Hotel General Manager Resume Guide

Introduction

A well-crafted resume for a hotel general manager in 2025 should clearly highlight leadership, operational expertise, and guest satisfaction skills. Given the competitive nature of the hospitality industry, aligning your resume with ATS (Applicant Tracking System) requirements ensures your application reaches hiring managers. This guide provides practical advice on structuring your resume to stand out and optimize for ATS scans.

Who Is This For?

This guide targets experienced hotel general managers or aspiring candidates with some management background aiming for roles in developed regions such as the USA, UK, or Australia. It’s suitable for those switching careers, returning to the workforce, or applying for senior roles. Whether you’re updating your existing resume or creating a new one, focus on demonstrating proven leadership and operational skills relevant to large hotels or hotel chains.

Resume Format for Hotel General Manager (2025)

Start with a clear, logical structure. Prioritize sections as follows:

• Summary: Summarize your management experience, key achievements, and leadership qualities.
• Skills: List relevant hard and soft skills, using keywords aligned with industry standards.
• Experience: Detail your employment history, emphasizing results-driven accomplishments.
• Projects or Portfolio: Include notable initiatives or strategic projects, especially if they showcase innovation or cost savings.
• Education and Certifications: Highlight hospitality management degrees or certifications like LGV, HACCP, or leadership courses.

Use a two-page resume if you have extensive experience or significant achievements. For less than 10 years’ experience, stick to a one-page format. Incorporate relevant keywords naturally. Keep the layout clean with clear headings and avoid overly decorative elements that can hinder ATS parsing.

Role-Specific Skills & Keywords

• Hotel operations management
• Budget planning and financial analysis
• Staff recruitment, training, and leadership
• Guest experience enhancement
• Revenue management strategies
• P&L accountability
• Customer service excellence
• Compliance with safety and health regulations
• Vendor negotiations
• Property maintenance oversight
• Hospitality software (e.g., Opera, Oracle Hospitality)
• Data analysis and reporting tools
• Crisis management
• Multilingual communication (if applicable)

Ensure these keywords are embedded throughout your resume, especially in skills and experience sections, matching the language used in the job descriptions you target.

Experience Bullets That Stand Out

• Led a team of 150+ staff across departments, increasing guest satisfaction scores by ~20% within 12 months.
• Managed annual budgets exceeding $10 million, reducing operational costs by ~15% through process improvements.
• Implemented a new revenue management strategy, boosting occupancy rates by ~12% during peak seasons.
• Developed and executed staff training programs, decreasing employee turnover by ~10%.
• Oversaw renovations and property upgrades, resulting in a 25% increase in online reviews and ratings.
• Negotiated vendor contracts, saving the hotel over $200K annually.
• Introduced sustainability initiatives, earning the hotel LEED certification and attracting eco-conscious travelers.
• Leveraged hospitality software to streamline booking and check-in processes, reducing customer wait times by ~30%.
• Collaborated with marketing to launch targeted campaigns, increasing direct bookings by ~18%.
• Resolved guest complaints efficiently, maintaining a 4.7-star average rating on review platforms.

Related Resume Guides

• Assistant General Manager Resume Guide
• Hotel Manager Resume Guide
• Hotel Front Office Manager Resume Guide
• Retail General Manager Resume Guide
• General Manager Resume Guide

Common Mistakes (and Fixes)

• Vague summaries: Focus on specific achievements rather than generic descriptions. Quantify your impact where possible.
• Dense paragraphs: Break information into bullet points for easy scanning. ATS favors scannable, organized content.
• Overloading with soft skills: While important, ensure soft skills are backed by concrete examples. Use keywords like "leadership," "problem-solving," and "team management."
• Inconsistent formatting: Use uniform fonts, headings, and bullet styles. Avoid tables or text boxes that can confuse ATS.
• Including irrelevant details: Stick to information pertinent to hotel management roles; avoid unrelated hobbies or skills.

ATS Tips You Shouldn't Skip

• Use a clear, descriptive file name, e.g., “John_Doe_Hotel_General_Manager_2025.pdf.”
• Label sections with standard headers like Summary, Skills, Experience, Education, and Certifications.
• Incorporate synonyms for keywords, e.g., “hotel operations,” “hospitality management,” “guest services.”
• Use consistent tense—past tense for previous roles, present tense for current responsibilities.
• Avoid graphics, images, or complex formatting that may disrupt ATS parsing.
• Ensure keyword density is natural; avoid keyword stuffing.
• Save your resume in PDF format unless specified otherwise by the employer.

Following these guidelines can improve your chances of passing ATS scans and catching the eye of hiring managers seeking a skilled hotel general manager in 2025.