Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the opening of new hotels, ensuring operational needs align with design and construction.
- Company: Dynamic hotel management company focused on innovative openings.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a collaborative work environment.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of creating unique hotel experiences from the ground up.
- Qualifications: 5-10 years in hotel operations with strong leadership and project management skills.
- Other info: Join a passionate team dedicated to excellence in hospitality.
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).
Openings Manager - Hotels in London employer: Criterion Hospitality
Contact Detail:
Criterion Hospitality Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Openings Manager - Hotels in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the hotel industry and let them know you're on the lookout for openings. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a new project or opportunity.
✨Tip Number 2
Get social! Follow companies you’re interested in on LinkedIn and engage with their posts. This can help you get noticed and show your enthusiasm for their projects, especially in hotel openings.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of hotel operations and design. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with the role of an Openings Manager and how you can contribute to successful hotel launches.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to check our website for the latest job openings! Applying directly through us can give you a better chance of landing that dream role in hotel management.
We think you need these skills to ace Openings Manager - Hotels in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Openings Manager. Highlight your hotel operations experience and any pre-opening leadership roles you've had. We want to see how your skills align 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 position. Share specific examples of how you've developed client briefs or led successful hotel openings in the past.
Showcase Your Project Management Skills: Since this role involves coordinating various teams, make sure to highlight your experience with project management tools like Smartsheet or Asana. We love seeing how you’ve managed timelines and kept projects on track!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, we love seeing candidates who follow the process!
How to prepare for a job interview at Criterion Hospitality
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of hotel operations and how they relate to design and construction. Brush up on your knowledge of client briefs and be ready to discuss how you've successfully integrated operational needs into previous projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in pre-opening roles. Think about times when you led cross-functional teams or facilitated alignment among various stakeholders, and be ready to share these stories during the interview.
✨Be Ready with Project Management Tools
Familiarise yourself with project management tools like Smartsheet or Asana. Be prepared to discuss how you've used these tools to manage timelines, track progress, and flag risks in past projects. This will show that you're organised and tech-savvy.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the company's approach to hotel openings and how they ensure operational standards are met. This not only shows your interest in the role but also demonstrates your understanding of the complexities involved in hotel openings.
