General Manager - Western San Diego Zoo

Position: General Manager - Best Western San Diego Zoo (Salary $115K - $120K)
We are seeking an experienced, driven, and hands-on General Manager to lead the Best Western San Diego Zoo / Sea World Inn & Suites. This is a high-impact leadership role for a hospitality professional who thrives in a branded environment, understands how to balance guest experience with financial performance, and knows how to build strong, accountable teams.

The ideal candidate brings a minimum of three years of General Manager experience in a branded hotel, with Best Western experience strongly preferred. This leader is financially astute, operationally disciplined, and confident presenting results to ownership, corporate partners, and internal stakeholders. Above all, we are looking for a General Manager who can drive results while creating a culture of service, accountability, and pride in the property.

What You'll Do

As General Manager, you will have full responsibility for the hotel's performance: operationally, financially, and culturally. You will lead the property as a business, while ensuring every guest interaction reflects Best Western brand standards and a commitment to service excellence.

Leadership & Culture

• Foster a culture of genuine hospitality, professionalism, and accountability across all departments.
• Lead, coach, and develop department heads and emerging leaders to exceed performance expectations.
• Actively lead the Executive Committee, setting clear goals and driving consistent follow-through.
• Promote teamwork, collaboration, and a positive workplace environment.

Guest Experience

• Champion guest service at every level, ensuring consistent, high-quality experiences.
• Anticipate guest needs, address concerns proactively, and resolve escalated guest issues with confidence and care.
• Implement service initiatives, recognition programs, and incentives that improve guest satisfaction and loyalty.

Financial & Business Performance

• Own the hotel's P&L, with strong command of revenue streams, expense controls, and margin improvement.
• Analyze financial performance, identify trends and variances, and implement action plans to drive profitability.
• Utilize forecasting, RevPAR strategies, and disciplined expense management to maximize results.
• Clearly and confidently communicate financial performance and operational results to ownership and corporate partners.

Operations & Asset Stewardship

• Ensure operational excellence and brand compliance across all departments.
• Maintain product quality that supports rate growth, repeat business, and long-term asset value.
• Drive year-over-year business growth while protecting the physical condition of the property.
• Ensure all regulatory, safety, and brand requirements are consistently met.

What We're Looking For

• Minimum 3 years of General Manager experience in a branded hotel environment
• Best Western brand experience strongly preferred
• Strong P&L management skills with proven success in cost control and profitability
• Ability to interpret, present, and communicate financial and operational data effectively
• Proven leader of multi-department hotel teams
• Guest-focused, results-driven, and highly accountable leadership style
• This role is ideal for a General Manager who wants full ownership of their hotel, values operational discipline, and takes pride in building strong teams and strong results.

Physical Requirements:

• Sit, stand and walk for varying lengths of time
• Lift approximately fifteen (15) pounds
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal
• Focus and maintain attention to multiple tasks in a short time period, and complete work assignments within deadline demands, despite frequent interruptions
• Grasping, writing, standing, sitting, walking, repetitive motions, pulling, pushing, listening and hearing ability and visual ability
• Must have finger dexterity to be able to operate office equipment such as computers, printers, multi-line tone tone phone, filing cabinets, photocopiers and other office equipment as needed

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary Range: $115,000 - $120,000 annually, commensurate with experience, qualifications, and market alignment
• Incentive Plan: General Manager annual incentive plan, tied to performance metrics and revenue goals
• Relocation: No relocation assistance is available for this role; however, candidates who are open to relocating at their own expense will be considered.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement: 401(k) with company match
• Time Off: Paid vacation, holidays, and personal days
• Perks: Discounted hotel stays across the portfolio
• Growth: Career development and advancement opportunities
• Culture: People-first environment focused on excellence and innovation