General Manager – New Opening DoubleTree by Hilton | North Haven Area
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced, energetic, and hands-on General Manager to lead the opening and operation of a new DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in the New Haven, Connecticut area. This is an excellent opportunity for a hospitality leader who enjoys building a team, establishing operating standards, driving sales, and creating a strong hotel culture from day one.
The General Manager will have overall responsibility for the hotel's pre-opening preparation, opening execution, financial performance, guest satisfaction, team development, sales strategy, and day-to-day operations. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, Hilton brand experience or comparable full-service hotel experience, and a proven track record of achieving financial and operational goals.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead all pre-opening activities, including staffing, training, SOP implementation, vendor coordination, inspections, and operational readiness.
- Recruit, train, coach, and develop an effective hotel leadership team and staff.
- Ensure the hotel consistently meets DoubleTree by Hilton brand standards, quality requirements, and guest service expectations.
- Develop and execute a strong sales and marketing strategy to build occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, group business, corporate accounts, and local market share.
- Establish relationships with local businesses, universities, hospitals, corporations, government agencies, sports organizations, and community partners.
- Monitor STR performance, RevPAR index, occupancy, ADR, and competitive positioning.
- Manage the hotel's annual budget and financial performance, including GOP, labor costs, departmental expenses, and overall profitability.
- Maintain strong controls over payroll, purchasing, inventory, and operating expenses.
- Drive guest satisfaction and respond effectively to guest concerns and online reviews.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable health, safety, fire, employment, and regulatory requirements.
- Work closely with ownership and management to provide regular financial and operational updates.
- Build a positive culture focused on accountability, teamwork, service excellence, and results.
- Participate actively in local community and business development to establish the hotel as a leading property in the New Haven market.
Ideal Candidate
- Minimum 5+ years of hotel management experience, preferably in a full-service or upscale hotel.
- Previous General Manager or senior hotel leadership experience strongly preferred.
- Hilton/DoubleTree experience is a plus.
- Strong knowledge of hotel operations, sales, revenue management, and financial management.
- Demonstrated ability to improve occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, GOP, and guest satisfaction.
- Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong understanding of the New Haven/Connecticut hotel market preferred.
- Must be comfortable working in a new-opening environment, including evenings, weekends, and holidays when necessary.
- Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business, or related field preferred.
What We Are Looking For
The right candidate will be more than an operator. This person will be the face of the hotel and will have the opportunity to build the property from the ground up. We are looking for a leader who can create a strong team, establish a sales-driven culture, control expenses, deliver exceptional guest service, and position the DoubleTree as one of the preferred hotels in the New Haven market.
Pay: $95,000.00 - $105,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
