Regional Director of Operations

Donohoe Hospitality Services•Chevy Chase, MD

2d•Remote

About The Position

The Regional Director of Operations oversees all hotel operations across an assigned portfolio of properties spanning multiple brands, tiers, and market segments. This leader is accountable for driving operational excellence, financial performance, guest satisfaction, and talent development across their region. The role serves as the primary link between property-level leadership and corporate strategy, ensuring brand standards are upheld while adapting to local market conditions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
Minimum 8–10 years of progressive hotel operations experience, with at least 3–5 years in a multi-unit leadership role.
Proven track record managing a mixed-brand or multi-segment hotel portfolio.
Deep proficiency in hotel financial management, P&L ownership, and operational KPIs.
Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop General Managers and senior property leaders.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
Proficiency in hotel technology platforms (PMS, RMS, POS) and Microsoft Office Suite.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Business, or a related discipline.
Experience with major franchise brands (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Choice, or similar).
Familiarity with lifestyle, boutique, or independent hotel operations.
Experience with hotel pre-openings, renovations, or brand conversions.
Certification in hotel management (CHA, CHDM, or equivalent).

Responsibilities

Provide direct oversight and strategic direction to General Managers across a portfolio of 7-10 properties, including full-service, focused-service, extended stay, lifestyle, and independent hotels.
Conduct regular property visits to assess operational health, guest experience, and team performance; provide structured feedback and action plans.
Ensure all properties adhere to brand standards, franchise agreements, and company operating procedures.
Partner with GMs to resolve operational challenges, escalate critical issues, and implement corrective action plans as needed.
Champion a culture of continuous improvement by identifying best practices within the portfolio and driving cross-property adoption.
Own and manage the P&L for the regional portfolio, including revenue, EBITDA, labor efficiency, and capital expenditures.
Review and approve annual property budgets and forecasts; hold GMs accountable to financial targets.
Monitor RevPAR, ADR, occupancy, CPOR, GOP, and other KPIs; identify trends and implement strategies to optimize performance.
Partner with Revenue Management and Sales teams to maximize top-line revenue across all segments and channels.
Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising guest experience or team morale.
Maintain a relentless focus on guest satisfaction scores (GSS, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, OTA ratings) across the portfolio.
Drive accountability for service recovery programs and ensure properties operate with strong foundations in service cultures.
Oversee quality assurance programs, including brand audits and internal inspections; develop remediation plans for underperforming properties.
Champion accessibility, inclusivity, and personalized service standards as brand differentiators.
Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing General Managers; build a deep bench of leadership talent across the region.
Conduct regular performance reviews and provide ongoing coaching and mentorship to property leaders.
Collaborate with HR on succession planning, compensation benchmarking, and organizational design.
Foster an inclusive, high-performance culture that attracts and retains top hospitality talent.
Lead by example in modeling the company’s core values and expected leadership behaviors.
Partner with the development and acquisitions team on new property openings, transitions, renovations, and rebrandings.
Provide market intelligence and operational insights to support investment decisions and capital planning.
Lead or contribute to company-wide operational initiatives, task forces, and pilot programs.
Build and maintain relationships with ownership groups, asset managers, and brand representatives.