How to hire a hotel general manager

How to hire a hotel general manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step hotel general manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a hotel general manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new hotel general manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a hotel general manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a hotel general manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect hotel general manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of hotel general managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Hotel General Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Hotel General Manager	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.	$19-44
   Manager	Managers are responsible for a specific department, function, or employee group. They oversee their assigned departments and all the employees under the department... Show more	$17-44
   District Manager	District managers oversee the operations of a group of stores or areas covered by the assigned district. They are responsible for ensuring that the sales, marketing, quality control, and people management of their community align with the company's direction... Show more	$30-70

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Front Desk
   • Reservations
   • Human Resources
   • Cleanliness
   • Payroll
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Quality Standards
   • Financial Performance
   • Revenue Management
   • Property Management
   • Hotel Operations
   • Hotel Management
   • Hotel Policies
   • Management Company

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the successful implementation of new custom invoicing system, eRam credit software, and ADP payroll system.
   • Train and manage FOH staff and improve overall quality, organization and professionalism of restaurant and bakery.
   • Inspect guest rooms, public access areas, and outside grounds for cleanliness and appearance.
   • Coordinate reservations with several online booking services.
   • Provide management and operational oversight for the projects' logistics.
   • Coordinate the preparation of annual tax return with outside CPA firm.

   More hotel general manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your hotel general manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A hotel general manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, hotel general managers' average salary in oklahoma is 50% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level hotel general managers earn 56% less than senior-level hotel general managers.
   • Certifications. A hotel general manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a hotel general manager's salary.

   Average hotel general manager salary

   $62,696yearly

   $30.14 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level hotel general manager salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 12, 2025

   Average hotel general manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$82,228	$40
   2	New York	$81,698	$39
   3	Colorado	$81,625	$39
   4	District of Columbia	$75,306	$36
   5	Pennsylvania	$71,656	$34
   6	New Jersey	$71,241	$34
   7	Oregon	$67,106	$32
   8	Massachusetts	$66,121	$32
   9	Wisconsin	$64,958	$31
   10	Nebraska	$62,164	$30
   11	Tennessee	$61,033	$29
   12	Minnesota	$60,975	$29
   13	Maryland	$60,615	$29
   14	Georgia	$59,225	$28
   15	Arizona	$59,188	$28
   16	Florida	$58,706	$28
   17	Texas	$58,694	$28
   18	Michigan	$58,431	$28
   19	Indiana	$57,324	$28
   20	North Carolina	$57,097	$27

   Average hotel general manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Earth Fare	$122,165	$58.73
   2	Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants	$96,603	$46.44	24
   3	HEI Hotels & Resorts	$96,582	$46.43	16
   4	Hyatt Hotels	$96,578	$46.43	42
   5	Hotel Services	$95,880	$46.10	11
   6	Cambria	$89,430	$43.00
   7	Marriott International	$88,955	$42.77	402
   8	Best Western	$88,001	$42.31	8
   9	Comfort Inn	$87,887	$42.25	17
   10	Quality Inn Gettysburg Battlefield	$87,794	$42.21	2
   11	Heritage Hotel Group	$87,717	$42.17	1
   12	Sage Hospitality	$86,902	$41.78	5
   13	Concord Hospitality	$86,785	$41.72	23
   14	Sage Hospitality Group	$86,755	$41.71	12
   15	White Lodging	$86,055	$41.37	1
   16	Waterford Hotel Group, Inc.	$84,358	$40.56
   17	Meadowood Napa Valley	$82,392	$39.61
   18	BBL Hospitality	$82,218	$39.53	1
   19	InterContinental Hotels Group Resources, Inc.	$81,389	$39.13	8
   20	The Marcus Corporation	$79,111	$38.03	11

4. Writing a hotel general manager job description

   A hotel general manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a hotel general manager job description:

   Hotel general manager job description example

   We are currently seeking an experienced hospitality professional with prior General Manager experience in the full service hotel industry to fill an immediate opening for a Hotel General Manager. Interested candidates should have a minimum of 3 years of current General Management experience in a full service hotel (preferably Hilton, Hyatt or Marriott)
   What's in it for you? Fresh, new hotel $120,000- $130,000 Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Quarterly and Annual Bonus PTO Generous Discounts Ample Room for Growth Paid Relocation Responsibilities of the Hotel General Manager: Oversee the preparation and management of hotel and departmental budgets. Analyze department financial performance reports. Oversee the management of the staffing functions and resources of the hotel Ensure the delivery of high quality service to guests. Oversee the development of sales and promotional strategies for the hotel’s products and services. Ensure the development and implementation of safety/security policies and procedures for the Hotel. Ensure security incidents and accidents are logged in accordance with hotel and brand requirements. Hotel General Manager requirements include: Bachelor's Degree preferred Minimum of 3 years of current General Management experience in a full service hotel (preferably Hilton, Hyatt or Marriott) Progressive and stable work history- no more than 3 jobs in 10 years EOE- Equal Opportunity Employer Company DescriptionWith almost 30 years' of experience, Patrice & Associates partners with the best of the best brands and they rely on us to MATCH talented managers and professionals with opportunities in their organizations. Direct hire opportunities!
   
   TOP 5 Advantages YOU get with Patrice & Associates Recruiting
   
   1. We know openings that are not on job boards (the best usually aren't)
   2. We get qualified candidates directly to the decision makers (jump the line)
   3. We work for YOU for FREE as a Career Coach to find YOU the perfect career!
   4. We work confidentially, protecting your job while we look for new opportunities
   5. You get to be part of our secure database for future exclusive opportunities
   
   EOE - Equal Opportunity Employer

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find hotel general managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any hotel general managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level hotel general managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your hotel general manager job on Zippia to find and recruit hotel general manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting hotel general managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new hotel general manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the hotel general manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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