Description:
GENERAL MANAGER
Trailhead Lodge & The Outpost • Estes Park, Colorado
Full-Time • Year-Round • On-Site • Dual-Property Assignment
About Trailhead Lodge & The Outpost
Trailhead Lodge and The Outpost are two independent boutique properties in Estes Park, Colorado — the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park — located one mile apart and operated together as a single 86 -key portfolio. Trailhead Lodge (42 rooms) is the full-service flagship, steps from Lake Estes and downtown, featuring La Colina, its chef-driven Mexican restaurant and bar, a seasonal pool, and fireside gathering spaces. The Outpost (44 rooms) is the design-forward companion property: modern lodge living with a curated local marketplace, seasonal pool, fire pit, and the best mountain views in the valley.
Both relaunched under new independent brands within the past year following a full repositioning — young, ambitious, and still writing their story.
Position Summary
The General Manager is the single on-site leader accountable for both Trailhead Lodge and The Outpost — responsible for the guest experience, financial performance, team culture, and brand identity of two properties operating as one integrated business.
This is not a caretaker role. These are new brands in a competitive destination market, and the GM is the person who makes them known: building the team and culture that deliver consistently, establishing a distinct identity for each property, growing the reputation base, developing group and wedding revenue, and earning a real place for both brands in the Estes Park community
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership & Culture
- Lead, develop, and hold accountable all department managers and team members across lodging, F&B, sales, housekeeping, and maintenance at both properties.
- Build a management bench through coaching, performance management, and succession planning — one that performs at full standard when the GM is at the other property.
- Recruit, hire, train, and retain high performers in a competitive, housing-constrained mountain resort labor market.
- Maintain visible, floor-level leadership — leading by example in both peak-season intensity and shoulder-season planning.
- Ensure clear, consistent communication across departments, between properties, and with LHR leadership.
Brand Building & Market Positioning
- Serve as on-property brand steward for two young, independent brands — translating brand identity into consistent, repeatable, guest-facing execution at every touchpoint.
- Protect a distinct personality for each property while ensuring the two read as complementary sister properties rather than duplicates.
- Build awareness in Estes Park and the Front Range feeder markets through community presence, local partnerships, and active participation in the Estes Park Chamber and Visit Estes Park.
- Grow the reputation base from a standing start — drive review volume and rating across Google, TripAdvisor, Expedia, and Booking.com, and personally own timely, on-brand responses to guest feedback.
- Partner with LHR Marketing on content, photography, social, email, PR, and media visits that give both brands a consistent voice and a growing audience.
- Shift mix away from OTA dependency toward direct, repeat, and referral business as brand equity builds.
- Track and report brand health with the same rigor as financial performance: direct booking share, review rating and volume, repeat guest percentage, and RevPAR index against the competitive set.
Dual-Property Leadership
- Lead both properties as a single operating business while preserving each brand's distinct guest experience.
- Establish a consistent daily presence rhythm across both sites — this role cannot be run from one desk at one property.
- Cross-utilize and cross-train labor across housekeeping, front desk, and maintenance to flex coverage as demand shifts.
- Standardize SOPs, service sequences, and training across both properties, allowing property-specific nuance where it serves the guest.
- Own combined 92-key inventory strategy — moving demand between properties to maximize total portfolio revenue rather than optimizing either in isolation.
Group, Wedding & Event Business
- Own group, wedding, and event revenue across both properties, in partnership with the on-property Sales Coordinator and LHR sales leadership.
- Leverage the combined 92-key inventory to pursue group business neither property could accommodate alone, including full and partial buyouts.
- Grow the wedding, family reunion, corporate retreat, and outfitter segments, alongside overflow and citywide business from the Estes Park Events Complex and Conference Center.
- Oversee the full group cycle: lead response, site tours, proposals, contracts, deposits, BEOs, on-site execution, and post-event rebooking.
- Apply displacement analysis and disciplined group pricing so group business is accretive to total revenue, not a discount to transient.
Food & Beverage
- Provide strategic and operational oversight of La Colina and all food & beverage service across the portfolio, including breakfast and market operations at The Outpost.
- Partner with culinary and restaurant leadership on menu execution, service standards, and cost controls; manage revenue, labor, COGS, and margin.
- Lead group dining, event catering, and private dining programming in coordination with sales and culinary teams.
- Oversee beverage program management, responsible service standards, and Colorado liquor licensing compliance.
- Build an F&B identity that draws local and regional guests, not just in-house guests — restaurant reputation is one of the fastest routes to brand recognition in a small market.
Operations & Compliance
- Oversee all operations at both properties including front desk, housekeeping, maintenance, F&B, pools, and outdoor amenity spaces.
- Ensure exceptional service standards at every touchpoint and resolve escalated guest concerns promptly and professionally.
- Maintain cleanliness, safety, and presentation standards consistent with each brand — with particular attention to consistency between the two properties.
- Manage seasonal readiness for a market driven by Rocky Mountain National Park visitation, plus preventive maintenance and capital project execution.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, food safety, liquor licensing, Colorado wage and hour law (COMPS Order, HFWA, FAMLI), and local regulations, and that all technology platforms (StayNTouch, Windsurfer, Toast, Paylocity, Ottimate, Basecamp) are effectively utilized.
Financial Performance & Revenue Strategy
- Own and manage full P&L performance for both properties across lodging, F&B, and ancillary revenue centers.
- Develop and execute annual budgets, rolling forecasts, and cost-control strategies with LHR leadership and ownership; contribute to monthly owner reporting.
- Monitor revenue, labor, and expenses daily — proactively addressing variances across the combined portfolio.
- Oversee payroll, AP, AR, daily deposits, audits, and inventory controls in partnership with LHR Accounting.
- Partner with LHR Revenue and Marketing to drive occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR; manage rate, availability, and channel strategy with a deliberate plan to grow direct share.
Qualifications
- Minimum 3–5 years of General Manager or Assistant General Manager experience, or equivalent multi-department leadership in a resort, boutique, or full-service hotel.
- Proven leadership and team development ability — a track record of building, coaching, and retaining high-performing management teams.
- Demonstrated brand-building experience strongly preferred — candidates who have opened, repositioned, rebranded, or grown recognition for a new or independent property will be prioritized.
- Proven group and wedding sales ability — direct experience sourcing, negotiating, and executing group blocks, weddings, and events.
- Food & beverage background preferred; direct restaurant operations or F&B oversight is a significant advantage.
- Boutique, lodge, or seasonal destination experience preferred; national park gateway or mountain resort market experience is a plus.
- Proven financial acumen managing P&L, budgets, labor cost controls, and reporting; familiarity with PMS, CRS, and POS platforms.
- Comfort with ambiguity and building from scratch — the systems, traditions, and reputation of these brands are still being written, and this leader will help write them.
Requirements & Education
- Must relocate to or reside within commutable distance of Estes Park, Colorado, and move between two properties one mile apart daily.
- Flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays; extended hours during peak season and group periods are expected.
- Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.; valid driver's license and reliable transportation required.
- High school diploma or equivalent required; bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business, Marketing, or a related field preferred (or equivalent professional experience).
Compensation & Benefits
Base salary range: $90,000 – $115,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
About Leisure Hotels & Resorts
At Leisure Hotels & Resorts, our people define our success. We are committed to a culture rooted in honesty, transparency, fiscal responsibility, and talent development. We seek leaders who are passionate about hospitality, thrive in dynamic environments, and are committed to creating exceptional guest experiences.
Trailhead Lodge and The Outpost are two new brands at the doorstep of Rocky Mountain National Park — and their reputation is still being built. If you want a role where the work you do this year defines what these properties become, we want to hear from you.
Requirements:
Employee Benefits Overview
We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and preparing for your future. Here's a general description of the key benefits available to our employees:
401(k) with Employer Match: Eligible employees (21 years and older) can participate in our 401(k) plan, starting after 90 days of employment. We offer an employer match to help you save for retirement.
Health Insurance: Full-time employees are eligible for health insurance benefits. Part-time employees may qualify after one year of service, provided they are averaging at least 30 hours per week.
Paid Time Off (PTO): We believe in work-life balance. That's why we offer Paid Time Off starting from your first day of employment, allowing you to take the time you need for rest, self-care, and personal commitments.
Employer-Paid Life Insurance: We provide life insurance coverage up to $10,000, depending on your employee class, at no cost to you.
Voluntary Life Insurance- Full time employees can opt to participate in additional Life Insurance.
Voluntary STD / LTD - Full Time employees can opt in to participate in Long Term Disability, or short term disability.
We are committed to fostering a supportive and rewarding environment for all our employees, and these benefits are just one way we show our appreciation for your hard work and dedication.
