General Manager – The Bristol, Addis Ababa

General Manager – The Bristol, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Position: General Manager Property: The Bristol, Addis Ababa Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Department: Executive Management 1. Position Overview The General Manager will be responsible for the overall leadership, strategic direction, operational performance, and financial success of The Bristol Addis Ababa. The role requires a commercially driven luxury hospitality professional with a strong understanding of international luxury hotel standards, exceptional guest experiences, financial management, and the Ethiopian hospitality market. The General Manager will be expected to establish The Bristol as a leading luxury hospitality destination in Addis Ababa, ensuring operational excellence, strong market positioning, profitability, and long-term asset value. 2. Key Responsibilities A. Strategic Leadership & Hotel Positioning Develop and execute the hotel's business strategy in alignment with ownership objectives. Establish and maintain The Bristol's positioning within the luxury hospitality segment. Drive a culture of accountability, service excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement. Identify opportunities to enhance the hotel's reputation, competitive positioning, and commercial performance. Maintain effective relationships with ownership, corporate stakeholders, and key business partners. B. Financial Performance & Profitability Assume full accountability for the hotel's financial performance, including revenue, GOP, EBITDA, and cash flow. Prepare and execute annual operating budgets, business plans, and financial forecasts. Maximize profitability through revenue optimization, productivity improvement, and effective cost management. Monitor departmental profitability, payroll efficiency, operating expenses, and procurement effectiveness. Deliver agreed financial KPIs while protecting luxury service standards. Present monthly financial results, forecasts, performance variances, and corrective action plans to ownership. Ensure strong financial controls, compliance, and asset protection. C. Commercial Strategy & Revenue Generation Lead the hotel's commercial strategy across rooms, food and beverage, events, and ancillary revenue streams. Drive ADR, occupancy, RevPAR, market share, and total revenue performance. Develop strong relationships with diplomatic missions, international organizations, multinational companies, government institutions, and luxury travel partners. Identify new revenue opportunities and strengthen the hotel's local and international market presence. Oversee revenue management, distribution, sales, marketing, and brand positioning. Establish a competitive advantage through personalized luxury experiences and innovative commercial initiatives. D. Luxury Guest Experience & Operational Excellence Ensure consistent delivery of exceptional luxury hospitality experiences across all departments. Establish and monitor service standards, guest satisfaction, quality assurance, and operational procedures. Maintain a strong personal presence throughout the hotel and actively engage with guests. Oversee rooms, food and beverage, engineering, housekeeping, security, and other operational functions. Ensure effective management of guest complaints, service recovery, and VIP experiences. Drive continuous improvements in guest satisfaction and operational efficiency. E. People Leadership & Talent Development Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing executive committee and departmental leadership team. Establish a strong performance-driven culture with clear accountability. Lead succession planning, leadership development, and employee engagement initiatives. Ensure effective workforce planning, payroll management, and productivity. Promote professional development and luxury hospitality training. Maintain compliance with Ethiopian labor laws and company HR policies. F. Asset Management & Ownership Relations Act as the primary operational representative of the hotel to ownership. Ensure the property is maintained to the highest standards while protecting the long-term value of the asset. Oversee preventive maintenance, capital expenditure planning, and FF&E replacement requirements. Provide ownership with transparent reporting on hotel performance, operational risks, and investment requirements. Identify value-enhancement opportunities and recommend initiatives that improve asset profitability. Ensure expenditures and contractual commitments comply with the approved Delegation of Authority. G. Compliance, Risk & Governance Ensure compliance with applicable Ethiopian laws, regulations, licensing, health and safety requirements. Maintain strong internal controls, audit compliance, and risk management practices. Oversee hotel security, emergency preparedness, and business continuity planning. Ensure ethical business conduct and compliance with company policies. Maintain constructive relationships with relevant government authorities and regulatory bodies. 3. Candidate Requirements Education & Experience Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline. Minimum 12–15 years of progressive experience in international luxury hospitality. At least 3–5 years of experience as a General Manager or Hotel Manager within a recognized luxury hotel. Previous experience in luxury hotel openings, repositioning, or operational transformation is highly desirable. Experience in Africa, particularly Ethiopia or comparable international markets, is an advantage. Strong financial acumen with proven experience managing hotel P&L, budgets, and profitability. Demonstrated success in driving revenue growth, guest satisfaction, and operational performance. Leadership & Professional Competencies Strong commercial mindset and financial discipline. Hands-on leadership style with high visibility in hotel operations. Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills. Proven ability to lead multicultural teams and develop local talent. Strong understanding of luxury guest expectations and service standards. Ability to balance ownership financial objectives with exceptional guest experiences. Strategic thinking supported by decisive operational execution. Fluent English is essential; knowledge of Amharic or other relevant languages is an advantage