General Manager – Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre

Lead.

Transform.

Inspire.

Do you know what it takes for a hotel to truly perform?

Do you thrive on bringing teams together to create unforgettable guest experiences?

We're offering a rare opportunity for an experienced, people-focused, and dynamic General Manager to lead Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre through an exciting phase of renovation and re-positioning.

Your mission : to elevate our reputation as the destination of choice for business and leisure travellers alike.

The Opportunity

As General Manager, you'll balance transformation with operational excellence.

You'll lead strategy, shape culture, and grow revenue across accommodation and MICE, while inspiring your team to deliver consistently outstanding service.

Key responsibilities include :

Inspiring leadership – Build and grow a high-performing team results-driven culture, through clear goals & targets, coaching, and succession planning.

Strategic alignment – Lead the hotel's commercial and operational strategy in partnership with the Group GM and Group Revenue Manager.

Commercial impact – Manage inventory to maximise occupancy and average daily rates across all revenue streams, including accommodation, F&B, C&E, local catering, and ancillary services such as car parking, commissions, activations, pop-ups, and collaborations.

Revenue & cost insights – Utilise advanced analytics to deliver strategic insights on revenue performance, market dynamics, and operational efficiencies, with regular reporting to senior management and stakeholders.

Financial stewardship – Own the budget, pricing, and performance reporting to meet and exceed targets.

Guest excellence – Champion a culture of service innovation and guest obsession.

What You'll Bring

Prior experience operating at a General Manager level

Minimum of 10 years of senior hotel leadership experience (upscale or full-service properties), with strong expertise across hotel operations, MICE, guest experience, and stakeholder management.

Project or programme management skills highly valued, given our growth ambitions.

A relevant degree in Hotel or Business Administration preferred.

A background in hotel chains is strongly preferred.

Who You Are

A natural standard-setter with a passion for excellence.

A clear and inspiring communicator.

A people developer who invests in growing talent.

A collaborative leader, equally at home in operations, sales, and community engagement.

Committed to sustainable, responsible business practices.

About Us

Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre is a 4-star property and one of New Zealand's largest and most versatile conference venues.

Nestled in 6 acres of parkland overlooking the Panmure Lagoon, we combine a tranquil setting with easy access to Sylvia Park, train links, and motorway routes.

Our facilities include flexible meeting spaces, outdoor pool, gym, running track, and spa pool – catering to both business and leisure travellers.

We're part of Prime Hotels, a proudly New Zealand-owned group with 9 hotels nationwide and growing, 2 of which are franchised with international hotel chain Accor.

With centralised support in Finance, Sales, Marketing, and HR, Prime Hotels sits under the wider Primeproperty Group - one of New Zealand's largest privately owned property companies ()

Ready to Make Your Mark?

If you're passionate about leading with purpose, driving transformation, and creating exceptional guest experiences, we'd love to hear from you.

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

We can offer a competitive package (including car & incentive) that rewards high performance.

Salary is negotiable depending on experience – if you are a proven super star – Let's Talk!

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