Hotel General Manager

General Manager — Independent Hotel Reopening (Post-Renovation)

Panama City Beach, FL | Target Opening: Late Spring 2026

The Opportunity

We’re hiring a hands-on General Manager to lead the reopening of an independent hotel in Panama City Beach following a renovation closure. This is a build-and-lead role for an operator who can recruit and train a team, create simple operating systems, and drive profitable performance in a mid-market environment.

We’re not looking for a “luxury playbook.” We need a practical leader who understands beach-market realities: seasonality, staffing challenges, guest expectations, and running a clean, efficient operation that wins on value and consistency.

What You’ll Own

Reopening Leadership (Pre-Open → Stabilize)

• Build and execute the reopening plan and readiness timeline through opening day and the first 90–180 days.

• Coordinate punch-list completion, vendor readiness, and operational setup (systems, supplies, contracts, service standards).

• Create “opening week” workflows: staffing plans, training calendar, daily checklists, guest recovery process, safety and security routines.

• Partner closely with ownership and renovation partners, maintaining clear reporting and accountability.

People, Culture & Training

• Recruit, hire, onboard, and retain a full team (department heads and line-level).

• Mentor managers and build a culture of consistency, accountability, and pride.

• Implement clear training standards for guest service, cleanliness, and maintenance response.

• Build schedules and staffing models that balance service delivery with labor discipline.

Revenue & Market Execution

• Drive revenue performance with strong understanding of RevPAR, ADR, occupancy, comp set dynamics, and channel mix.

• Coordinate marketing and online reputation management (reviews, response cadence, service recovery).

Financial & Operational Performance

• Own the property’s financial performance and daily controls:

  • Strong command of CPOR, labor productivity, purchasing controls, and flow-through

  • Budgeting and weekly performance reporting

  • Inventory and invoice discipline; vendor negotiation

• Ensure operational excellence across housekeeping, front office, and maintenance.

• Maintain compliance standards and risk management (life safety, security, cash handling).

What Success Looks Like

By opening and through the first season, you will:

• Open on-time with a trained staff, clear standards, and consistent operating rhythms.

• Stabilize guest satisfaction quickly and build strong online reputation momentum.

• Achieve labor and CPOR targets while protecting cleanliness and service.

• Establish a disciplined revenue routine that improves RevPAR through the season.

• Build a leadership bench that can operate without constant GM firefighting.

The Ideal Candidate

• Proven Hotel General Manager experience (or strong AGM/ops leader ready to step up) with evidence of:

  • Reopening after renovation/closure and/or new opening / turnaround experience

• Strong team builder and coach: can recruit fast, train consistently, and retain staff.

• Financial fluency: confident with RevPAR, CPOR, labor %, purchasing, budgets, forecasting, and reading P&Ls.

• Comfortable in a truly hands-on environment—leads from the floor and sets the pace.

• Strong owner communication and reporting discipline.

• Panama City Beach / Emerald Coast market familiarity is a plus.

Why This Role

• Independence and autonomy: build systems that work for this hotel and this market.

• Meaningful impact: lead the reopening and shape the culture from day one.

• Direct partnership with ownership with clear goals and accountability.

How to Apply

Send your resume and a short note covering:

1. Your experience with renovation transitions, reopenings, or turnarounds

2. How you hire/train staff quickly (your playbook)

3. A financial result you drove (RevPAR improvement, CPOR reduction, labor efficiency, etc.)