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- Tasks: Lead the opening of new hotels, ensuring operational needs align with design and construction.
- Company: Dynamic hotel group focused on innovative and high-quality hospitality experiences.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a chance to shape new hotel openings.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of creating exceptional hotel experiences from the ground up.
- Qualifications: 5-10 years in hotel operations, with leadership experience in pre-opening roles.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with diverse teams and exciting challenges.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced Hotel Opening Project Manager with deep operational expertise and a track record of developing and delivering client briefs, to lead and coordinate the successful opening of new hotels. This role is the critical link between hotel operations, design, and construction teams to ensure the property is built and delivered in line with the client brief, and launched to brand and operational standards. This is not a construction PM role. It is a hotel specialist position with a strong understanding of developing and delivering client briefs, how hotels come to life and how operational requirements must inform and align with physical design and development processes.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the formation of the client brief that dictates construction builds, ensuring operational requirements and brand standards are embedded from the outset.
- Continuously refine and evolve the brief based on operational feedback and lessons learned from previous projects.
- Act as the operational lead in meetings with design, construction, and development teams, ensuring operational needs are integrated into construction and FF&E/OS&E decisions.
- Create and manage detailed and integrated project plans, critical paths, opening timelines and checklists in coordination with construction schedules, procurement plans, and hotel leadership.
- Implement systems or tools to monitor progress, flag risks and record learnings.
- Facilitate alignment among ownership, brand, technical services, procurement, IT, and operations to ensure smooth handover and readiness.
- Lead site readiness reviews, oversee pre-opening task force deployment, and support the hotel through soft and full opening.
- Provide regular progress reports to senior leadership and recommend process optimizations.
Qualifications:
- 5–10 years of hotel operations experience, with a minimum of 3 years in pre-opening leadership roles (as project manager, task force lead, or opening director).
- Strong knowledge of hotel operating models and how they intersect with physical design (front/back of house, guest experience, compliance, etc.).
- Experience interfacing with construction, design, FF&E/OS&E, and technical services teams.
- Outstanding organizational, communication, and leadership skills across diverse stakeholders.
- Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Asana, MS Project).
- PMP or similar certification is a plus.
Hotel Pre-Opening Project Manager in City of London employer: Criterion Hospitality
Contact Detail:
Criterion Hospitality Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Hotel Pre-Opening Project Manager in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your contacts in the hotel industry and let them know you're on the lookout for a new role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Get your LinkedIn game on point! Make sure your profile showcases your experience in hotel operations and project management. Join relevant groups and engage with posts to increase your visibility in the industry.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of hotel operating models and design intersections. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully led pre-opening projects in the past and what you've learned from them.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We’ve got some fantastic opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge over other candidates. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Hotel Pre-Opening Project Manager in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Hotel Pre-Opening Project Manager role. Highlight your operational expertise and any relevant experience in hotel openings. We want to see how your background aligns with the job description!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've successfully managed hotel openings or similar projects. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to highlight your organisational and communication skills. Mention any project management tools you’re familiar with, like Smartsheet or Asana. We’re looking for someone who can keep everything on track!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Let’s get your journey started!
How to prepare for a job interview at Criterion Hospitality
✨Know Your Hotel Operations Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your hotel operations knowledge. Understand how different departments work together and how operational requirements influence design and construction. This will help you articulate your insights during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Be ready to discuss specific project management tools you've used, like Smartsheet or Asana. Prepare examples of how you've created detailed project plans and managed timelines in previous roles, as this will demonstrate your ability to handle the responsibilities of the position.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific challenges in a hotel opening. Think about past experiences where you had to refine client briefs or manage stakeholder expectations, and be ready to share those stories.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Since this role involves liaising with various teams, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Use examples from your experience to illustrate your leadership and communication skills, ensuring you convey your ability to align diverse stakeholders effectively.
