hotel S.O.P.'s.
• Meet clients on the property, including meeting contacts and potential clients touring the property, to assist in the sales effort.
• Be in the public areas during peak times, greeting guests and offering assistance as needed.
• Ensure procedures for handling of the hotel safe specifically with regard to security and monthly safe audits are followed and occur.
• Ensure monthly credit meetings are conducted and take an active role in the hotel credit and collection policies.

Qualifications:

 

• At least 5-6 years progressive experience in a hotel. Bachelor's Degree preferred.
• Long hours sometimes required.
• Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor at all times.
• Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all level of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service oriented manner.
• Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.
• Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
• Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service-oriented manner.
• Attend all hotel required meetings and trainings.
• Participate in M.O.D. coverage as required.
• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotel Standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.
• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, which include wearing nametags.
• Comply with Highgate Hotel Standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.
• Maximize efforts towards productivity, identify problem areas and assist in implementing solutions.
• Must be effective in handling problems, including anticipating, preventing, identifying and solving problems as necessary.
• Must be able to understand and evaluate complex information, data, etc. from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.
• Light work - Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Perform other duties as requested by management.

 

Salary: $165,000- $190,000