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- Tasks: Lead the pre-opening process for new hotels, ensuring operational needs are met.
- Company: Join a dynamic hospitality brand focused on creating exceptional guest experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible work arrangements, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of hotel openings, shaping environments that delight guests and teams alike.
- Qualifications: 5-10 years in hotel operations with leadership experience in pre-opening roles required.
- Other info: Travel to project sites may be necessary; familiarity with project management tools is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced Hotel Opening Project Manager with deep operational expertise to lead and coordinate the successful opening of new hotels. This role is anchored in pre-opening operations and serves as the critical link between hotel operations, design, and construction teams to ensure the property is built, delivered, and launched to brand and operational standards.
This is not a construction PM role. It is a hospitality operations specialist position with a strong understanding of how hotels come to life and how operational requirements must inform and align with physical design and development processes.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own the full pre-opening process from an operations perspective, including staffing, training, systems, licensing, vendor coordination, and SOP development.
- 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 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.
- Ability to travel to project sites as needed.
Hotel Opening Project Manager employer: Criterion Hospitality
Contact Detail:
Criterion Hospitality Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Hotel Opening Project Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the hospitality industry, especially those who have experience in hotel openings. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with potential colleagues and mentors who can provide insights and possibly refer you to opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in hotel design and operations. Understanding how modern hotels are being built and operated will give you an edge in discussions with design and construction teams, showcasing your expertise and commitment to the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples from your past experiences where you successfully managed pre-opening processes. Highlight your ability to coordinate between various teams and how you overcame challenges during previous hotel openings.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on project management tools that are commonly used in the hospitality sector. Being proficient in tools like Smartsheet or Asana can demonstrate your readiness to manage complex projects effectively and align with the expectations of the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Hotel Opening Project Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your relevant hotel operations experience, especially in pre-opening roles. Emphasise your leadership skills and any specific projects you've managed that align with the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, explain why you are passionate about hotel openings and how your operational expertise can contribute to the success of new hotels. Use specific examples from your past experiences to demonstrate your fit for the role.
Highlight Relevant Skills: Clearly outline your familiarity with project management tools and your understanding of hotel operating models. Mention any certifications like PMP that could strengthen your application.
Showcase Communication Abilities: Since this role involves liaising with various teams, highlight your communication and organisational skills. Provide examples of how you've successfully coordinated between different stakeholders in previous projects.
How to prepare for a job interview at Criterion Hospitality
✨Showcase Your Operational Expertise
Make sure to highlight your extensive experience in hotel operations, especially in pre-opening roles. Discuss specific examples where you successfully managed the operational aspects of a hotel opening, demonstrating your understanding of how these processes align with design and construction.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
Since this role requires working closely with various teams, be ready to discuss your experience in collaborating with design, construction, and technical services. Share examples of how you've facilitated communication and alignment among diverse stakeholders to ensure operational needs are met.
✨Demonstrate Project Management Skills
Familiarise yourself with project management tools like Smartsheet or Asana, as these will likely come up in conversation. Be prepared to explain how you've used these tools to create detailed project plans, manage timelines, and track progress in previous roles.
✨Discuss Risk Management Strategies
Talk about your approach to identifying and mitigating risks during the pre-opening phase. Provide examples of challenges you've faced in past projects and how you addressed them, showcasing your problem-solving skills and ability to adapt under pressure.
