Director of Hotel Openings

Ram Hotel Management•Columbus, GA

About The Position

RAM Hotels – a dynamic, thriving, innovative hotel management company headquartered in Columbus, Georgia. Over the last few years, we have quietly and steadfastly taken our place as a leader in the hospitality industry of corporate America; while serving some of the most well-known midscale hotel brands in key markets throughout the Alabama and Georgia region. We strive to meet our guests’ demands while continuously changing the perception of the hospitality industry. When you join RAM Hotels, you do more than simply switch companies to advance your career, you become part of the RAM Hotels family! The Director of Hotel Openings (DHO) is responsible for 1) Overseeing critical timelines from groundbreaking to the official ribbon cutting, 2) Recruiting hotel leadership and staff, and establishing property-wide standard operating procedures, 3) Ensuring vendor relationships are established and aligned with corporate standards, 4) manage comprehensive pre-opening timelines, critical path schedules, and opening checklists. As Director of Hotel Openings, you'll collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure an opening on time, and the achievement of financial and guest satisfaction goals from day one.

Requirements

Overseeing critical timelines from groundbreaking to the official ribbon cutting
Recruiting hotel leadership and staff, and establishing property-wide standard operating procedures
Ensuring vendor relationships are established and aligned with corporate standards
Manage comprehensive pre-opening timelines, critical path schedules, and opening checklists
Collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure an opening on time, and the achievement of financial and guest satisfaction goals from day one
Serve as the primary operational liaison with hotel owners and provide executive project updates
Coordinate cross-functional meetings among internal departments and external partners
Communicate project status, risks, and solutions
Partner with Human Resources and operations to recruit hotel leadership and department heads
Lead and support General Manager onboarding
Coordinate orientation and pre-opening training schedules
Assist with staffing plans and labor forecasting
Foster accountability and collaboration among opening teams
Develop comprehensive operational readiness plans
Ensure all hotel departments are fully prepared before opening
Validate department standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Partner with Development, Design & Construction, Ownership, and General Contractors throughout the project lifecycle
Participate in site inspections and punch list reviews
Conduct operational readiness assessments during construction
Coordinate procurement of operating supplies
Ensure all operational spaces are delivered according to brand specifications
Coordinate furniture, fixtures, equipment (FF&E), operating supplies and equipment (OS&E), and technology installations
Ensure testing of property technology before opening
Verify life safety systems, security, and regulatory compliance prior to opening
Working closely with key collaborators to align efforts
Ensure compliance with brand operating standards
Coordinate brand inspections and quality assurance reviews
Verify completion of all required brand certifications to ensure successful brand approval prior to opening
Ensure guest-facing areas meet presentation and service expectations
Coordinate all pre-opening operational training
Facilitate opening week execution plans
Ensure guest service teams are prepared to deliver brand service standards from day one
Conduct post-opening evaluations and document lessons learned
Assist leadership in resolving startup operational challenges
Ensure successful transition from project team to regional operations
Provide operational support during the first 30–90 days

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary operational liaison with hotel owners and provide executive project updates.
Coordinate cross-functional meetings among internal departments and external partners. Communicate project status, risks, and solutions.
Partner with Human Resources and operations to recruit hotel leadership and department heads.
Lead and support General Manager onboarding.
Coordinate orientation and pre-opening training schedules. Assist with staffing plans and labor forecasting
Foster accountability and collaboration among opening teams. Develop comprehensive operational readiness plans.
Ensure all hotel departments are fully prepared before opening. Validate department standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Partner with Development, Design & Construction, Ownership, and General Contractors throughout the project lifecycle.
Participate in site inspections and punch list reviews along with conduct operational readiness assessments during construction.
Coordinate procurement of operating supplies. Ensure all operational spaces are delivered according to brand specifications.
Coordinate furniture, fixtures, equipment (FF&E), operating supplies and equipment (OS&E), and technology installations. Ensure testing of property technology before opening.
Verify life safety systems, security, and regulatory compliance prior to opening. Working closely with key collaborators to align efforts.
Ensure compliance with brand operating standards, coordinate brand inspections and quality assurance reviews, verify completion of all required brand certifications to ensure successful brand approval prior to opening.
Ensure guest-facing areas meet presentation and service expectations.
Coordinate all pre-opening operational training & facilitate opening week execution plans.
Ensure guest service teams are prepared to deliver brand service standards from day one.
Conduct post-opening evaluations and document lessons learned, assisting leadership in resolving startup operational challenges.
Ensure successful transition from project team to regional operations, provide operational support during the first 30–90 days.