General Manager - Fairmont Niseko (Pre-Opening)

Fairmont hotels is a renowned luxury hotel brand with a global presence and a commitment to creating lasting memories for our guests. With over 30,000 employees worldwide, we are dedicated to providing exceptional service, embracing innovation, and fostering a culture of excellence.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts — part of Accor, one of the world's leading hospitality groups — has announced, in partnership with J-Will Partners Co., Ltd., the development of Fairmont Niseko, a new luxury 165-key property slated to open early 2028.

Set within nine acres of forest land between Mount Yotei and Mount Annupuri, the resort is designed by architect Daiken Sekkei, Inc., with interiors by Steve Leung Design Group Limited as main interior designer. The property will offer unobstructed panoramic views of Mount Yotei, Niseko's signature natural landmark, and unrivalled access to world-class skiing and golf, alongside dining destinations in nearby Niseko Village and Hirafu.

Niseko, located on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido roughly 120 km southwest of Sapporo, is internationally renowned for its exceptional powder snow and draws an increasing number of visitors each year, cementing its status as one of the world's most sought-after ski destinations.

Fairmont Niseko marks Fairmont's second property in Japan, following Fairmont Tokyo, and reinforces the brand's growing presence in the country and its leadership position across Asia.

Upon completion, Fairmont Niseko will comprise 165 luxury keys, from studios and 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments to lavishly furnished villas, together with two signature restaurants, a sanctuary-like spa and wellness offering, a kids' club, fitness and swimming facilities, and authentic onsen experiences curated for the most discerning global traveler.

As General Manager, you will hold full ownership of the resort's strategic, operational, and financial performance — leading a diverse, multicultural team to deliver an uncompromising luxury experience across all seasons. You will play a central role in shaping Fairmont Niseko's positioning as a true year-round destination, balancing the intensity of the winter season with the opportunity to build a compelling, revenue-generating offering in the warmer months.

Given the resort's mixed-use structure, you will also serve as the key liaison between hotel operations, individual residence owners, and the rental pool, ensuring alignment between guest experience, ownership interests, and commercial performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide visionary, hands-on leadership across all aspects of resort operations, from rooms and F&B to wellbeing, residences, and back-of-house functions.
• Develop and execute strategies to drive year-round demand, mitigating the effects of seasonality while protecting the resort's premium winter positioning.
• Build, lead, and inspire a diverse workforce, fostering a culture of service excellence, cultural sensitivity, and operational discipline.
• Oversee operational planning and logistics specific to extreme winter conditions, including staffing, supply chain, guest safety, and facilities management.
• Act as the primary interface with the homeowners' association / condominium body, balancing owner interests with hotel and rental pool performance.
• Own the resort's sales and marketing strategy, with a strong focus on driving demand from key Pan-Asian source markets alongside global luxury travel audiences.
• Uphold brand standards and guest experience expectations consistent with a leading international luxury hospitality brand.
• Manage budgets, forecasts, and P&L performance, ensuring commercial sustainability alongside guest and owner satisfaction.
• Represent Fairmont Niseko within the local community, regulatory environment, and broader Niseko hospitality ecosystem.

• Proven luxury hospitality leadership experience, ideally within high-end winter/ski resorts.
• Working Experience in Japan strongly preferred; genuine cultural empathy and understanding of Japanese business practices essential.
• Demonstrated success managing seasonality, with a track record of building or strengthening year-round resort destinations.
• Strong, culturally intelligent leadership skills, with experience managing diverse, multinational teams.
• Experience operating in extreme climate conditions, with an understanding of the logistical complexities unique to winter resort operations.
• Familiarity with luxury residential real estate, homeowner associations, and the legal structures governing condominium ownership is a strong advantage, given the resort's individually owned residences and rental pool model.
• A genuinely hands-on operational style, with experience leading remote or geographically isolated luxury resort properties.
• Strong commercial acumen, with well-developed sales and marketing capabilities and deep familiarity with Pan-Asian luxury travel markets.
• Fluency in English required; Japanese language ability is an asset.