General Manager

We’re looking for enthusiastic, fun, and energetic people who take the work seriously, but not themselves. Let’s see if we’re a fit. We hope so.
 

The General Manager serves as the strategic and operational leader of Trilith Guesthouse, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio Hotel, responsible for delivering exceptional guest experiences, employee engagement, financial performance, and long-term asset value. This role provides visionary leadership while ensuring operational excellence across all departments, creating a distinctive boutique hotel experience that reflects the unique character of the Tribute Portfolio brand and the creative spirit of the Trilith community.

As the leader of one of the most unique boutique hotels in the Marriott system, the General Manager champions a culture rooted in storytelling, creativity, personalized service, and authentic guest connections. The General Manager is accountable for maximizing profitability, driving market share, protecting the owner's investment, and ensuring the hotel consistently exceeds guest expectations and brand standards.

A critical component of this position is fostering a strong partnership with hotel ownership through proactive communication, transparency, responsiveness, and accountability. The General Manager must build trust and confidence with ownership by providing timely business insights, strategic recommendations, accurate forecasting, and consistent follow-through on commitments. This role serves as the primary liaison between ownership, Mainsail Lodging & Development, Marriott International, and the local community.

The General Manager leads by example, cultivating a high-performance culture that embraces innovation, develops talent, and creates memorable experiences for guests, associates, owners, and stakeholders alike.

About Trilith Guesthouse

Located in the heart of the Town at Trilith and adjacent to the world-renowned Trilith Studios, Trilith Guesthouse is a 193-room Marriott Tribute Portfolio boutique hotel designed to inspire and celebrate storytellers from around the globe.

Unlike traditional hotels, Trilith Guesthouse delivers an immersive experience where creativity, imagination, and community intersect. The hotel serves filmmakers, creators, business travelers, leisure guests, and local residents seeking an authentic destination experience. Every aspect of the hotel—from its design and culinary offerings to guest interactions and community engagement—is intentionally curated to inspire meaningful connections and unforgettable stories.

As a Tribute Portfolio property, Trilith Guesthouse embraces individuality and character while maintaining Marriott’s commitment to service excellence. The General Manager is responsible for preserving and elevating this unique identity while driving operational and financial success.

Essential Functions

Business Strategy Development

The General Manager remains informed of hospitality industry trends, market conditions, competitive activity, and emerging opportunities while evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the local marketplace. This includes identifying new revenue streams, guest experience enhancements, and strategic initiatives that maximize customer satisfaction, profitability, and market share.

The General Manager develops comprehensive business plans that align with Mainsail Lodging & Development, Marriott International, and Tribute Portfolio brand objectives. These plans are translated into actionable strategies and measurable goals that drive operational excellence and long-term success.

Business Strategy Execution

The General Manager implements and drives business plans designed to enhance guest satisfaction, increase profitability, strengthen market positioning, and create sustainable growth.

This includes ensuring all departments are aligned with the hotel's strategic goals while maintaining accountability for execution and results. The General Manager encourages innovation and calculates risk-taking to improve guest experiences, operational efficiency, and financial performance while ensuring decisions positively impact the overall success of the property.

Ownership & Stakeholder Relations

The General Manager is expected to establish and maintain a trusted partnership with ownership through consistent communication, transparency, and accountability.

Responsibilities include:

• Serving as the primary representative of the hotel to ownership and investors.

• Building long-term trust and confidence through integrity, responsiveness, and execution.

• Providing timely and accurate financial reporting, forecasting, and business updates.

• Presenting strategic recommendations that support asset growth and long-term value creation.

• Maintaining regular communication regarding hotel performance, market conditions, capital projects, risks, and opportunities.

• Ensuring ownership is informed, engaged, and confident in operational decisions.

• Leading quarterly business reviews and annual strategic planning sessions with ownership.

• Demonstrating stewardship of ownership investments through disciplined financial management and capital planning.

• Fostering collaborative relationships with Marriott, ownership groups, Mainsail leadership, and community stakeholders.

Talent Management & Organizational Capacity

The General Manager cultivates a high-performing, service-oriented culture that attracts, develops, and retains exceptional talent. Recognizing that associates are the foundation of the guest experience, the General Manager is responsible for building an engaged workforce that embodies the values of Mainsail Lodging & Development, Marriott International, and the unique spirit of Trilith Guesthouse.

The General Manager actively coaches and develops department leaders through consistent feedback, accountability, mentoring, and career development planning. Individual development plans are established for all direct reports, focusing on leadership growth, operational excellence, succession planning, and professional advancement.

The General Manager fosters an environment where creativity, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement thrive. Through effective workforce planning and talent assessment, the General Manager ensures the hotel maintains the organizational capacity necessary to achieve both short- and long-term business objectives.

Special emphasis is placed on:

• Leadership development and succession planning.

• Associate engagement and retention.

• Building a culture of accountability and recognition.

• Creating opportunities for career growth and internal promotion.

• Developing future leaders within Mainsail and Marriott.

• Maintaining strong associate satisfaction and engagement scores.

• Ensuring all leaders are actively coaching and developing their teams.

The General Manager leads by example and creates a workplace where associates feel valued, empowered, respected, and inspired to deliver extraordinary guest experiences.

Brand Champion

As the leader of a Marriott Tribute Portfolio Hotel, the General Manager serves as the ultimate steward of the hotel's identity, culture, and guest experience.

The General Manager champions the unique story and positioning of Trilith Guesthouse, ensuring that every aspect of the operation reflects the property's commitment to storytelling, creativity, community, and authentic hospitality. They inspire associates to embrace the hotel's purpose and create memorable moments that differentiate the guest experience from traditional hotels.

The General Manager promotes a culture of excellence that aligns with:

• Marriott International brand standards.

• Tribute Portfolio brand values.

• Mainsail Lodging & Development's Core Values.

• The creative spirit of the Town at Trilith and Trilith Studios.

Through visible leadership and effective communication, the General Manager ensures that associates understand how their individual contributions support the overall mission and success of the hotel.

The General Manager serves as a change leader, fostering innovation while maintaining operational consistency and ensuring all decisions positively impact guests, associates, ownership, and the long-term success of the property.

Business Information Analysis

The General Manager utilizes data-driven decision-making to maximize profitability, guest satisfaction, associate engagement, and asset value.

Through regular analysis of financial, operational, guest experience, and market data, the General Manager identifies opportunities, anticipates challenges, and develops strategies that improve business performance.

Areas of focus include:

• Revenue generation and market share growth.

• Profitability and expense management.

• Labor productivity and workforce optimization.

• Guest satisfaction and loyalty metrics.

• Marriott GuestVoice and brand performance scores.

• Associate engagement survey results.

• Competitive set analysis and market trends.

• Food and Beverage performance.

• Capital planning and asset preservation.

• Forecasting accuracy and business planning.

The General Manager maintains a comprehensive understanding of all financial statements, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, cash flow analysis, and operational performance metrics.

Business insights are communicated regularly to ownership, Mainsail leadership, and hotel teams through detailed reporting, forecasting, strategic planning, and performance reviews. The General Manager ensures business decisions are supported by data while remaining aligned with the hotel's strategic objectives and ownership goals.

What You Have

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.

• Prior General Manager experience is strongly preferred.

• Minimum of ten years of progressive hospitality leadership experience, with significant exposure to Rooms and Food & Beverage operations.

• Experience leading a luxury, lifestyle, boutique, or independent hotel preferred.

• Marriott brand experience is strongly preferred.

• Experience working directly with ownership groups, investors, and asset managers.

• Proven success managing complex Food & Beverage operations.

• Strong customer service and relationship-building skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong presentation and public speaking abilities.

• Advanced understanding of hotel financial management, forecasting, budgeting, and balance sheet analysis.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and hospitality management systems.

• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, collaboration, accountability, and innovation.

What You'll Do

• Consistently demonstrate and uphold Mainsail Lodging & Development's Core Values.

• Deliver exceptional guest experiences that reflect Marriott and Tribute Portfolio standards.

• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.

• Build a strong leadership culture based on honesty, transparency, collaboration, and mutual respect.

• Drive revenue growth, profitability, and market share while maximizing owner returns.

• Lead all operational, financial, and strategic functions of the hotel.

• Conduct regular leadership meetings and operational reviews.

• Ensure compliance with Marriott brand standards, company policies, and operating procedures.

• Lead capital projects, renovations, and property improvement initiatives.

• Manage guest concerns and oversee service recovery efforts.

• Develop, present, and achieve annual operating, marketing, sales, and capital budgets.

• Drive profitability while maintaining exceptional guest satisfaction.

• Set and execute both short-term and long-term strategic goals.

• Develop cost-control initiatives and operational efficiencies.

• Provide accurate monthly reporting, forecasting, and business reviews to ownership and stakeholders.

• Monitor daily business reports and adjust operational strategies accordingly.

• Maximize room revenue and market share through strategic revenue management practices.

• Oversee vendor relationships, purchasing, and contract management.

• Serve as the final decision-maker for key leadership hiring decisions.

• Develop and mentor the Executive Leadership Team.

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

• Actively represent the hotel within the local community and hospitality industry.

Community & Brand Ambassador

As the face of Trilith Guesthouse, the General Manager serves as a visible leader within the Town at Trilith, Fayette County, the greater Atlanta market, and the hospitality community.

The General Manager will:

• Build strong relationships with Trilith Studios, local businesses, tourism partners, and community leaders.

• Represent the hotel at industry and community events.

• Strengthen the hotel's position as a premier boutique destination within the Marriott system.

• Support local initiatives that enhance the guest experience and community engagement.

• Serve as an ambassador for Mainsail Lodging & Development, Marriott International, Tribute Portfolio, and Trilith Guesthouse.

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and move throughout the hotel for extended periods of time.

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with guests, associates, ownership groups, and business partners.

• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull up to 25 pounds.

• Ability to inspect hotel facilities, guest rooms, public spaces, restaurants, and operational areas.

• Corrected vision within normal range sufficient to perform job duties.

• Ability to travel locally and occasionally overnight for meetings, training, conferences, and corporate events.

• Flexibility to work varied schedules including evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours as business demands require.

• Ability to respond to emergency situations and remain present during critical operational events.

Mental Demands

• Ability to make sound and timely decisions in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.

• Capacity to analyze complex financial, operational, and business information.

• Ability to remain calm and effective under pressure.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to lead, motivate, influence, and inspire diverse teams.

• Ability to navigate difficult conversations with guests, associates, ownership groups, and business partners.

• Demonstrated emotional intelligence and resilience.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion in sensitive matters.

• Strong listening skills and the ability to understand and address concerns from guests, associates, ownership, and stakeholders.

• Ability to adapt quickly to changing business conditions and operational needs.

NOTICE: The hospitality industry operates twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week. The General Manager is expected to maintain a highly visible leadership presence and may be required to work flexible schedules, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergency situations as business needs dictate. This position requires a commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and service. The General Manager serves as a role model for the organization and is expected to uphold and promote the values of Mainsail Lodging & Development, Marriott International, Tribute Portfolio Hotels, and Trilith Guesthouse in every aspect of leadership and decision-making.

The General Manager is ultimately responsible for protecting and enhancing the reputation, profitability, culture, and long-term success of the hotel while serving guests, associates, ownership, and the community with excellence.

Mainsail is an Equal Opportunity Employer and it does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military service and veteran status, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.