Case Study: General Manager Recruitment – Regional Estate
Recently, we partnered with a regional hospitality estate to recruit a General Manager into a business with strong potential, but a need for clearer leadership across multiple revenue streams.
A regional hospitality estate approached us looking to hire a Venue Manager to oversee day-to-day operations. The site included accommodation, weddings, conferencing, and a restaurant operation, with clear plans to grow occupancy, events, and overall commercial performance.
After reviewing the brief, it became clear the scope of the role extended well beyond what a Venue Manager would typically cover. The business needed stronger leadership across rooms, events, and food and beverage, along with clearer accountability across departments. In this case, the title didn’t match the responsibility.
Rather than proceeding with the original brief, we advised repositioning the role as a General Manager appointment. This allowed the business to properly define the role, attract a more commercially capable profile, and align the hire with its longer-term plans.
At the same time, we had already been in conversation with a highly relevant candidate with strong regional Victoria experience and a background in managing multi-revenue hospitality venues. Because the relationship was already established, we were able to move quickly with a candidate who understood the environment and had the operational depth required.
The process included a detailed on-site meeting, allowing both sides to properly assess alignment across expectations, structure, and long-term direction. In regional roles especially, fit extends beyond the job itself into how the operation runs day to day.
The role was ultimately filled as a General Manager position, giving the business clear leadership across all departments and a stronger foundation for growth. More importantly, the hire reflected the actual needs of the site rather than the limitations of the original brief.
The right outcome here wasn’t driven by running a broad search. It came from understanding the brief properly, knowing the market, and acting quickly when the right operator was already there.
