What are the responsibilities and job description for the Managing Director position at Franchise Location?
Additional Information: This hotel is owned and operated by an independent franchisee, HEI Hotels & Resorts. The franchisee is a separate company and a separate employer from Marriott International, Inc. The franchisee solely controls all aspects of the hotel’s employment policies and practices, including hiring, firing, discipline, staffing, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment. If you accept a position at this hotel, you will be employed by a franchisee and not by Marriott International, Inc.
Hotel Managing Director | Dual Property Leadership & Pre-Opening
The new Marriott Cincinnati Convention Center Hotel (opening January 2029) & The Westin Cincinnati — Cincinnati, Ohio
We are seeking an experienced, results-oriented Hotel Managing Director to lead the pre-opening and launch of the new 700-room Marriott Cincinnati Convention Center Hotel, scheduled to open in January 2029. This flagship convention headquarters hotel represents one of the most significant hospitality openings in the Midwest.
This dual-property role will also lead The Westin Cincinnati, a 456-room downtown hotel undergoing a $40 million renovation, while building the Marriott’s pre-opening organization and gradually shifting focus toward the new hotel opening.
The Marriott assignment includes oversight of the full pre-opening critical path, including construction coordination, budgeting, staffing, systems implementation, brand certification, licensing, and the sales strategy needed to establish the hotel as Cincinnati’s citywide convention anchor.
The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in full-service operations, new-hotel openings, major renovations, owner relations, financial performance, and Marriott brand standards, with the ability to build strong teams and stakeholder partnerships across both properties.
Key Responsibilities
Marriott Cincinnati Convention Center Hotel — Pre-Opening & Launch
- Serve as the pre-opening and opening Managing Director for the new 700-room Marriott hotel, owning the critical path through January 2029 opening and stabilization.
- Partner with ownership, Marriott, development, design, and construction teams on approvals, procurement, inspections, turnover, and readiness milestones.
- Build the pre-opening budget, operating pro forma, staffing model, executive committee, and full opening team.
- Implement operating systems, brand programs, SOPs, licensing, permits, and quality assurance requirements.
- Lead pre-opening sales, marketing, revenue strategy, food and beverage planning, and citywide convention positioning with Marriott, the convention center, and destination partners.
- Guide the transition from pre-opening to live operations, including first-90-days performance, guest satisfaction, and brand quality results.
The Westin Cincinnati — Operations & Renovation
- Lead The Westin Cincinnati’s $40 million renovation, managing phasing, capital spend, brand compliance, and communication with guests, groups, and associates.
- Oversee rooms, housekeeping, food and beverage, meetings and events, sales, revenue management, engineering, finance, and guest experience.
- Partner with property leadership on budgets, forecasts, business plans, market strategy, and performance action plans.
- Maintain high standards for service, cleanliness, presentation, preventative maintenance, and operational readiness throughout the renovation.
Both Properties — Leadership & Performance
- Serve as the primary liaison among management, ownership, brand partners, and key community stakeholders.
- Drive revenue growth, profitability, market share, guest satisfaction, associate engagement, and disciplined expense management.
- Develop shared services, cross-property talent pipelines, and citywide group strategies that strengthen combined performance.
- Represent both hotels within Cincinnati’s convention, hospitality, and business community.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, brand standards, HR guidelines, employment laws, quality assurance requirements, and financial controls.
- Build a culture of accountability, service excellence, professionalism, collaboration, and consistent follow-through.
Required Experience
- Prior pre-opening leadership experience for a full-service or convention hotel, including budgeting, staffing, systems implementation, and brand certification.
- At least 10 years of progressive hotel leadership experience in large, complex full-service or convention hotels; Marriott experience preferred.
- Experience with convention-center-connected hotels, citywide convention networks, destination partners, and group sales strategy.
- Experience leading major capital renovations in operating hotels.
- Previous General Manager, Managing Director, or senior executive hotel leadership experience required.
- Proven success driving financial performance, market share, guest satisfaction, associate engagement, owner relations, and high-performing teams.
- Strong communication, business acumen, relationship-building, problem-solving, and project management skills.
- Ability to lead two properties concurrently while balancing daily operations with disciplined pre-opening execution.
After an initial waiting period, those hired into full time positions are eligible for a competitive benefits package that includes the following: Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage; Short-Term and Long-Term Disability; Income Term Life and AD&D Insurance; Paid Time Off; Employee Assistance Program; 401k Retirement Plan.
This company is an equal opportunity employer.
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