Umed Bhawan Palace, Kotah
Website:
umedbhawankotah.com
Job details:
The opening is for the role of General Manager at Umed Bhawan Palace Kotah – a heritage hotel in Kota, Rajasthan, India.
Qualifications & Prerequisites:
- Education: Bachelor’s / Master’s degree in Hotel Management or a related field.
- Experience:
- Minimum of 8-12 years of experience in hotel operations with at least 3-5 years experience in a General Manager / Operations Manager / Rooms Division Manager / Hotel Manager or equivalent leadership role
- Proven experience managing full-service hotels, preferably heritage, boutique, or independently operated properties
- Strong understanding of Front Office, Housekeeping, Sales & Marketing, F&B, Engineering, Finance, and HR functions
- Experience working with a diverse range of customers including foreign tourist groups, FITs, events, weddings, banquets, local guests and high-value social functions
- Technical & Professional Skills:
- Strong ability to establish, implement, and continuously improve professional systems, processes and SOPs across all departments including creation of clear operational structures, reporting systems, accountability frameworks and performance standards to ensure consistent and efficient hotel operations
- Strong understanding of hotel of PMS platforms (Opera / IDS / WINHMS / similar), Channel Management software (STAAH / Hotel Spider / similar), with the ability to use technology to improve operational efficiency and business performance
- Ability to analyse operational and financial data, KPIs and management reports and translate insights into practical actions
- Strong knowledge of quality assurance, service standards, compliance, health & safety and statutory requirements relevant to hotel operations
- Soft Skills:
- Strong leadership, people-management and communication skills, with the ability to lead and motivate all teams
- Excellent planning, coordination, negotiation and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced hospitality environment
- Demonstrated experience in P&L management budgeting, cost control and revenue optimization
- Proven ability to maintain high standards of guest service, operational efficiency and overall guest satisfaction.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with a hands-on-approach, commercial acumen and the ability to work closely with the ownership and senior leadership
- Ability to develop a culture of professionalism, discipline, accountability, and continuous improvement while maintaining the warmth and personal service expected of a high-quality palace hotel
- Language: Fluency in English & Hindi (Written & Spoken)
Key Tasks & Responsibilities:
- Overall Hotel Operations: Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations and performance of the hotel, ensuring smooth, efficient and professional functioning across all departments
- Leadership & Team Management: Lead, motivate and manage the hotel’s operational and support teams, ensuring clear accountability, strong communication and high standards of professionalism
- Guest Experience: Maintain consistently high standards of guest service, hospitality and guest satisfaction, while personally overseeing key guest interactions and service recovery
- SOPs & Operational Systems: Develop, implement, enforce, and continuously improve professional SOPs, systems, processes and reporting structures across departments to ensure consistency, accountability and operational efficiency
- Financial Performance: Take responsibility for the hotel’s sales and marketing strategy, including corporate, leisure, group, wedding, events and MICE business
- Food & Beverage: Work closely with the Executive Chef to ensure effective management of all Food & Beverage operations, including restaurants, bars, banquets and outside catering, where applicable.
- Events & Weddings: Oversee the planning and execution of weddings, conferences, events and special functions, ensuring operational excellence and a high level of guest satisfaction
- Performance Management: Monitor departmental performance through regular KPIs, budgets, forecasts and management reports, identifying areas for improvement and taking corrective action where required.
- Heritage Property & Asset Management: Oversee hotel maintenance, engineering, security, housekeeping and overall upkeep of the property, ensuring that physical standards and the character of the hotel are consistently maintained.
- Annual Business Planning: Lead the preparation of the hotel’s annual operating plan, departmental budgets, sales targets and strategic priorities, and monitor performance against agreed objectives
- Finance & Accounts: Work closely with the Financial Controller on all finance and accounts-related matters, including budgeting, forecasting, monthly financial reporting, P&L review, cash flow management, accounts receivable and payables, payroll, statutory compliance, internal controls, audits and financial reconciliations, ensuring accurate and timely financial information and decision-making
- Purchasing, Procurement, & Stores: Work closely with the Financial Controller to establish and maintain robust internal purchasing and procurement systems, covering purchase requisitions, approvals, quotations, purchase orders, receiving and inventory controls. Oversee supplier management and external purchasing ensuring competitive pricing, appropriate vendor selection, transparency, proper documentation, cost-effectiveness and efficient stores and inventory management
- Human Resources: Oversee recruitment, training, performance management, employee engagement and retention, fostering a culture of professionalism, teamwork and accountability.
- Staff Training and Development: Establish structured programmes for induction, departmental training, cross-training, service standards and management development, creating a strong internal talent pipeline
- Compliance and Risk Management: Ensure compliance with all statutory, licensing, health & safety, fire safety and regulatory requirements
- Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with key guests, corporate clients, travel partners, vendors and other stakeholders.
- Operational Efficiency: Identify opportunities to improve systems, streamline processes, optimize resources, reduce costs and enhance the overall guest experience
- Brand & Reputation: Uphold and enhance the hotel’s brand positioning, heritage character and reputation, ensuring that all aspects of the operation reflect the hotel’s standards and identity
- Owner & Management Reporting: Prepare and present regular operational, financial and performance updates to the ownership and senior management, providing clear insights and recommendations
- Industry Representation: Represent the hotel professionally at industry events, networking opportunities and relevant business forums, contributing to the hotel’s visibility and business development
- Crisis and Emergency Management: Take overall responsibility for managing operational emergencies, guest incidents, security situations and business continuity, ensuring appropriate systems and protocols are in place.
- Capital Projects and Improvements: Work with ownership and relevant consultants / contractors on renovations, maintenance projects, capital expenditure and property improvements, ensuring quality, budgets and timelines are managed effectively
Apply
- Interested Applicants fitting the above qualifications and requirements may send in their applications to hr.umedbhawankotah@gmail.com, with the following attachments & information:- (1) Updated Resume; (2) Current / latest payslip with CTC; (3) Expected Compensation and CTC; (4) Notice Period / Earliest Joining Date; (5) Relevant Professional References if any
- Shortlisted candidates will be contacted to schedule interviews
About the Property
Umed Bhawan Palace Kotah is a heritage hotel owned and operated by the Royal Family of Kotah. The property was operated by ITC Hotels (under the WelcomHeritage brand) up to March 2023, and is now operating with a new management team since late-2023, following property-wide renovations.
Umed Bhawan Palace currently has 34 rooms and suites, a multi-cuisine restaurant “The Dahlia”, a bar “The Swinton Bar”, two indoor banquet halls, and one large outdoor banquet venue. The Palace is surrounded by greenery – making it an oasis of calm within the confines of the city, while still being very centrally located (less than 10 minutes from railway station i.e. Kota Junction).
Kota is a ~6.5 hour drive from Delhi, ~4 hour drive from Jaipur & Udaipur, is very well connected by rail, and soon to be connected by air with an upcoming airport expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
Click on Apply to know more.