Hostel manager

seek.com.au; Gold Coast City; On-site; AUD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SEEK is seeking an experienced Hostel Manager to oversee the daily operations of a busy Australian hostel in the Gold Coast region. You will lead about 15 staff, manage guest services and reservations, monitoring quality and safety, while driving revenue through pricing, occupancy strategies and cost control.

The role emphasizes team leadership, supplier coordination, and adherence to standards across housekeeping, front desk and facilities. This is a full‑time, on‑site position.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Hospitality or equivalent qualification required (3+ years may substitute).
• Experience supervising or managing teams in hospitality, accommodation or tourism.
• Proficient with property management and booking systems (Cloudbeds, Booking.com, Hostelworld).
• Strong pricing, occupancy and revenue management knowledge.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving and customer service skills.
• Strong written and verbal English communication.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day hostel operations and maintain high standards of accommodation, guest service and presentation.
• Lead a team of about 15 staff, including rostering, training and performance monitoring.
• Manage front office and guest services, including check-ins/outs, inquiries and complaint handling.
• Coordinate reservations and availability using Cloudbeds and online platforms (Booking.com, Hostelworld).
• Contribute to pricing decisions and seasonal pricing strategies to increase bookings and revenue.
• Monitor budgets, costs and report performance to senior management.
• Ensure safety, compliance and property standards across the operation.

Skills

Leadership

Staff rostering

Customer service

English communication

Problem solving

Education

Diploma in Hospitality

Tools

Cloudbeds

Booking.com

Hostelworld

Job description

Reporting to the Directors, the Hostel Manager will be responsible for the overall management and daily operation of the hostel. The role will oversee staff, guest services, reservations, housekeeping, facilities and operational procedures, while ensuring the property operates efficiently and consistently with the standards of our wider hostel group. The Hostel Manager will play a key role in maintaining high standards of guest satisfaction, managing and developing the onsite team, monitoring property performance and implementing operational improvements to support the continued growth of the business.

Key responsibilities

• Managing and coordinating the day-to-day operations of the hostel, ensuring efficient operations and maintaining appropriate standards of accommodation, guest service, cleanliness, safety and overall property presentation.
• Supervising and coordinating a team of approximately 15 staff members, including preparing rosters, allocating duties, training and onboarding employees, providing ongoing guidance, and monitoring staff performance.
• Overseeing front office and guest services, including check-ins and check-outs, responding to guest enquiries, managing complaints, resolving conflicts, and addressing guest and operational issues.
• Managing reservations, availability and accommodation operations through property management and booking systems, primarily Cloudbeds, as well as online booking platforms including Booking.com and Hostelworld.
• Participating in pricing, sales and revenue management, including monitoring occupancy and competitor activity, contributing to pricing decisions, supporting seasonal pricing strategies and promotional campaigns, and implementing initiatives to increase bookings and revenue.
• Monitoring operational budgets and controlling property costs, including staffing, supplies and maintenance expenses, and reporting relevant property performance and operational matters to senior management.
• Overseeing housekeeping, maintenance and general property standards, coordinating cleaning and maintenance requirements, identifying operational issues, and ensuring timely resolution of property-related matters.
• Ensuring compliance with workplace health and safety requirements, fire safety obligations, accommodation standards and relevant regulatory requirements, while maintaining company policies and procedures.
• Managing staff and guest issues and supporting effective team performance, including resolving workplace conflicts, providing operational guidance, maintaining professional standards, and contributing to the overall effective and professional management of the property.

About you

• A minimum of a Diploma in Hospitality or equivalent qualification is required. At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification requirement.
• Supervisory or management experience within hospitality, accommodation or tourism.
• Strong leadership, staff management and rostering skills.
• Experience using property management and booking systems, including Cloudbeds, Booking.com and Hostelworld.
• Sound knowledge of pricing, occupancy and revenue management.
• Strong organisational, problem-solving and customer service skills.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills.

About us

We are a rapidly growing hostel group operating six properties across Australia and one international property in Guatemala. Our business accommodates thousands of guests each month and employs over 100 staff across hostel operations, reservations, finance, marketing and customer service teams.