Managing Director

The Hotel

Step inside a legendary revival at The Watergate Hotel, a luxurious urban resort located along the banks of the Potomac River. Here modern design blends with a storied past to redefine luxury. A place where travel and business are occasions worth celebrating, attention to every detail is the standard, and intrigue can be found just beyond every curve.

Location

The Watergate Hotel is centrally located in Washington, D.C., a city of political power, prestige, and elegance is culturally rich with theaters, museums, architectural splendors and unforgettable national memorials. The Watergate Hotel is situated within walking distance of the best the city has to offer.

Strategic Intent

The ideal candidate is a decisive, visible, and hands-on leader who builds elite executive teams, drives accountability without bureaucracy, and thrives in high-profile, high-expectation environments. They combine strong on-property operational presence with rigorous analytical discipline, delivering clear, concise, and actionable reporting and forward-looking insights that enable informed ownership decision-making.

Organizational Structure: 

Reports directly to Ownership

Pay Range: $240,000 to $330,000 with bonus plan (commensurate with experience and strength)

Position Summary

The Managing Director or General Manager is the senior executive leader of the hotel, accountable for strategy in close partnership with Ownership, full P&L performance, operational excellence, culture, and long-term market positioning. The role carries responsibility for driving sustainable top-line growth, maximizing profitability, and strengthening the hotel’s competitive position as a flagship luxury asset with a focus on long-term value creation.

The leader maintains a highly visible, hands-on leadership style, providing direct support to teams where needed, ensuring service excellence, and fostering a culture of accountability and performance while balancing strategic leadership with day-to-day operational involvement.

General Duties and Responsibilities

Operations & Guest Experience

• Ensure consistent delivery of Forbes-level luxury standards, with a focus on continuous improvement in service scores and guest satisfaction.
• Conduct daily property walks to monitor condition, cleanliness, and operational discipline.
• Oversee a complex, multi-outlet food and beverage operation, including fine dining restaurants, bar/lounge concepts, seasonal outlets, in-room dining and a large banquet and catering operation.
• Champion innovation and excellence across all guest touchpoints.
• Maintain a consistent on-property presence, including regular floor walks and direct engagement with guests and teams.
• Drive measurable improvements in Forbes ratings, loyalty program performance, and online reputation metrics, supported by clear performance data.
• Translate guest experience performance metrics into clear action plans and structured ownership reporting.

Financial Performance & Revenue Growth

• Drive top-line revenue growth, effective labor management, and disciplined expense control in a large luxury hotel environment
•  Partner closely with Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Management to strengthen market share, rate integrity, and long-term positioning.
• Ensure disciplined financial analysis and transparent departmental reporting, enabling data-driven decision-making and clear visibility for Ownership.

People & Culture

• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing leadership team.
• Coach and mentor department heads, holding leaders accountable for results, engagement, and service culture.
•  Ensure all associate matters are handled professionally and in alignment with HR policies and best practices.
•  Promote open communication, inclusion, and a positive work environment.
• Hold leaders accountable through clear goals, performance tracking, and regular review cadence with timely corrective action where required.

Market & Brand Leadership

• Actively represent the hotel within the Washington, DC hospitality, business, and social community.
• Maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, clients, and partners.
•  Demonstrate a full understanding of the Washington, DC hotel market, competitive landscape, demand drivers, and seasonality.
• Work in close alignment with Ownership on strategic brand and concept initiatives to ensure shared vision and consistency

Experience and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Hospitality Management, or related field.
•  A minimum of 15 years of experience in a senior management position within a luxury hotel environment of a Forbes- or AAA Four Diamond–rated hotel or equivalent.
•  Currently or previously serving as a General Manager or Managing Director in a luxury hotel environment.
• Strong experience in independent luxury hotels preferred; experience with more than one independent asset strongly preferred.
• Prior leadership experience in a Forbes-rated luxury hotel.
• Experience in U.S. luxury city hotels such as New York, Washington, DC, Boston, Chicago, or Los Angeles (Washington, DC experience strongly preferred).
• Experience leading a large-scale hotel with 300 guest rooms
•  Demonstrated success managing hotels with multiple food & beverage outlets, including fine dining, bar/lounge concepts, seasonal venues, and in-room dining.
• Strong, documented record of improving Forbes standards, loyalty engagement, and online reputation scores.
• Proven ability to drive top-line revenue growth while effectively managing labor and operational costs.
• Ability to drive innovative solutions that anticipate and exceed guest and client expectations.
• Efficiency-forward mindset to enhance internal systems, productivity, and performance.
• Willingness and flexibility to work a demanding, non-traditional executive schedule
•  Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written.
•  Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to interpret complex performance data, manage budgets, and monitor the financial health of the hotel.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-expectation luxury environment.
• Availability to travel for ownership meetings, industry events, and business development as required.

Salary : $240,000 - $330,000