General Manager | Luxe Boutique Hotel | Upstate NY

Job Description

Job Description

A distinctive boutique hotel in Upstate New York is seeking an experienced, creative, and hands-on General Manager to oversee all aspects of hotel operations. This is an opportunity for a hospitality leader who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment, enjoys being highly visible with both guests and staff, and takes genuine ownership of the overall success of the property.

The General Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day and strategic leadership of the hotel, with oversight across Rooms, Food & Beverage, Housekeeping, Front Office, Human Resources, Finance, and overall property operations. This individual will set the tone for the team, maintain strong operational and service standards, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, guest satisfaction, culture, and financial performance.

This is a true hands-on leadership role. The ideal candidate understands that running a boutique hotel often means stepping in wherever needed to ensure that guests, employees, and the property are successful. A positive, solutions-oriented, "can do" approach is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction for all day-to-day hotel operations
• Oversee Rooms, Front Office, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Human Resources, and administrative functions
• Lead, mentor, and develop department heads and the broader hotel team
• Maintain a highly visible presence throughout the property and actively engage with guests and employees
• Foster strong communication and collaboration between departments to create a cohesive operation
• Establish clear expectations for service, performance, accountability, and workplace culture
• Recruit, hire, train, coach, and retain a strong hospitality team
• Develop staffing plans and ensure appropriate scheduling and labor management across departments
• Identify operational challenges and implement practical solutions that improve efficiency, service, and profitability
• Develop and implement operational policies, procedures, systems, and best practices
• Monitor departmental performance and provide ongoing coaching, training, and feedback
• Partner with ownership and financial leadership on budgeting, forecasting, expense management, and overall financial performance
• Understand and manage key hotel financial metrics, including labor, departmental expenses, revenue, and profitability
• Identify opportunities to increase revenue while maintaining the integrity of the guest experience
• Ensure consistently high standards of cleanliness, maintenance, presentation, and service throughout the property
• Develop strategies to improve guest satisfaction, loyalty, and overall quality of the hotel experience
• Address guest concerns thoughtfully and proactively while empowering the team to resolve issues effectively
• Ensure compliance with applicable hotel policies, employment practices, safety standards, and operational requirements
• Serve as the property's senior operational leader and take ownership of whatever is needed to ensure the hotel runs successfully

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Hotel General Manager, Assistant General Manager, Director of Operations, or senior hotel leader
• Minimum of 3–5 years of progressive hotel management experience preferred
• Boutique, independent, luxury, lifestyle, or full-service hotel experience strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of both Rooms and Food & Beverage operations
• Demonstrated experience managing and developing department heads and cross-functional teams
• Strong financial acumen with experience in budgeting, forecasting, labor management, and expense controls
• Proven ability to develop and implement operational systems and procedures
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Highly organized with the ability to balance strategic priorities with hands-on daily operations
• Creative and entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to identify opportunities and solve problems
• Guest-focused approach with a strong understanding of elevated hospitality and service
• Ability to remain calm, flexible, and solutions-oriented in a dynamic hotel environment
• Genuine enthusiasm for hospitality and building a positive, accountable team culture

Ideal Candidate

The ideal General Manager is a hands-on operator and natural hospitality leader who is equally comfortable reviewing financial performance, coaching a department head, greeting guests in the lobby, supporting a busy Food & Beverage service, or solving an unexpected operational challenge.

This role is best suited for someone who takes ownership, leads by example, and understands that in a boutique hotel environment, the job is whatever is needed to make the hotel run well and to make both guests and staff successful.