Opening General Manager

Summary:

HDG Legacy is a culture-driven hospitality company committed to developing exceptional hotels while investing in people, community, and long-term impact.

Our mission is to create meaningful experiences for guests, opportunities for team members, and lasting value for our partners — all grounded in integrity and operational excellence.

At the core of our service culture is “Brilliance in the Basics” — the belief that true hospitality is delivered through consistent execution of the fundamentals, thoughtful attention to detail, and genuine care for people.

We are seeking a General Manager who embodies this philosophy and can lead with both sophistication and heart.

The Opportunity

The AC Hotel by Marriott Downtown Ocala will be a landmark addition to the city’s skyline and hospitality landscape. This 178-room, design-forward lifestyle hotel will feature modern accommodations, meeting and event space, a rooftop restaurant and ballroom, AC Kitchen & Lounge, and a speakeasy concept.

This is an opening leadership role responsible for launching and stabilizing a flagship property that blends AC’s up-scale, modern European aesthetic with HDG Legacy’s people-first culture.

Position Overview

The Opening General Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, financial performance, guest experience, and operational success of the hotel (excluding Food & Beverage, which reports separately to Corporate Operations).

Reporting to the Corporate Vice President of Operations, this role will:

• Lead all non-F&B departments including Rooms, Sales, Engineering, and Administration
• Drive financial performance and long-term asset value
• Establish culture, standards, and accountability from pre-opening through stabilization
• Ensure alignment with Marriott brand standards and guest expectations

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership & Culture

• Build and develop a high-performing leadership team of dedicated department heads
• Foster an environment of accountability, respect, and engagement
• Model “Brilliance in the Basics” through disciplined, detail-oriented planning and execution
• Drive associate satisfaction and retention
• Lead a culture of group sales, where all team members are sales people for the hotel and the brand

Financial & Strategic Performance

• Deliver strong RevPAR, GOP, and overall profitability
• Develop and execute annual business plans and budgets with key KPIs for all departments
• Lead forecasting, cost control, and performance analysis
• Partner with Revenue Management to optimize market position through seasonal demand shifts

Operational Excellence

• Oversee daily hotel operations outside of Food & Beverage
• Ensure brand compliance and audit readiness
• Maintain service standards consistent with AC’s refined, minimalist guest experience
• Lead all pre-opening milestones including hiring, training, and systems implementation

Community & Market Presence

• Serve as a visible ambassador within Downtown Ocala
• Partner with local VCB to engage hotel as the crown jewel of Ocala for destination marketing and group business
• Support group and corporate sales efforts
• Position the property as a premier lodging destination in Central Florida

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Education     

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Business, or related field preferred.

Qualifications

• 7 years of progressive hotel leadership experience
• Prior General Manager or Hotel Manager experience preferred
• Full-service or lifestyle hotel experience required
• Strong P&L management experience, including budgeting and forecasting
• In depth understanding of hotel sales, revenue management systems, and OTA management
• Proven ability to lead large teams (100 associates)
• Pre-opening experience strongly preferred
• Marriott brand experience a plus, but not required

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate is:

• Operationally disciplined
• Financially astute
• Culture-driven and people-focused
• Detail-oriented with elevated service standards
• Calm and decisive during complex openings and stressful situations
• Committed to excellence through consistency
• Can work flexible schedule as necessary, which may include nights, weekend, and holidays

This role represents an opportunity to open a market-defining property and establish a long-term leadership legacy within a growing hospitality organization.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.