Guest Experience Manager

Ennismore, the fastest-growing lifestyle and leisure hospitality company, is bringing the iconic Delano brand to the UAE for the first time. When Delano South Beach arrived on the Miami scene in 1995, it introduced an entirely fresh take on 5-star luxury and marked the inception of lifestyle hospitality. Delano was celebrated for its blend of timeless elegance, modern design, and vibrant energy; it became the social hub, bringing together the who’s who of the fashion and entertainment world. Guided by the same principles that propelled the original Delano to icon status, Delano Dubai will usher in a new era of sophisticated style and elevated service to the UAE.

Located on the pristine shores of Bluewaters Island, the Delano Dubai resort will boast an array of luxury rooms and suites, four exceptional culinary and mixology experiences, an ocean front swimming pool and a wellness studio. 

Summary

The Guest Experience Manager is responsible for ensuring that every guest enjoys a memorable and exceptional experience during their stay. This role focuses on enhancing guest satisfaction by proactively anticipating guest needs, resolving issues, and leading efforts to exceed guest expectations. The Guest Experience Manager works closely with various hotel departments to deliver personalized, high-quality services that enhance the overall guest journey from check-in to check-out.

Responsibilities

Guest Experience Management:

• Monitor and evaluate guest feedback through surveys, reviews, and direct interaction to identify areas of improvement.
• Ensure that guest expectations are met or exceeded by creating personalized, memorable experiences.
• Actively address guest concerns, requests, and complaints in a timely and professional manner to maintain satisfaction.
• Develop personalized itineraries and unique guest experiences based on preferences and special occasions.

Team Leadership & Training:

• Supervise and guide the Guest Experience team, providing direction, motivation, and support to ensure high levels of performance.
• Conduct regular training sessions for team member on hospitality standards, customer service, and handling special guest requests.
• Empower team members to provide top-tier service by promoting a culture of excellence and attention to detail.

Guest Interaction:

• Act as a point of contact for VIP and repeat guests to ensure their needs are anticipated and met.
• Ensure personalized, warm, and engaging guest interactions, from check-in to check-out, to create a lasting positive impression.
• Anticipate the needs of guests, and customize services to meet individual preferences.

Collaboration with Hotel Departments:

• Coordinate with Front Office, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, and other departments to deliver a seamless and cohesive guest experience.
• Work closely with the Concierge team to offer personalized recommendations for dining, entertainment, and local attractions.
• Ensure smooth communication between departments to quickly address any issues or special requests.

Guest Loyalty & Retention:

• Develop and implement programs to increase guest loyalty, such as reward schemes, special offers, and memorable experiences for repeat visitors.
• Track guest preferences, feedback, and patterns to anticipate future needs and improve service delivery.
• Cultivate relationships with frequent guests to encourage return visits and enhance long-term customer loyalty.

Problem Resolution:

• Handle guest complaints, concerns, or issues with empathy and professionalism, aiming to resolve problems swiftly and to the guest’s satisfaction.
• Proactively identify any potential issues or disruptions to the guest experience and work to address them before they impact the guest.

Quality Control & Standard Enforcement:

• Conduct regular inspections of guest rooms and common areas to ensure cleanliness, quality, and presentation standards are upheld.
• Implement quality control measures to maintain the hotel’s reputation for luxury and excellence.
• Monitor service levels throughout the hotel and ensure that the guest experience is consistent across all touchpoints.

Guest Feedback & Reporting:

• Collect, analyze, and respond to guest feedback, both positive and negative, to continuously improve the guest experience.
• Provide reports to management on guest satisfaction levels, trends, and opportunities for improvement.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement:

• Stay current on industry trends, guest preferences, and emerging technologies that can improve the guest experience.
• Introduce new guest experience programs, services, or offerings to keep the hotel competitive and enhance satisfaction.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Perform any other duties or responsibilities as assigned by management to support the effective operation of the department and the broader goals of the property.

People & Culture

Employee Relations

• Foster a positive and structured work environment which encourages the successful operation of the business, calling upon the necessary processes to deal with disciplinary, grievance and workforce change situations. 
• Work alongside with the People & Culture leader to investigate, document and administer corrective action immediately and effectively to reach the mutual goals of the business and the Heartist.

Recruitment

• Hire new Heartists in conjunction with the People & Culture Leader through INES.

• Use the interview guides provided and Talent Meter to gain further information on any potential candidate.

Employee Engagement and Communications

• Strive to increase Heartist engagement by promoting a positive work environment where each Heartist is informed and proactive about the overall business goals.  Ensure the consistent delivery of business and associate information with transparency so that each Heartist understands how they contribute to the company’s success.  This will include working on the Employee Engagement Survey (EES) and People & Culture Audit.  Ensure the EES Champions for the hotel/departmental action plans in order to increase Heartist engagement and improve EES scores year on year.
• Represent the organization as an exemplary ambassador the Accor All Inclusive - Heartist Service Culture.
• Labour Turnover to be closely monitored and proactive actions taken with regards to trends and suggestions to People & Culture leader as well as Hotel Manager/General Manager.

Learning & Talent Development & Performance Management

• Ensure bi-annual Talent Review process is conducted and associated documentation maintained to the required standard.
• Facilitate the performance management cycle from probation reviews, annual performance reviews, development plans as well as on the job training.
• Ensure Departments have adequate Departmental trainers, and these are well utilised.
• For all supervisory positions have a transparent development programme in place in conjunction with the Talent & Culture leader as well as Learning & Development.
• Development of direct reports to give them ongoing feedback and development.
• Contributes to the morale and team spirit of the hotel by maintaining effective relationships with colleagues.
• Performs additional duties as directed by supervisors.
• Makes appropriate suggestions and recommendations to supervisors for the general improvement of the hotel.
• Is fully conversant with all health and safety, fire and emergency procedures.
• Maintains a high standard of personal hygiene, dress, uniform, and body language.
• Is polite and professional in any situation where the image or regulation of the hotel is represented.
• Attends meetings and training as required by supervisors.
• Ensures that all activities are carried out honestly, ethically, and within the parameters of local Law.
• Interacts with guests actively soliciting feedback.

Finance

• The activities and contribution of the role will impact the performance of the hotel. 
• Act on behalf of the business to work through complex situations and reduce risk, interpreting and implementing company policies and employment legislation as appropriate.
• Exercise sound judgment and integrity at all times to ensure confidentiality of protected information.
• Be fiscally competent in budgeting, forecasting including the commentary that goes with the documents/meetings.
• Demonstrate full awareness of departmental budget/P&L and work towards achieving it by minimizing expenses and maximizing room revenue.

This role demands strategic thinking, strong leadership, and a focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences while maximizing revenue and profitability.

Abilities/Key Competencies/Skills

Alongside these key competencies, the incumbent of the role will be required to demonstrate the fundamentals of the company’s Heartist service culture to be responsive, respectful and deliver a great experience.

Leading Myself

• Positive Orientation
• Operational Decision Making
• Self-Development & Management

Leading Others

• Developing an Empowered Team
• Leading an Engaged and Diverse Team
• Communication

Leading the Business

• Advocating Guest Passion
• Business Planning and Analysis
• Business Improvement and Change

Experience

• Experience: A minimum of 3-5 years of experience in hospitality or guest services, with at least 2 years in a management or supervisory role.
• Education: A bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business, or a related field is preferred.
• Skills & Attributes:

• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Excellent problem-solving and conflict resolution abilities.
• Ability to anticipate and address guest needs proactively.
• Attention to detail with a strong focus on customer service and satisfaction.
• Proficiency in hotel management software and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Multitasking ability and a calm demeanour in high-pressure situations.

• Language:

• Excellent reading, writing and oral proficiency in English language.
• Ability to speak other languages and basic understanding of local languages will be an advantage.

These qualifications and attributes are crucial for excelling in the role, ensuring effective leadership, operational excellence, and outstanding guest experiences.

Why Join Us:

We are dedicated to fostering your growth and success every step of the way. We understand the importance of providing you with the support, training, and leadership necessary to excel in your role. That's why we offer comprehensive training and development programs tailored to sharpen your skills and elevate your expertise in the luxury hospitality sector. Your journey with us is not just about achieving your goals but also about continuously refining your capabilities and making meaningful contributions to our shared success