General Manager (Pre-Opening) - Riyadh

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in Riyadh seeks a General Manager to lead the pre-opening and successful launch of a hotel, establishing the operational foundations, team and standards needed for long-term success.

The GM will drive profitability, guest experience, and brand alignment, overseeing all departments, coordinating with ownership, regional offices and the executive committee to deliver the business plan.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management or related field.
• Minimum of five years’ GM experience in internationally branded hotels with pre-opening success.
• Previous international experience; Middle East knowledge is highly desirable.
• Arabic language skills are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead hotel operations across Front Office, Housekeeping, F&B, Sales & Marketing, Finance and Engineering.
• Ensure guest service standards align with Wyndham brand expectations and safety/compliance.
• Develop and execute the hotel’s business plan; manage budgets, forecasts and KPIs.
• Recruit, coach and develop department heads; foster a high-performance leadership team.
• Build strong relationships with Ownership and local stakeholders; act as brand ambassador.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Integrity

Diplomacy

Strategic planning

Commercial acumen

Guest orientation

Analytical ability

Team leadership

Hospitality operations

Multicultural collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management or related field

Job description

The role holder will lead the pre-opening and successful launch of the hotel, establishing the operational foundations, team and standards required to position the property for long-term success.

The General Manager will lead the business from the front and by example, ensuring that the expectations of key stakeholders – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Ownership, team members and guests – are effectively managed.

• Lead the hotel through all stages of pre-opening, opening and stabilisation.
• Drive yield, profitability and excellence in service standards.
• Hold the property leadership team accountable for execution whilst supporting their individual and professional development.
• Build strong relationships with Ownership through proactive and ongoing communication, keeping them informed of brand initiatives, hotel performance and guest experience.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

• Lead and oversee all hotel operations, including Front Office, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Sales & Marketing, Finance and Engineering.
• Ensure high standards of guest service and satisfaction in line with Wyndham brand expectations.
• Conduct regular property walks to ensure standards for cleanliness, safety and appearance are maintained.
• Oversee capital projects and ensure the physical asset is well maintained and secure.
• Lead the hotel team with a guest-centric approach, ensuring an exceptional guest experience.
• Develop and execute the hotel’s business plan to achieve operational and financial goals.
• Prepare, review and manage budgets, forecasts and financial plans.
• Monitor financial performance and drive profitability through effective cost control and revenue optimisation.
• Regularly review financial statements, reports and KPIs to support informed business decisions.
• Approve expenditure and capital investments in accordance with approved budgets, policies and delegated authority.
• Drive sales and marketing strategies to maximise occupancy, revenue and market share.
• Work closely with the Director of Sales & Marketing to attract new business and retain existing clients.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, corporate partners and local stakeholders.
• Represent the hotel at relevant industry events and within the local community.
• Lead, coach and mentor department heads to build a high-performing and unified leadership team.
• Oversee recruitment, development, performance management and employee relations in accordance with local labour laws and company policies.
• Foster a positive and collaborative working environment that supports team member engagement and development.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable local laws, regulations, health and safety requirements and Wyndham brand standards.
• Oversee risk management, security and emergency preparedness.
• Monitor guest satisfaction and feedback, implementing actions to continuously improve the guest experience.
• Proactively engage with guests, including VIPs, to build relationships and gather feedback.

DEFINE AND DELIVER THE HOTEL’S STRATEGIC PLAN

• Working closely with the Regional Office, define and execute a detailed strategic and budget plan for the property, including performance targets, policies, processes and procedures. This will be particularly important during the pre-opening phase.
• Establish a strong identity and awareness of the hotel within Riyadh, the wider region and Saudi Arabia.
• Build and maintain an excellent relationship with Ownership, protect the hotel asset and act as an extension of the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Management team.
• Develop a strong presence within the local market and build effective relationships with relevant media, industry partners and stakeholders.
• Position the property within its defined target markets and deliver the agreed business plan at both hotel and company level.

QUALITY ASSURANCE, BRAND STANDARDS & GUEST SATISFACTION

• Act as a guardian of the Wyndham brand, ensuring hotel operations are conducted in accordance with applicable Wyndham brand standards.
• Establish and maintain appropriate guest satisfaction measurement tools, team member awareness programmes, operating standards and SOPs/LSOPs to drive performance, compliance and guest satisfaction.
• Leverage Wyndham’s systems, tools and Wyndham Rewards programme to support guest loyalty and hotel performance.
• Drive continuous improvement in quality assurance, guest satisfaction and brand compliance.

FINANCE

• Be accountable for the overall financial performance of the hotel and actively participate in key financial and investment decisions.
• Manage CAPEX and OPEX in line with the approved budget.
• Take overall responsibility for the hotel’s Balance Sheet and P&L and manage the relationship with Ownership and Wyndham on an ongoing basis.
• Prepare the annual budget for Wyndham and Owner approval in conjunction with the Executive Committee.
• Review payroll and staffing costs with the Finance and HR leaders and challenge HODs where necessary in relation to overspending and casual labour usage.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial and operational reporting to the Regional Office.
• Monitor performance against agreed KPIs and maintain strong control over profitability, revenue optimisation and costs.
• Identify and address potential issues that may impact financial performance and communicate material changes in revenue or performance to the Regional Office in a timely manner.

MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP

• Lead, coach and develop direct reports through regular feedback, coaching and mentoring.
• Ensure all direct reports have a PDP to support their performance and development goals.
• Maintain effective communication across the hotel and ensure a strong flow of information between departments.
• Provide guidance, motivation and direction to all team members.
• Work closely with the Executive Committee and HODs to ensure departmental plans support the overall hotel business strategy.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and high performance.
• Maintain a business environment aligned with the Wyndham Code of Conduct, company values and Count on Me service culture.
• Actively participate in community initiatives together with the hotel management team.
• Act as the face and ambassador of the property, building strong relationships with guests, owners, partners and the local community.
• Lead by example and encourage the team to do the right thing.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Strong leadership and people management
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Integrity and accountability
• Diplomacy and stakeholder management
• Strategic planning and decision-making
• Strong commercial and financial acumen
• Guest and quality orientation
• Strong analytical capability
• Collaborative and team-focused approach
• Self-starter with a hands-on leadership style
• Strong understanding of hotel operations
• Ability to operate effectively in a complex, multicultural environment

Alongside these key competencies, the role holder will be expected to demonstrate Wyndham’s Count on Me service culture by being responsive, respectful and delivering great experiences.

EXPERIENCE, CERTIFICATION & EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree, ideally in Hospitality Management, Business Administration or a related discipline, and/or significant relevant industry experience.
• A minimum of five years’ experience as a General Manager within internationally branded hotels.
• Proven pre-opening experience is required, with the ability to successfully lead a hotel through pre-opening, launch and stabilisation.
• Previous international experience, ideally within the Middle East. Experience in Saudi Arabia and knowledge of the KSA market are highly desirable.
• Arabic language skills are preferred.
• Strong commercial experience across sales, revenue management and marketing, together with proven P&L management experience.
• Strong financial acumen with experience in budgeting, forecasting, cost management and driving profitability.
• Significant people leadership experience, including managing large, complex and multinational teams.
• Strong understanding of Food & Beverage operations.