Hotel Director for Azamara Cruises

V.Group; City Of London; Remote; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cruise line company is seeking a Hotel Director to oversee the Hotel Department aboard its vessels. This role involves ensuring operational excellence across all guest services and managing a multicultural team. Ideal candidates will have over five years of management experience, strong communication skills, and a degree in hospitality management. The position demands a commitment to quality service and compliance with health standards.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Travel opportunities

Professional development programs

Qualifications

• 5+ years of management experience in upscale hotels or cruise ships.
• Knowledge of US Public Health procedures.
• Strong leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Direct the operation of the Hotel Department onboard the vessel.
• Ensure guest satisfaction by overseeing service quality.
• Implement budget plans for optimum guest satisfaction.

Skills

Management skills in a multicultural environment

Strong communication skills

Customer service

Problem solving

Decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management or related field

Certificates in Food Handling and Health and Safety

Job description

Hotel Director for Azamara Cruises

Department: Hotel

Employment Type: Contract

Location: Shipboard

Description

V.Ships Leisure is looking for a Hotel Director on behalf of Azamara Cruises. The Hotel Director directs the Hotel Department operation onboard the vessel to ensure company, divisional and ship performance objectives set are met or exceeded by performing the following essential duties and responsibilities personally and/or through division heads and their teams. The Hotel Department operation consists of Food & Beverage, Housekeeping, Inventory, Guest Relations, Finance, Entertainment, IT, Cruise Sales, and all onboard revenue-generating areas.

Key Responsibilities

Azamara’s mission is to inspire curious and passionate travelers to spend more time exploring the world with us on our destination immersive cruises. All duties and responsibilities are to be performed in accordance with STAR Values and Go Further Standards, Safety, ISM/ISO and VMS and Azamara standards, USPH guidelines, and environmental regulations. In accordance with Azamara Cruises’ STAR Values and Go Further Standards each employee conducts oneself in a professional and courteous manner at all times. This consists of physical and verbal interactions with guests or fellow shipboard employees and/or in the presence of guest contact and crew areas. Each shipboard employee may be required to perform all functions in various service venues and throughout the ship.

• Plans, organizes, supports, controls, and evaluates the operation of the Hotel Department.
• As two Hotel Directors will share equal responsibility of their ship’s performance throughout the financial / calendar year, it is vital they maintain strong communication and collaboration towards shared goals.
• Accomplishes the targets for the Hotel Department through the management of Hotel Division Heads.
• Ensures the highest level of guest satisfaction by overseeing the delivery of quality guest services and amenities within corporate standards. Serves as the highest-ranking officer in the Hotel Department in addressing guests' complaints and resolving problems.
• Establishes and maintains effective internal communications including regular Division Head meetings to ensure optimum teamwork and productivity.
• Continually encourages communication and cooperation between all sub-hotel divisions, Deck and Technical departments. Keeps all Executive Committee members informed of hotel activities and pending issues that require cooperation.
• Implements the business operating budget plan to ensure on-going optimum total guest satisfaction, cost control and revenue potential. Reviews operating budgets and revenue reports. Analyzes established goals and objectives compared to actual results and implements recommendations to achieve projected goals.
• Ensures inventory processes are followed correctly, approves MXP orders as appropriate and ensures relevant division heads and managers are thoroughly reviewing orders placed.
• Conducts walkthroughs and spot checks of all inventory areas and back of house store rooms regularly.
• Monitors cash management programs and purchasing practices including inventories and receivables. Allocates funds, authorizes expenditures, and assists in adhering to budgets for Hotel Department. Provides approval for non-standard requisitions for supplies and equipment.
• Responsible for the financial operation of the vessel, including: All cash transactions, Expense approval, Local purchases.
• In conjunction with the Staff Captain, Staff Chief Engineer and Food and Beverage Manager, they ensure the highest level of compliance with all United States Public Health (USPH) standards as well as compliance of Public Health standards relevant to the markets within which we sail.
• Conducts regular inspections to ensure guest and crew facilities are kept in optimal condition by full implementation of preventive maintenance programs and judicious planning and management.
• Ensures the security and safety of guests and crewmembers through established emergency procedures.
• Establishes and maintains a prominent level of visibility and personal involvement throughout the vessel in guest and crew areas.
• Monitors smooth implementation of guest and crewmember feedback and recognition programs.
• Participates with corporate office in monitoring present and future trends, practices and systems in the hospitality and cruise industries.
• Ensures that all crewmembers in the Hotel Department receive effective performance appraisals as applicable for 90 days end of probation and end of contract within 7 days prior to sign off.
• Supports and oversees a smooth implementation of all training programs for the Hotel Department.
• Understands the Safety Program, and their responsibilities in the Safety Organization according to the Emergency Plan and Station Bill. Must be available, capable, and ready to act in the event of an emergency.
• Responsible overseeing and able to carry out the assigned responsibilities in case of a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) as described in the Situation Management Plan.
• Attends meetings, training activities, courses and all other work-related activities as required.
• Responsible for effectively managing the time and attendance of their own, direct reports’ and entire department’s work and rest hours in accord with MLC regulations and company procedures.
• Shipboard employees will be required to perform any other job-related duties assigned by their supervisor or management.
• Responsible overall for all Hotel Department’s financial matters, communicating with their colleagues and counterparts on financial planning across the year.
• Tracks and continuously monitors all ship hotel operating costs and ensures operation is within agreed cost parameters.
• Tracks and continuously monitors, in conjunction with the Onboard Revenue Partners, ways of improving onboard revenue targets and other potential profit opportunities and forwards ideas to the corporate office.
• Strives for an engaged, professional and stable Hotel Department with pride in both ship and company being led by motivated and high-performing managers and crewmembers.
• Responsible for developing a team spirit amongst key reporting division heads. Interacts with each to ensure continuous communications between division heads and direct reports.
• Oversees the implementation of crewmember recognition programs. Ensures maximum publicity of such events with guests and crewmembers.
• Approves and oversees the crewmember recreation program and ensures, within established guidelines, that the crewmember environment continuously improves.
• Identifies and develops onboard talent with assistance from Division Heads and the Human Resources Manager.
• As the head of the largest division onboard, personifies all of the Company's principles and standards, acting as a role model at all times.
• Self-motivation: Takes the initiative to stay abreast of currents trends in leadership, hospitality and general business by reading relevant books, periodicals, and pursuing other job-related learning platforms.

Education / Experience / Qualifications

• Five or more years progressive management experience in an upscale hotel or cruise ship in the areas of food and beverage, guest relations, housekeeping, entertainment, or human resources.
• Strong communication, problem solving, decision making, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong management skills in a multicultural and dynamic environment.
• Experience with fiduciary oversight and responsibility across multi-faceted operations.
• Knowledge of USPH procedures and/or certificates in Food Handling, Food Hygiene, Health and Safety from recognized shoreside regulatory bodies.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities.
• Superior customer service, team building and conflict resolution skills.
• Knowledge of the principles and processes involved in business and organizational planning, coordination, and execution. This includes strategic planning, resource allocation, work force planning and management, leadership techniques and production methods.
• Knowledge of the principles and processes for providing personalized services including needs assessment techniques, quality service standards, alternative delivery systems, and guest satisfaction evaluation techniques.
• Knowledge of the policies and practices involved in the human resources function. Ability to manage the international department heads in a positive and productive manner by motivating, developing and effectively managing crewmembers. Working in conjunction with the Human Resources Manager, utilizes and administers the company’s disciplinary action process through coaching and counseling to improve performance or terminate employment.
• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, business administration or related field from an accredited college or university or the international equivalent preferred.
• Intermediate computer software skills required.
• Applicable to Hotel Director direct reports with completion of two or more contracts with a performance rating of proficient or above along with demonstrated leadership skills.
• No disciplinary action on file for the last 12 months.
• Ability to speak English clearly, distinctly, and cordially with guests.
• Ability to read and write English to understand and interpret written procedures.
• This includes the ability to give and receive instructions in written and verbal forms and to effectively present information and respond to questions from guests, supervisors, and co-workers.
• Ability to speak additional languages such as Spanish, French, or German is preferred.