ONE OF THE 25 COOLEST HOTELS IN THE WORLD. Forbes, Selected by Tablet. New hotel concept provides global nomads with a local social life.

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1 ONE OF THE 25 COOLEST HOTELS IN THE WORLD Forbes, Selected by Tablet This futuristic hotel is like WeWork combined with AirBnB. New hotel concept provides global nomads with a local social life. Zoku concept forgoes the bed as the typical hotel s centerpiece. 1 A new type of hotel is upping its game to compete with Airbnb

2 WHAT THE ZOKU? Zoku, which is Japanese for family, tribe or clan, facilitates global living and working for the traveling professional. Zoku is a new category in the hotel industry: a flexible home/ office hybrid, also suitable for long stays, with the services of a hotel and the social buzz of a thriving neighbourhood. You can live, work, relax and socialize with like-minded people while getting wired into the city. Zoku still feels very much like the high-energy and ambitious entrepreneurial start-up from its early beginnings; yet, it also benefits from strong financial backing and a professional set-up to make it big. Zoku is created by a small team of highly enthusiastic and engaged individuals who bring on board bags of enthusiasm and gumption. It describes itself as a sprawling family thanks to an amazing group of people who have supported the company over the last few years. To help spread the message about its story, founders and supporters, the Zoku team has put together an open letter which can be accessed here. After opening the first Zoku in Amsterdam in 2016, the team started the European expansion and has now several deals in the pipeline to open in 2020 and beyond. The company continues to pursue its growth ambition for both Europe and US. Its ambition to open 50 Zokus in the next ten years, creating the world s most desirable home base, where people and ideas connect and grow. Further information on Zoku can be found at as well as by browsing its various social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube). It is also noteworthy to mention that Zoku is planning on becoming B-corp certified by mid-july. On its website, under the Green Zoku page you can find an overview of Zoku s social and sustainable responsibilities as well as its impact vision, i.e. the why as it pertains to how we believe we can make a difference and create a positive impact on the world. TELL ME MORE The Chief Operating Officer is a newly created position; one, which will support Zoku s growth in Europe from an operational point of view whilst also tasked to further strengthen its position as a firmly human-centric and 2 data-driven company. You will assume full responsibility for the operational business entailing both the day-to-day management as well as the strategic planning. You ll form part of Zoku s three-legged Executive team, proactively supporting the two founders of the business in managing the company. WHAT WILL YOU DO? Tasked to create a stable and scalable operating platform that is build first and foremost on human interactions and focused on guests and employee engagement, you will drive and enhance Zoku s unique value proposition and help implement a culture that is truly focused on service excellence. You will lead by example, proactively coach and mentor staff, and ensure consistency across the property portfolio by identifying and sharing best practices. Great emphasis is placed on creating a truly aligned community, with focus on connecting people (team members and guests alike), that celebrates the Zoku spirit. You will furthermore successfully manage and spearhead openings, embrace and implement new innovative ideas, assume responsibility for key hiring decisions and the selection of Zoku ambassadors, drive employee engagement and create a positive work environment and culture that ensures retention and drives performance. You will have full P&L responsibility and closely collaborate in that regard with other Leadership Team members. You are expected to put in place, and/or fine-tune, the necessary systems and procedures to support the company s rapid expansion plans. The individual will be the first point of contact to all operational needs and in managing owner relations in regard to performance aspects. Below more specific responsibilities: GENERAL MANAGEMENT Develop and implement a strategic plan for the business and its operational department, consistent and in line with brand standards and the company culture; Define and implement the corporate and hotel-level operational structures and setup necessary standard operating processes and procedures as well as systems and tools needed in line with Zoku s efforts to become a truly data-driven company; Define and implement the operational

3 business plan, set and achieve success matrixes (e.g. review scores, staff engagement scores), budgets and financial goals; Responsible for the company s sales and distribution strategy; Act as driving force, inspiration and true ambassador of the guest-focussed culture within Zoku. OPERATIONAL Firmly human centric: hire, train and direct staff for both the office in Amsterdam and at a hotel level; Create an environment where people can thrive, by leading and developing the team members to encourage maximum performance; Spearhead the critical path and guide and direct, in close collaboration with the Head of Pre-Opening, and the pre-opening teams to ensure that budgets and deadlines are met; Embrace Zoku s vision and focus on solutions. Be aware of new food & beverage concepts, new technologies and changing guest behaviour. Be ready to adapt and drive positive change. Supervise and coach teams at unit-level on meeting and exceeding operational and financial goals and constantly look for ways to improve the product and guest experience. Develop and demonstrate a strong understanding of property demand generators, revenue management, distribution channels, the sales process and yield strategies to maximise performance; Complete detailed onsite property audits and action plans for each unit a minimum of four times per year; specific properties may require additional visits. Work closely with all outsourced partners (such as Housekeeping, Revenue Management, Night personnel and PR agency) to ensure consistency and operational excellence. FINANCIAL Overseeing, together with the Leadership Team, the preparation of annual budgets at property and group level; Leading, together with the Leadership Team, the monthly business unit review process and quarterly unit business plan reviews; Overseeing detailed operational financial analysis, performance tracking and ongoing review of revenue management, forecast and profit and loss metrics; Conduct detailed review of each property s monthly performance measures including but not limited to profit and loss statements, third party audit scores and guest satisfaction results identifying opportunities for continuous improvement; Providing operational input into CapEx (capital expenditure) plans based on solid return-on-investment (ROI) analysis and needs assessment. Assist in ensuring that CapEx programs are completed on time and within budget with limited to no impact on operations, performance levels and/or or the guest experience. TEAM BUILDING / LEADERSHIP Directly collaborate with the corporate team, which includes managers responsible for Pre-Openings, Technology, Finance, HR and Commercial; Establish accountability for self and others; identify core issues, balance intuition and good business sense while being emotionally stable and mature, accept feedback, coach others, and possess the highest levels of integrity; Communicate effectively and frequently with other departments to ensure sound business decisions, efficiency of operations, and high standards are met; Develop and continuously update training(s) (manuals) regularly conduct IDPs (individual development plans) with key staff members to build and develop a strong talent pipeline; Supporting the HR team in the identification and development of future leaders to create a stable and reliable (internal) talent pool of hospitality employees; Assisting with the on-boarding of new personnel and management positions; Creating a positive work environment with the goal to achieve high employee engagement and loyalty in all hotels; Becoming a brand champion and ambassador, both internally and externally, by living and breathing the values of Zoku. OTHER Work closely with the development team and senior management to assess the potential and viability of development 3

4 opportunities from an operational and market point-of-view; Lead the implementation of new business opportunities which help the company to evolve and/or expand into new lines of business; Lead the implementation and/or adaptation of Zoku s brand standards, based on market intel, guest feedback and specific data points; allowing the company to be at the top of its game as it relates to the guest experience; Work closely with the Leadership Team in periodical and ad-hoc reporting to the owners/investors; Act as a problem-solver for on-property issues or asset fixing; Identify and address any potential or existing conditions relating to life safety, legal or physical deficiencies; Evaluate performance by analysing and interpreting data and metrics. REPORTING RELATIONSHIP You will work with Zoku s two co-founders, as part of the Executive Team, and will have frequent interaction with all other members of the Leadership Team. You will be based in Amsterdam and required to do some travel. WE LOVE PEOPLE WHO... You will likely possess a bachelor s degree or equivalent level qualification, plus (international) experience in managing hotel, private members club and/or comparable hospitality operations at cluster or multi-unit level. Expertise in branded hotel management and leading hotel openings as General Manager is highly valued. Managing openings is a must and ideally you will have been involved in the management of lifestyle and/or hybrid properties. Additionally, complementing your experience on the rooms side of the business, you should bring on board hands-on experience with a hospitality employer who stood out from the rest of its competition giving its excellent service levels. You should furthermore be commercially and financially savvy and interested in utilizing and embracing new (data driven) technologies. Exceptional leadership skills are essential as well as past experience in creating outstanding employee engagement and staff loyalty and building successful and high performing 4 teams. The COO must create a positive work environment with focus on developing, nurturing and motivating employees who in return will add to the Zoku community. The ability to build long lasting relationships at all levels is fundamental. Humble, and passionate about hotel operations and the guest experience, you will stand out above everyone else given his/her hands-on attitude and go-getter mentality. You will bring on board a good sense of humour and inspire the team to thrive for excellence and never settle for less. Adventurous and entrepreneurial, you will be able to grow with the company and have an open-mind, be forward thinking and possess a fresh approach to embrace new ideas and concepts. You will be highly selfmotivated, goal-orientated and competitive whilst also appreciating that there is no i in team. Identifying with the start-up ethos of the group, you will be highly adaptable, be used to operating within a flat organisational structure and will welcome travelling to visit the portfolio and local / regional staff members. You will be able to successfully open new properties that meet Zoku s specific requirements and should also be tech-savvy and aware of new trends and challenges. Superior communication and presentation skills, both oral and written, are critical. You will need to be a consummate team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills up and down the organisational chart. You should be well organised, computer literate, and detail-oriented as well as adept at managing multiple openings at the same time. In addition, you are proficient in written and spoken English and ideally speak additional European languages (French and/or German are highly desirable). WHEN WILL YOU BE SUCCESSFUL? When high review scores, across the entire portfolio, are reached on all channels; When high employee engagement scores, across the entire portfolio, are reached; When you have communicated, promoted and applied the desired company culture, values and vision to each team member on the work floor; When you have achieved the operational performance to be in accordance with the blueprint (or better);

5 When Zoku s brand standards (including the guest experience) are implemented successfully; When all operational processes, procedures and systems are scalable, and efficiently and effectively implemented; When all data is effectively collected and interpreted, including feedback to all business lines; When you have successfully integrated with the Executive Team; When you have taken ownership of the above and become part of Zoku. WHAT S IN IT FOR YOU? Base salary and incentives commensurated with experience. will be HOW TO APPLY? Does this sound like you? Make sure to send your application (CV, motivation and if you like (we do!) something extra to present yourself) to talent@livezoku.com. We will get back to you as soon as possible. 5