Reservations and Reception Manager

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• 150-Room | 4.5-Star hotel in Invercargill
• Lead the Front Office & Reservation Team
• Be part of the Pre-Opening Team and make a BUZZ!

Are you ready to help launch one of Southland’s most anticipated hotel openings? The Distinction Invercargill Hotel, a brand-new 150-room, 4.5-star property, is seeking an experienced and driven Reservations & Reception Manager to join our pre-opening team.
This is your chance to build your own team, shape operational standards, and create a culture of excellence from day one.

 The Role:

As the Reservations & Reception Manager, your primary responsibility will be to lead the Reservations Department, ensuring optimal room allocation, yield management, and a seamless booking experience across all guest segments.
In addition, you will provide strategic oversight of the Front Office, working closely with reception and guest services to ensure a smooth arrival experience.
You will:

• Lead and manage the Reservations function, overseeing all FIT, group/tour, and corporate bookings.
• Develop and maintain effective allocation strategies, rate loading, and inventory management.
• Build and train a high-performing reservations and front office team.
• Define and implement pre-opening SOPs and service standards.
• Coordinate closely with Sales, Revenue, and Front Office to maximise occupancy and guest satisfaction.
• Support front desk operations, especially during key arrivals and high-demand periods.

About You:

We’re looking for a detail-oriented leader who thrives on structure, planning, and delivering excellent guest experiences behind the scenes. You will bring:

• Proven experience in hotel Reservations Management, ideally with exposure to Front Office operations.
• Knowledge of FIT, tour group series, and corporate account room allocation.
• Strong grasp of hotel systems (Opera, RoomMaster, or similar) and rate management processes.
• Confidence in training and developing your team from pre-opening through ongoing operations.
• Pre-opening experience is highly regarded, though not essential.
• A positive, solutions-focused attitude with a passion for hospitality excellence.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a landmark pre-opening project in the heart of Invercargill.
• Play a lead role in shaping the hotel’s systems, culture, and guest journey.
• Competitive salary and full support from the Distinction Hotels leadership team.
• Career advancement opportunities across a proudly New Zealand-owned hotel group.

Please note we are not accepting applications from outside of NZ that require sponsorship / Visas assistance for this pre opening hotel.