Recruitment Success Stories

Unearthing today’s talent remains a strategic and continuous challenge for Hospitality's global market leaders.

A trusted advisor, Manhattan Group is a subject matter expert in talent search and retention strategies for the Hospitality Industry. We have managed over 1,200 search assignments across all levels of hospitality management on all continents. Key to our success has been our unique market insights, extensive networks and unparelled access to passive talent communities.

We are proud to be acknowledged as the pre-eminent hospitality recruiter of choice, so send us your question or enquire and let us show you why! 

For a confidential consultation, please contact Axel Koster, General Manager, in our Melbourne Office on +61 3 9005-4932 (GMT +10 hours) between office hours.

Manhattan Group 
5/415 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000   AUSTRALIA
Voice: +61 3 9642-0211  F: +61 3 9642-0311  E: info (at) manhattangroup dot co

Success Story 1: A Global Search for a Group General Manager

When the CEO of a leading Asian company based in South-East Asia was in need of a Group General Manager, he turned to Manhattan Group for action.

The company was in significant growth and as an IPO was immiment and confidentiality was paramount. He recognised it was a challenging brief. The new role was politically sensitive and the incumbent would be required to skilfully manage relationships with a wide group of stakeholders.

Demonstrated experience in managing a diverse hotel group in growth and strategy implementation was essential. The role also involved mentoring and recruiting a new executive committee. Adding to the complexity of the search assignment, it was not in a key Asian gateway city, thereby restricting the number of experienced candidates who would consider such a location. 

Our client invited Manhattan Group's General Manager, Axel Koster, to their headquarters for a consultation. Axel spent 5 days touring all resorts to gain an understanding of the capabilities needed of the right candidate. To gain company-wide buy-in, he consulted all direct reports to explain the process we would employ.

Foregoing the usual job-board advertising, we approach several lead candidates across our global talent communities. Canvassing the possibility to be part of a dynamic and growing hotel group, we were able to minimise the disantvantage of a secondary location. We shortlisted 5 candidates for presentation to the client and within 3 weeks the successful candidate was hired.

The total recruitment process took 6 weeks, from initial enquiry to point of hire. The Group General Manager has been very successful after 2 years in the job, the company has grown over 35% in RevPAR, EBITDA increased by 17% and acquired 4 properties during his tenure.  

Success Story 2: Triligual Financial Controller

After an exhaustive and fruitless 6-month global search, the Head of Finance of a super-luxury hotel group called Manhattan Group to take over another difficult recruitment assignment.

The hotel managment company was in the final stages of opening a top resort in Thailand and needed a "top-gun" Financial Controller conversant in English, Thai and Mandarin. Time was of the essence. The resort owners were a large Chinese multi-national group that stipulated a Mandarin-speaking Financial Controller to liason with head office in Shanghai.

Another perfect recruitment assignment for Manhattan Group to showcase our exceptional local awareness and global reach to target the best person for this critical role. 

A dual-reporting line to owners and hotel managment company, the financial Controller was a key member of the management team. leadership and full responsibility for all areas of finance, valuation and system implementation for this large multi-million dollar resort investment and complex.

As for the hotel management company, only tertiary qualified and technically strong candidates with demonstrated leadership experience would be considered. GIven the complex relationships with a wide group of stakeholders to manage and only an apt finance professional with a proven track record would do! 

The role also involved mentoring and directing a new team of local accountants, hence the requirement for Thai. Our lead consultant was John Ortner, CEO of Manhattan Group on this strategic assignment. 

After the initial consultation with the client, we agreed on a selection criteria for the client. We then adopted a search model, without relying on our traditional marketing mix channels of advertising and opt-in only mailing lists. We head-hunted from a narrow comptetitor set in the region. After initial discussions, we identified a pool of talented professionals that met the selection criteria.

The reference-checked shortlist consisted of 6 highly qualified candidates. We facilitated interviews with candidates in Hong Kong, Singapore and London via telepresence. Finally, we organised to fly in 3 candidates to meet with the executive committee and owners onsite. 

A competitive remuneration package was negotiated by Manhattan Group with the successful candidate, which was accepted. We managed the relocation process from London to Thailand as well as his immediate family. 

The total recruitment process took 5 weeks, from initial enquiry to point of offer. The Financial Controller implemented all directives in year one and subsequently promoted to Area Financial Controller after only 18 months in the job. Testament to our recruitment approach that only a search assignment by seasoned hospitality recruiters will yield the best fit for our hospitality clients.

Success Story 3: Group Director of Sales and Marketing

After an exhaustive and fruitless 6-month global search, the Head of Finance of a super-luxury hotel group called Manhattan Group to take over another difficult recruitment assignment.

The hotel managment company was in the final stages of opening a top resort in Thailand and needed a "top-gun" Financial Controller conversant in English, Thai and Mandarin. Time was of the essence. The resort owners were a large Chinese multi-national group that stipulated a Mandarin-speaking Financial Controller to liason with head office in Shanghai.

Another perfect recruitment assignment for Manhattan Group to showcase our exceptional local awareness and global reach to target the best person for this critical role. 

A dual-reporting line to owners and hotel managment company, the financial Controller was a key member of the management team. leadership and full responsibility for all areas of finance, valuation and system implementation for this large multi-million dollar resort investment and complex.

As for the hotel management company, only tertiary qualified and technically strong candidates with demonstrated leadership experience would be considered. GIven the complex relationships with a wide group of stakeholders to manage and only an apt finance professional with a proven track record would do! 

The role also involved mentoring and directing a new team of local accountants, hence the requirement for Thai. Our lead consultant was John Ortner, CEO of Manhattan Group on this strategic assignment. 

After the initial consultation with the client, we agreed on a selection criteria for the client. We then adopted a search model, without relying on our traditional marketing mix channels of advertising and opt-in only mailing lists. We head-hunted from a narrow comptetitor set in the region. After initial discussions, we identified a pool of talented professionals that met the selection criteria.

The reference-checked shortlist consisted of 6 highly qualified candidates. We facilitated interviews with candidates in Hong Kong, Singapore and London via telepresence. Finally, we organised to fly in 3 candidates to meet with the executive committee and owners onsite. 

A competitive remuneration package was negotiated by Manhattan Group with the successful candidate, which was accepted. We managed the relocation process from London to Thailand as well as his immediate family. 

The total recruitment process took 5 weeks, from initial enquiry to point of offer. The Financial Controller implemented all directives in year one and subsequently promoted to Area Financial Controller after only 18 months in the job. Testament to our recruitment approach that only a search assignment by seasoned hospitality recruiters will yield the best fit for our hospitality clients.