General Manager

HOTEL DESCRIPTION

Shin Kobe Hotel features 594 guestrooms and suites and restaurants, bars, and lounges, including an all-day dining restaurant, specialty restaurants offering Italian, Japanese, and Chinese cuisine, and bars, as well as a swimming pool and fitness center. The Hotel also offers 17 meeting rooms, a junior ballroom, and a grand ballroom of 1,663 sqm, providing a total of 3,613 sqm of event space. A wedding chapel is available within the Hotel as well.

The hotel is part of a mixed-use complex with a retail mall and is located within walking distance of Shin-Kobe Shinkansen Station, providing convenient connectivity within Kobe and to other major cities in Japan. Nearby attractions include the Kitano Ijinkan District (700 m), Kobe Oji Zoo (2 km), and Nankinmachi Chinatown (2.7 km). The hotel will open on 1 December 2026 and undergo phased renovations in the next few years.

JOB SUMMARY

Functions as the primary strategic business leader of the property with responsibility for all aspects of the operation, including guest and employee satisfaction, human resources, financial performance, sales and revenue generation and delivering a return on investment to both Marriott International and property ownership. Verifies implementation of the Marriott brand service strategy and brand initiatives with the objective of meeting or exceeding guest expectations, increased profit and market share. Holds property leadership team accountable for strategy execution, and guides their individual professional development. The position ensures Marriott International sales engines are leveraged and initiates independent and proactive sales activities, when appropriate, to generate demand. Verifies that the objectives and goals of Marriott and property owners work together to achieve brand positioning and success. Builds owner loyalty through proactive communication, setting and managing expectations and delivering solid business results. The position is actively involved in the local community and builds strong relationships with local officials, businesses, and customers. Represents Marriott Hotels & Resorts and JW brand values in all leadership actions.

CANDIDATE PROFILE 

The ideal candidate for this role will have previous work experience in Japan as a General Manager or Hotel Manager, preferably with hotel rebranding or conversion experience. Having Japanese language proficiency will be an advantage. The successful candidate will have proven experience in hotel operations, with strong sales and marketing leadership, food and beverage expertise, and financial acumen.

Education and Experience

• 2-year degree from an accredited university in Business Administration, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or related major; 8 years’ experience in the management operations, sales and marketing, finance and accounting, or related professional area.

OR

• 4-year bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or related major; 6 years’ experience in the management operations, sales and marketing, finance and accounting, or related professional area.

JOB SPECIFIC TASKS

Business Strategy Development

Stays current with industry trends and monitors strengths and weakness of competition; explores new business opportunities; develops business plans designed to maximize property customer satisfaction, profitability, and market share; ensures property business plans are aligned with Marriott brand business strategies; translates Marriott global strategic plan into one that can be executed on property.

Business Strategy Execution

Executes business plans designed to maximize property customer satisfaction, profitability, and market share; ensures that property business plans and employees are aligned with MHR/JW brand business strategies; holds property leadership team accountable for successful delivery of business plans; experiments with new ideas and takes calculated risks to improve guest satisfaction and profitability; evaluates the success of property business strategies to inform future business plan enhancements; continually ensures business plans and actions have a positive impact on property performance.

Sales and Marketing

Works closely with Sales and Marketing team to develop revenue generating strategies for property; identifies new business leads, develops tailored sales approach, and actively pursues leads with Sales and Marketing team; ensures sales and marketing strategy is aligned with brand strategy and is effectively executed against established goals; ensures property leaders understand and leverage Marriott demand engines to full potential; augments guest preference for property through booking ease and quality interactions with sales force.

Talent Management and Organizational Capability

Creates a cohesive and high-performance Executive Committee that continuously strives for positive results and improvement; coaches Executive Committee by providing specific feedback and holds them accountable for performance; creates learning and development opportunities for employees; creates and effectively executes development plans for both direct reports based on their individual strengths, development needs, and career aspirations; ensures all managers are doing the same for their direct reports; identifies resource needs to strengthen property team; creates succession plans for future job openings; actively supports the staffing process; ensures effective work processes, systems and teamwork are in place to maximize individual and overall property performance.

Brand Champion

Serves as a passionate brand advocate and ensures that the intent of the brand is pulled through in the guest experience; communicates a clear and consistent message regarding property and MHR/JW brand goals to employees, property leadership team, and owners; serves as a role model by demonstrating exceptional work ethic and service delivery for all employees on property; champions change; inspires and motivates team to achieve operational excellence; represents MHR/JW brand values in all leadership actions.

Business Information Analysis

Reviews business related data such as market share, financial performance, inventory, employee engagement, and customer satisfaction; analyzes business information to proactively address changing market conditions, ensure property operates within budgetary guidelines, and achieves profit margin goals; uses business information to identify indicators of product and service successes and opportunities for improvement; integrates business information into business plans.

Employee and Labor Relations

Ensures all employees are treated fairly, and with respect; builds rapport with employees by fostering an environment of open communication and spending time with employees on the frontlines; makes self-available to employees (“open door policy”); ensures pay and benefits are appropriate for labor market; celebrates the success of employees in a public way; works with Human Resources to maximize employee engagement and monitor local labor environment to address issues as needed.

Revenue Management

Works with Revenue Management team to develop effective pricing strategies, balancing seasonality, economy, customer segments, property objectives and customer satisfaction; established revenue strategy that supports MHR/JW brand positioning in local market; ensures demand forecasting and sound revenue practices are in place to maximize yield; identifies ways to grow occupancy, RevPAR, and market share by researching and staying aware of competitor strategies; controls labor and capital expenses.

Owner Relations

Builds strong rapport with property owners through proactive and on-going communication; keeps owner informed of brand initiatives and guest experiences; provides owners with in-depth analysis of property performance, incorporating guest, financial and employee business data; manages an effective balance between owner interests and Marriott brand interests and develops solutions that create value for both; develops and effectively promotes ideas for improving property service and profitability to ownership.

Customer and Public Relations Management

Interacts with guests and other customers on a frequent basis to obtain feedback about their experiences on property; utilizes guest/customer feedback to recognize outstanding employee service performance and improve service delivery; emphasizes and holds leadership team accountable for addressing service failures or potential service failures, and for developing innovative ways to exceed guest expectations; establishes presence in the market by actively promoting an exemplary property/brand image, involving oneself in the local community, and by developing strategic alliances with local officials, businesses, and customers; anticipates needs of large groups or high profile guests in order to deliver flawless service; verifies that products, services, and events attain the appropriate publicity (“PR buzz”).

Company/Brand Policy, Procedures, and Standards Compliance

Verifies property compliance with legal, safety, operations, labor, and Marriott brand product and service standards; conducts both routine and short-notice quality assurance audits with specific departments; holds employees accountable for performing audits on a regular basis; conducts detailed walk-throughs to ensure building, public areas, kitchen, and grounds are well-maintained, safe, and meet or exceed guest expectations; ensures employees are appropriately trained and performing to standard.