Pre-Opening General Manager – Luxury Resort

About the role

Le Méridien Lindeman Island is preparing to reopen as a world‑class luxury resort within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Pre‑Opening General Manager will lead all pre‑opening activities from Sydney and transition to the island to ensure a seamless launch that sets a new benchmark for Australian resort hospitality.

Key responsibilities

• Partner with ownership, La Vie Hotels & Resorts and Marriott to define the operational model, service philosophy and guest experience vision in line with Le Méridien standards.
• Lead recruitment, onboarding and training of the full resort team across all departments.
• Establish commercial strategy, distribution partnerships and pre‑opening sales and marketing activities using Marriott’s global distribution platform.
• Oversee procurement, FF&E and operational set‑up in collaboration with the project and construction teams.
• Build owner and stakeholder relationships, provide regular reporting and strategic counsel.
• Develop SOPs and operational frameworks aligned with brand standards and La Vie’s management philosophy.
• Manage the transition from pre‑opening to full operational status.

Required profile

• Proven senior hospitality leadership experience, preferably in pre‑opening or large‑scale resort projects.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead high‑performing teams in remote or island environments.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in distribution, sales and marketing strategy.
• Excellent stakeholder management and reporting skills.
• Resilience, operational ingenuity and a passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Required skills