******THIS IS A MIAMI BASED POSITION!!!!! THIS IS A MIAMI BASED POSITION!!!!!!******
Chief Operating Officer / Chief Strategy Officer - CRE
Position Overview
The COO/CSO will be a key partner to the CEO, responsible for overseeing operational excellence across both the property company and operating company, while also driving long-term strategic initiatives. This role requires a combination of real estate expertise, hotel management experience, and proficiency in advanced technologies such as AI, data analytics, and automation to optimize performance, enhance guest satisfaction, and foster sustainable growth in the hospitality sector.
Key Responsibilities
1. Operational Leadership & Excellence
- Optimize Hotel Operations: Oversee property-level operations to ensure consistent brand standards, maximize EBITDA, and enhance guest experiences.
- P&L Management: Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting to drive margin optimization and resource allocation across the portfolio.
- Process Optimization: Champion the implementation of technology-driven solutions (e.g., PMS, RMS, AI tools) to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs.
2. Strategic Planning & Growth
- Enterprise Strategy: Collaborate with the CEO and executive team to define and execute a long-term strategy that integrates real estate acquisitions, brand development, and technology initiatives.
- Innovation Leadership: Partner with digital teams to identify and implement cutting-edge technologies (AI, data analytics, automation) to optimize decision-making, elevate the guest experience, and create new revenue streams.
- Portfolio Expansion: Work closely with PropCo on evaluating new hotel investments, analyzing market dynamics, and successfully integrating newly acquired properties into operations.
3. Collaboration with Real Estate & Capital Markets
- Transaction Support: Collaborate with Real Estate and Capital Markets teams on acquisitions, dispositions, and refinancings to ensure smooth transitions and optimized operational metrics.
- Value Creation: Identify opportunities for renovations, rebranding, or redevelopment that improve asset value, ADR, and occupancy rates.
- Investor Relations: Support investor relations through pitch decks, presentations, and performance reporting, showcasing operational strategies and key performance metrics.
4. Technology & Data-Driven Decision Making
- Foster Data Culture: Lead the development of a data-driven culture, leveraging AI and advanced analytics to enhance forecasting, revenue management, and operational insights.
- System Integration: Oversee the integration of operational systems (PMS, CRM, F&B platforms) into a unified data environment that supports real-time analytics.
- Guest & Employee Experience: Drive AI-enabled innovations that improve guest personalization, streamline services (e.g., automated check-in), and increase workforce productivity.
5. Leadership & Talent Development
- Mentorship & Development: Provide leadership and guidance to senior property managers, regional VPs, and corporate staff, promoting collaboration across PropCo and OpCo.
- Succession Planning: Develop a strong leadership pipeline by identifying high-potential talent and fostering career development.
- Change Leadership: Guide the organization through transformation efforts, ensuring successful adoption of new processes, systems, and strategies.
6. Brand & Stakeholder Management
- Brand Consistency: Maintain high standards of brand execution and service quality across various property types and markets.
- Partnership Management: Cultivate and strengthen relationships with franchise partners, brand management teams, vendors, and technology providers.
- Industry Representation: Represent the company at industry conferences and events, enhancing its reputation as a technology-forward innovator in hospitality.
Qualifications & Experience
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Hospitality Management, Real Estate, or a related field required.
- Advanced degree (MBA, MS in Hospitality) preferred.
Experience:
- 20+ years of senior leadership experience in hotel management, hospitality brands, or private equity real estate.
- Experience managing multi-property or multi-brand portfolios is highly preferred.
- Proven success in overseeing hotel operations, driving profitability, and optimizing resources.
Technology & AI Expertise:
- Experience with AI technologies, data analytics platforms, and operational tools (e.g., PMS, RMS, CRM).
- Ability to bridge the gap between technical and business needs.
Strategic & Financial Acumen:
- Strong background in strategic planning and execution, with a focus on achieving ambitious growth and performance targets.
- Deep understanding of real estate underwriting, asset valuation, and investor reporting.
Core Competencies & Personal Attributes
- Visionary Leadership: Ability to anticipate industry trends and drive innovation in the hospitality sector.
- Strong Business Acumen: Deep understanding of key hospitality metrics (occupancy, ADR, RevPAR) and how to leverage technology and data to optimize them.
- Collaborative Influence: Skilled at building consensus and fostering teamwork across diverse teams and stakeholders.
- Entrepreneurial Spirit: Self-motivated with a hands-on approach to both strategic and operational challenges.
- Results-Oriented: Demonstrated ability to meet and exceed performance goals, managing both short-term and long-term objectives.
