General Manager | Kalamazoo Event Center

Radisson Plaza Hotel; United States; On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Radisson Plaza Hotel is seeking a General Manager to lead its premier Event Center. This role involves managing operations, ensuring exceptional guest experiences, and overseeing strategic growth and financial performance.

The ideal candidate will have extensive leadership experience in hospitality or event management, strong financial acumen, and a track record of successful venue operations. Responsibilities include developing business plans, managing high-performing teams, and fostering community relationships.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5–8 years of progressive leadership experience in relevant fields.
• Proven success leading complex, multi-functional teams.
• Strong decision-maker in high-pressure environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations of the Event Center.
• Develop annual business plans aligned with organizational goals.
• Build and inspire a high-performing leadership team.

Skills

Leadership

Financial Acumen

Operational Excellence

Event Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Scheduling Systems

Venue/Event Software Platforms

Job description

Job Purpose

The General Manager is the visionary leader responsible for driving the overall success, culture, and performance of a premier event and entertainment destination. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for a large-scale, multi-use venue designed to deliver exceptional guest experiences, community engagement, and financial performance. The General Manager leads with a hospitality-first mindset while balancing business growth, operational excellence, team development, and long-term strategic planning. This individual serves as the face of the venue—building strong relationships with guests, employees, partners, sponsors, promoters, and the community.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations of the Event Center, ensuring a seamless, high-quality guest and event experience.
• Manage a complex, high-volume entertainment venue with sporting events, concerts, community events, premium hospitality offerings, sponsorships, and special programming.
• Develop annual business plans, performance objectives, and operational priorities aligned with organizational goals.
• Oversee venue scheduling, event planning coordination, staffing strategy, and facility utilization to maximize revenue opportunities.
• Build, inspire, and lead a high-performing leadership team that fosters accountability, engagement, and service excellence.
• Coach, mentor, and develop leaders and staff to create a strong talent pipeline and long-term organizational growth.
• Set clear expectations, performance standards, and accountability measures across all departments.
• Drive financial performance through strategic programming, sponsorships, partnerships, ticket sales, premium experiences, and diversified revenue streams.
• Collaborate with marketing, sales, and business development teams to position the Event Center as a premier destination for entertainment and community engagement.
• Maximize advertising inventory, sponsorship revenue, and corporate partnerships to support venue growth.
• Identify emerging trends, programming opportunities, and competitive advantages to strengthen market presence.
• Own venue financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, revenue targets, labor management, and expense control.
• Represent the venue at public events, meetings, speaking engagements, and networking opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with local organizations, civic leaders, media outlets, sponsors, and community stakeholders.

Essential Job Results

• Deliver an exceptional guest experience across all events and venue operations.
• Achieve annual revenue, profitability, attendance, and sponsorship goals.
• Build a strong leadership culture focused on accountability, service, and operational excellence.
• Successfully launch and scale operations for a new, expanded Event Center.
• Drive employee engagement, retention, and team performance.
• Establish the venue as a premier regional destination for entertainment, sports, hospitality, and community experiences.
• Maintain strong relationships with partners, sponsors, promoters, and industry stakeholders.
• Ensure operational excellence through effective planning, staffing, communication, and execution.
• Lead strategic planning efforts that support long-term venue growth and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Sports Management, Entertainment Management, Marketing, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 5–8 years of progressive leadership experience in event venues, sports and entertainment, hospitality, live events, or large-scale operations.
• Proven success leading complex, multi-functional teams in a high-volume guest-facing environment.
• Experience opening, scaling, or transforming a venue, entertainment property, or hospitality operation strongly preferred.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasting, and operational performance.
• Executive presence with the ability to lead confidently, communicate clearly, and inspire trust.
• Calm, steady decision-maker who performs effectively in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, scheduling systems, reporting tools, and venue/event software platforms.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and event-based schedules.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during events and operations.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds occasionally.