General Manager

Raines Co.; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Raines Co. is seeking a passionate General Manager for the upcoming Lantern Hotel Columbia Vista. This unique boutique hotel will integrate a team primarily composed of individuals with disabilities, focusing on creating a supportive and dynamic work environment. The role demands strong leadership, an understanding of hospitality operations, and a commitment to community and inclusivity. Join us in reshaping the hotel experience in Columbia and making a meaningful impact.

Benefits

Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision benefits

401K plan

Generous PTO program

Employee Referral Bonus Program

Qualifications

• Successful experience as a General Manager in the hospitality sector, preferably boutique.
• Ability to foster the growth of individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Proficient in operations and team management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily hotel operations as the Chief Inspiration Officer.
• Ensure superior guest services and the profitability of F&B operations.
• Manage and foster positive staff relationships and training.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Creativity

Understanding of finance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration or Hotel and Restaurant Management

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

Who you are:

Are you a compassionate, dynamic, and truly hands-on General Manager who thrives in an environment where the entrepreneurial spirit is a driving force for success? Are you looking for a role that allows you to leave the world a better place? Seriously, leaving the world a better place. Do you have ties to people with disabilities? You see where this is going. Have you built hospitality teams that have “serving others” as a top value? Do you understand the operations of an independent boutique hotel and the importance of f&b in its success? If the answers to these questions are second nature, then we have a life-changing opportunity to open a Purpose driven boutique hotel with the best hotel management company in the country. Read on.

Who you will be associated with:

We are Florence, SC based Raines Hospitality, established in 1988 as a family-owned business. We have grown into a fully integrated development, management, and investment company that develops, operates, and owns hotels and resorts representing the world’s leading hotel brands. Raines has maintained a family-oriented culture that believes in building relationships with our associates, with our partners, and within the communities where we operate. We have a compassionate yet driven senior leadership team who have a vested interest in the growth and financial success of each General Manager of our hotels and resorts.

We offercomprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision benefits, 401K, a generous PTO program, an Employee Referral Bonus Program and the opportunity to join a winning culture recognized for rewarding our best with opportunities to advance their career within the company. But maybe most important, we care for our team.

The Opportunity: The Lantern Hotel Columbia Vista

Raines Hospitality is repurposing, through an extensive, multi-multimillion dollar renovation, the City of Columbia’s historic firehouse adjacent to the Statehouse. We are converting it to an upscale (4-star ish), 60-room independent boutique hotel with the expectation this will be the best hotel in Columbia, South Carolina. Also, as the operator, the hotel will feature the cuisine of James Beard nominee (and University of South Carolina alumni), Kevin Johnson, in its lobby based, open-air restaurant and bar, Ladder 13. But what makes The Lantern Hotel Columbia Vista even more unique is that a significant percentage of the hotel’s talented team will be made up of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through a partnership with USC’s CarolinaLIFE program and other organizations in the Columbia area. Adding to this, the Hotel is partnering with USC’s nationally recognized hospitality program to provide upscale guests with a truly unique experience when in Columbia.

What it takes:

• • Past successful General Manager experience, preferably in a boutique environment with F&B experience and all that takes: adherence to high standards, great communication (oral and written) skills, understanding of finance, a driving personality with a moral compass that points North.
  • An understanding of how to relate to and foster the growth and happiness of individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities. More so, how to make them (but also all team members) successful in their hotel roles (and life in general).
  • Patience, tolerance, and a lot of compassion. One who can see what all individuals can do versus fitting them into a mold created by a job description.
  • Creativity in day-to-day operations. Good example: the schedule. Understand the schedule is a mosaic in that not everyone works an 8 hour shift nor does everyone have the exact skills for each function. Put the pieces together to make a beautiful piece of art which we call the “Guest Experience”.
  • Experience with openings, rebranding, or renovations is a plus.
  • Proficient in Microsoft 365 or similar computer applications
  • Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or related major.

What you will do:

The Day-to-Day Operations:

• Hands-on, oversee the day-to-day operations, the assignments of the hotel staff, and most importantly, acting as the Chief Inspiration Officer. This includes executing the daily strategy (set in advance) that fluctuates with the volume of business and demographic of our guests. Note, we are not looking for a solely administrative General Manager. You have to love people.
• More descriptive:
  • Front office, revenue, and reservation functions to ensure the delivery of superior guest services, the security of monies, credit card transactions and guest information, and that established goals are achieved.
  • Executing the café, restaurant, bar, and events plan while understanding the importance of f&b to the overall reputation of The Lantern Hotel. And it needs to be done profitably. Balance is always difficult in this area.
  • Housekeeping and Maintenance functions to ensure compliance with quality and standards in all areas of the hotel as it relates to appearance, cleanliness, and levels of maintenance and repair; ensure preventative maintenance programs are in place to protect the physical assets of the hotel.
  • Security functions to ensure a safe and secure environment for team members, guests, and hotel assets.
  • Sales functions to ensure that room night, catering, and event goals are established and achieved to meet the hotel’s overall financial objectives.

People & Culture:

• Own the relationship with the team. This translates to recommending and/or initiating salary, disciplinary, or other staffing/human resources-related actions in accordance with Company rules and policies. Alert Regional Director of Operations of potentially serious issues.
• Ensure all staff are properly trained and have the tools and equipment needed to perform to their full potential.
• Maintain a proactive human resources function to ensure positive employee relations, training and development, wage/benefit administration and compliance with policies and procedures and labor regulations.

Administrative:

• Regularly communicate with the Regional Director of Operations in the development and communication of departmental strategies and goals. You’ll act as the conduit to the team from the Raines corporate team.
• Implement and execute a strategical revenue strategy for all revenue producing departments on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
• Assist Regional Director of Operations in the development, implementation and monitoring of financial and operational plans for the hotel which support the overall objectives of the company.
• Accounting, cash handling, and purchasing controls and procedures are implemented and maintained.
• Develop, manage, and foster positive owner relationships if applicable and provide ongoing information and status reports.
• Use company-wide tools, systems and applications without exception.
• Make recommendations for capital improvements to increase revenues, enhance the guest and team member experience, while preserving the overall hotel’s esthetics and the safety of the team.
• Maintain (and enhance as Lantern Hotels is evolving) the standards of what makes a Lantern Hotel unique and a favorite of guests and locals.

Local “Brand Ambassador”:

• Participate significantly in the local community and be “the face” of the hotel and brand.
• Own the relationship with the University of South Carolina, specifically with the CarolinaLIFE program and the School of Hospitality. This means balancing student schedules, collaborating with USC to bring classroom teaching to the Hotel’s operations, and setting out to make both groups succeed more than if they were not working with The Lantern Hotel. There is always a balance to strike with USC’s success while meeting the objectives of The Lantern Hotel.

Travel:

Less than 25% travel requirement.
Must possess a valid driver's license and reliable transportation and the ability to run off-property errands with minimal notice.

Physical:

Frequent sitting, standing, and moving about the facilities. Handling objects, products and equipment. Using keyboards and other office computer equipment. Occasionally push, pull and lift items weighing up to 50 pounds. Must communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must observe details at close range.

Other:

Must speak English fluently. Must have excellent written and oral communication skills. Mathematical skills include basic math, budgeting, profit/loss concepts, percentages and variances. Problem solving, reasoning, motivating, organizational and training abilities are often used. Ability to effectively multi-task.

How will you know you are succeeding?

• The Hotel is reputationally the leader in the competitive set / Columbia market. Review sites in particular. But guests rate the hotel using the Net Promote Score format > 80. STR report is the other source defining the “Leader”. RevPAR index and growth should back this up.
• The Hotel meets all financial objectives.
• The team loves working at The Lantern Columbia Vista. How does one know this? We’ll do a survey each year but also, we want guests to “feel” the energy when they walk in the lobby. The team will make this happen.
• The Lantern Hotel Columbia Vista has a great local reputation. Tough to quantify, but it’s one of those, “we’ll know it when we hear it”.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

This description is a summary of primary responsibilities and qualifications. The job description is not intended to include all duties or qualifications that may be required now or in the future. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Pre-employment background check required.