Guest Operations Manager

Hilton; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 350 000 - 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A global hospitality leader is seeking a Guest Operations Manager in Gauteng, South Africa. The role involves leading the Guest Operations Team to ensure exceptional guest experiences and satisfaction. Responsibilities include managing the budget, training staff, and ensuring compliance with brand standards. Candidates should have supervisory experience in the hospitality sector, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to customer service. This position offers an opportunity to work with a renowned company dedicated to exceptional service.

Qualifications

• Previous supervisory experience in Front Office within the hospitality sector.
• Experience of managing people and developing staff.
• Accountable and resilient with commitment to high customer service.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Guest Operations Team to ensure guest satisfaction.
• Manage the Guest Operations budget and labour costs effectively.
• Ensure compliance with brand standards and deliver high-quality guest service.

Skills

Supervisory experience in Front Office

High level of IT proficiency

Commercial awareness and sales capabilities

Excellent leadership skills

Strong communication skills

Ability to work under pressure

Education

Degree or diploma in Hotel Management

Tools

Property Management Systems

Job description

A Guest Operations Manager will lead and smoothly manage our Guest Operations Team (24 Hours), achieve the highest levels of guest satisfaction by providing efficient, brand-specific, friendly and hospitable experience and drive our Hilton Honors enrolments, as well as the generation of revenues.

What will I be doing?

As Guest Operations Manager, you will oversee the Guest Operations Team which is the main connection between the Guest, the hotel, and the various hotel departments.

A Guest Operations Manager is responsible for managing the first impressions of our Guests and, therefore, must perform the following tasks to the highest standards :

Be a great boss and role model for others concerning brand-specific behaviours, and coach less experienced colleagues on the job

Manage the Guest Operations budget and expenses, and flex labour costs in line with levels of demand / activity.

Manage guest operations through times of stress, speedily resolve guest concerns and implement resolutions by using discretion and judgement

Assisted by your Team Leaders and Supervisors, Interview, select, on-board, supervise, coach, schedule and evaluate Guest Operations team members

Organise and provide regular Front Office training (incl. Systems) for all F&B Hosts and Supervisors; Provide a positive work environment to guest operations team members that allows everyone to thrive and fulfil their potential

Ensure that all guest operations TMs understand the purpose of their role and are equipped with the training and tools required to deliver great brand-specific guest experiences

Make use of the brand specific Recognition Calendar and plan / execute respective actions on a very regular basis within the own sales team and in the whole hotel.

Ensure regular & effective communication (e.g. Huddles) in own department (incl Night) to achieve / maintain a high level of trust & engagement

Support the overall management of the hotel by establishing effective working relationships with all other departments, ensuring a high level of cross departmental collaboration

Ensure all Guest Operations team members are willing to roll up their sleeves and help with F&B service or housekeeping during busy periods and as required – make sure you are willing to do the same too!

Execute duties as assigned by the General Manager

Oversee all Front Office (incl. Night), F&B Service, Housekeeping, Laundry, Pool and Car Park operations on property

Monitor Guest Feedback (SALT; Social Reviews) and initiate corrective actions immediately if necessary

Be accountable for all guest operations systems and supplies inventory

Ensure compliance with brand standards to achieve consistently high-quality guest service during all guest operations shifts.

Ensure that all guest operations labour costs are flexed according to levels of demand / activity, and that effective cost controls are in place

Assign and instruct Guest Service FO, F&B Service, and Housekeeping Team Leaders (all shifts) in the details of work, delegating managerial tasks to Team Leaders where appropriate

Observe performance of Team Leaders and Supervisors, give regular one-to-one feedback to all Team Leaders and Supervisors in your team and encourage development

Ensure team are trained on how to enrol Hilton Honors members, and motivated to meet the enrolment target

Ensure the front desk provides a friendly and brand-unique welcome and farewell to guests

Oversee the implementation of processes, systems and guest service delivery on front office

Ensure the delivery of a superior F&B service which represents the brand

Work in conjunction with Head Chef respectively Kitchen Manager on menu planning and ensuring the team knowledge of culinary offerings is up to scratch and that they are equipped to increase sales in F&B

Ensure that menu, bar and garden market pricing is market led, relevant and engineered to deliver optimal profit (seek prior input of Kitchen Operations & F&B teams)

Put time and energy into F&B areas that add value to the guest experience and profitability of the business.

Ensure CleanStay is implemented throughout the hotel in compliance with brand standards and Hilton policy, and in conjunction with the Engineering, Health & Safety Manager

Perform spot checks on rooms and areas of the hotel on a daily basis to ensure tip top cleanliness

Analyse together with your HSK Team Leader SALT scores of HSK and work on continuously improving your scores (in particular room cleanliness).

Oversee the management of the pool

Implement effective laundry processes to be followed by housekeeping team members who are responsible for laundry

What are we looking for?

Guest Operations Managers serving Hilton brands are always working on behalf of our Guests and working with other Team Members.

To successfully fill this role, you should maintain the attitude, behaviours, skills, and values that follow :

Previous supervisory experience in Front Office within the hospitality sector

High level of IT proficiency

High level of commercial awareness and sales capabilities

Experience of managing people and developing people

Previous experience of managing a department and Profit and Loss account

Excellent leadership, interpersonal and communication skills

Accountable and resilient

Commitment to delivering a high level of customer service

Ability to work under pressure

Excellent grooming standards

Flexibility to respond to a variety of work situations

Ability to work on your own and as part of a team

It would be advantageous in this position for you to demonstrate the following capabilities and distinctions :

Familiar with Property Management Systems

A degree or diploma in Hotel Management or equivalent

What will it be like to work for Hilton?

Hilton is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels.

For nearly a century, Hilton has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value.

Hilton is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands.

Our vision "to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality" unites us as a team to create remarkable hospitality experiences around the world every day.

And, our amazing Team Members are at the heart of it all!