General Manager - Eagle Island Safari Lodge
Belmond, Botswana
Job Description
The Role
Belmond Safaris is looking for a General Manager to be based in our Eagle Island Lodge Safari, located in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. The General Manager will act as the business owner and drive excellence in line with Eagle Island Lodge’s strategic plan. They will also oversee operations in our Maun Office and Distribution Centre. This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic leader with a passion for excellence and storytelling in nature.
Belmond Safari Lodges sparkle with a unique personality, and together form the ultimate Botswana safari, Elephants parade across the plains and against the Botswana sunrise. Predators kick up plumes of dust. The setting sun brings startling pink skies. With indulgent and elegant tented rooms, feasts of local delicacies and camps perfectly positioned for game spotting, Belmond safaris sizzle with savannah magic.
Eagle Island Lodge brings timeless luxury to the Botswana wetlands, High-ceilinged tented rooms floored with light; each has a plunge pool and oversized bed with views of the Delta. Get closer to wildlife of this UNESCO World Heritage Site - silently glide past hippos in a traditional canoe as fish eagles soar overhead
About Belmond
Belmond is part of the world’s leading luxury group, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
Belmond has been a pioneer of exceptional luxury travel since 1976. Its portfolio extends across 24 countries with 46 remarkable properties that include the illustrious Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train, remote beach retreats like Cap Juluca in Anguilla, Italian hideaways such as Splendido in Portofino, and gateways to natural wonders such as Hotel das Cataratas beside Brazil’s Iguassu Falls. From trains to river barges, safari lodges to hotels, each unique property has a distinctive story, personality and identity, with a personalised team to match.
The essence of the Belmond brand is built upon its heritage, craftsmanship and genuine, authentic service. We treasure history while looking to the future. We embrace community spirit and believe in responsible, sustainable tourism. As part of our Think Global, Act Local approach, we prioritise purchasing food from sustainable sources, run and support educational programmes and follow sustainable practices to reduce our impact on the environment.
Belmond and you
When you join Belmond, you become part of a global family. We ask you to embrace our core values, follow our directives and reflect the ethos of our group. In return, we ensure our employees enjoy just as many memorable moments as our guests. Benefits include the Discovering Belmond programme, which offers team members complimentary accommodation at Belmond hotels, discounted rates for our trains, cruises and safaris, and discounted food and beverages. More importantly, we support you in your career. We make a point of investing in your development and wellbeing to help you reach your full potential.
Requirements
- Minimum of 5 years work experience in a General Manager position in the luxury hospitality industry and essentially experience in remote locations
- Not essential but preferable to have some experience with safaris
- Passion for the outdoors and nature
- International work experience desirable
- Demonstrated ability of change management and moving projects forward from the beginning through to the end
- A strong passion for excellence
- Commitment to the development of the Safaris and the teams
- A hands-on, can-do attitude
- Willingness to grow with the business
- Ideally business repositioning and/or new opening experience
- Extensive knowledge and exposure to the luxury, remote International hospitality sector
- Ability to interact and build relationships with the local community and guests
- Experience of consistently driving Excellence and reaching LQA targets
- Experience with working and developing local talent.
- Ability to demonstrate prior success in delivering results.
- Ability to build genuine, effective relationships with leadership teams and work collaboratively in order to achieve organisational success.
- Financial acumen and commercially focused.
- A pioneering mindset, looking to improve one’s-self and the Eagle Island Lodge team
- Keeps up to date knowledge of (and acts upon) trends in the luxury industry and luxury experiences.
- An impeccable eye for detail with an unswerving approach to standards in order to consistently reach Excellence.
- Genuine, authentic character and great storyteller with a sense of humour.
- Proud custodian, being proud of and protecting our lodges, the environment amp; their heritage.
- Pioneering mindset with a thirst for discovery, learning and growing, and creating their own personal journey