Royal Caribbean Group · 14 hours ago
Director, Hotel Operations
Royal Caribbean Group is a leader in the vacation industry with a focus on innovation and guest experience. The Director of Hotel Operations will oversee the onboard hotel operations for Silversea ships, ensuring safety, guest satisfaction, and financial performance while collaborating with various operational groups.
Travel
Responsibilities
Ensures that all ships are operated safely, effectively, and efficiently in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements and SQM guidelines
Serves as the authority and contact for all groups which support shipboard operation
Ensures the Silversea cruise vacation experience is delivered in accordance with Silversea Way hospitality excellence and standards while allowing for local flavors, revenue opportunities and sourcing driven expectations
Continuously tracks individual ship performance and reviews and analyses Medallia guest experience data as well as various competitive industry reports
Maintains overall responsibility for the entire hotel P&L (including all cost, ~$100M annually) to ensure effective and efficient cost management and ship financial target performance
Owns the planning, design, and execution of special voyages and events including World Cruises and Grand Voyages
Helps lead the strategy, design, and execution of our world class hospitality culture, the “Silversea Way”
Acts as a key leader to design, plan, and implement Forbes 5-Standards and drive toward being the first cruise line and brand to achieving Forbes 5 Standards
Monitors trends and innovations within the cruise and luxury hospitality industry to identify opportunities which can strengthen our product and help to maintain a competitive advantage
Represents Hotel Operations in situation management / sit rep calls and is expected to make critical decisions for ships impacted by unusual situations in the best interest of the company, its guests, and crewmembers
Ensures the ship and shipboard team is fully familiar with the fleetwide OPP, infection prevention standards and other critical processes
Collaborates with all operating groups of the Silversea brand and the Royal Caribbean Group to identify trends, opportunities, risks and provides input into development of new products and experiences
Liaises with Global Marine and Marine Operations to ensure the SOA (Ship Overall Appearance) and maintenance programs are well managed
Works closely with Global Marine and Marine Operations groups to address R&M issues
Ensures new ship startups, dry docks, and revitalization projects are properly planned and executed
Organizes and attends regular ship visits to deliver an in-depth evaluation of the guest experience onboard
Reviews and analyses internal and external audit and inspection reports and disseminates information for follow up and continuous improvement
Participates in deployment planning and provides operational guidance during the process
Supports the Miami and European based hotel operation teams which support and guide ships in the region. Works and communicates directly with shipboard teams
Responsible for planning and coordinating the successful startup of new ships and ships which return to service after dry dock or extended revitalization
Aligns the Hotel Operations function with strategic business initiatives and partners to meet business requirements
Develops short-term and long-term tactical strategic plans that meet the brand’s objectives, maximizes service, responsiveness, drive guest satisfaction, and works to enhance the company’s growth and profitability objectives
Develops and quantifies over-arching revenue and capital asset plan that parallels financials asset and performance plans including return on investment
Directs the development, implementation, and coordination of shipboard hotel directors and their teams, housekeeping, butler, guest relations, customer service, to position the company as best-in-choice in the luxury industry
Responsible for leading a team who recruits, hires, trains, and develops the top leadership role on the ship, the hotel director to build and implement our future talent strategy including developing an Associate Hotel Director program
Develops strategies and plans to improve NPS scores across the entire operations functions
Acts as the leader and liaison for hotel operations and ancillary departments including Shore Excursions, Onboard Revenue, Concessions, Expeditions, pre and post, and guest port services
Assists in supporting the guest services team and develops strategies and plans to improve our ability to resolve issues onboard. Leads a cross functional task force to root cause and mitigate issues before they occur
Assists in supporting housekeeping and butler teams and is responsible for strategizing and developing plans to improve our NPS scores to deliver personalized, genuine and consistent hospitality across this aspect of the guest experience
Owns the guests first and last impressions with the brand and leads their teams and respective cross functional teams to elevate this aspect of the guest experience
Determines strategies of new luxury hospitality experiences including all elements of the product development spectrum and external best-in-class benchmarking such as concept generation, feasibility analysis, business proposals, recommendations, and coordination of product implementation
Takes full ownership of the holistic guest experience on all Expedition ships to ensure we deliver 5-Star standards including the guest experience pre and post (transfers, hotels, flights, charters, onboard experience)
Responsible for owning a program to ensure we are not only internally focused, but that we look externally, by secret shopping, best in class land-based luxury hospitality to identify trends and spot opportunities
Develops / enhances talent acquisition programs and processes to identify, recruit, develop, integrate, and retain talent for shipboard operations
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in business administration or related field of study; Master's Degree in Business and/or hospitality preferred
At least 15 years of experience determining strategies and overseeing the overall hotel operations in an ultra-luxury upscale hotel, resort, or cruise line experience including housekeeping, food and beverage, entertainment, and revenue management activities
At least 5-10 years of experience in luxury expedition cruising in remote polar regions
Demonstrated the highest level of strong F&B experience in luxury hospitality
Development of programs on a dynamic and highly complex international environment with multi-national work forces with an orientation towards multi-cultural diversity
Extensive experience in the areas of business development, contract negotiation and finance with excellent proven leadership characteristics
Proven track record of success in a comparable position with a highly visible, prestigious, and forward-thinking organization
Proven Senior Leader focused on team engagement and employee development
Strong and very advanced leadership and project management skills
Strong ability to interact with senior management team and build effective relationships within the company as well as with internal and external customers
Strong planning capabilities to identify and prioritize strategies and activities as well as to meet the deadlines required to support the overall hotel operations function and business needs
Exceptional interpersonal, communication and listening skills, including the ability to adjust style to successfully implement ideas across the business / ships and effectively interact with external and internal channels
Must be extremely customer-service oriented
Strong decision-making skills considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one
Creativity and strategic thinker
Excellent negotiation skills
Must possess knowledge of the hospitality industry, current market trends, and economic factors; preferably within an international organization and accustomed to working with a highly diverse and remote work group
Deep knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluations of customer satisfaction
Strong knowledge of business and management principles in strategic planning, resource allocation, and human resources modeling
Domain about computer software and systems applicable to the hotel operation activities
Availability to travel up to 25% of the time and flexibility to support unexpected business events outside of the regular business hours including holidays and weekends
Results/Business oriented
Benefits
Competitive compensation and benefits package
Excellent career development opportunities
Company
Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean Group is a cruise vacation company with a global fleet of 63 ships traveling around the world.
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$15.43BKey Investors
RCI HoldingsMorgan Stanley
2025-09-22Post Ipo Debt· $1.5B
2025-05-14Post Ipo Debt· $2.28B
2024-09-16Post Ipo Debt· $1.5B
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