General Manager - Motto by Hilton Indianapolis

Exceptional Hospitality Starts with You

*** Opening June 2027 *** 

About the Property

Motto by Hilton Indianapolis is a highly anticipated lifestyle hotel scheduled to open in 2027. Located in the historic King Cole Building in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, the 116-room boutique property blends modern, efficient design with the character of one of the city’s most notable architectural landmarks.

Designed to deliver a vibrant, locally connected guest experience, the hotel will feature thoughtfully designed guestrooms, activated social spaces, and a dynamic food and beverage program, including a rooftop bar and restaurant, a street-level café, and a lively ground-floor bar serving both guests and the local community.

Ideally situated near the Indiana Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, and the city’s premier dining, entertainment, and cultural attractions, the hotel is well positioned to become a destination for both travelers and locals while contributing to the continued growth of downtown Indianapolis’ hospitality market.

About the Role:
The General Manager – Motto by Hilton Indianapolis will lead all pre-opening activities to deliver an exceptional culture, guest experience, and operational foundation aligned with the Motto brand. Responsibilities include managing the pre-opening budget, overseeing cost controls, procuring operating supplies and equipment (OS&E), recruiting and developing the team, building community relationships, and ensuring a successful, on-time, and on-budget opening.

The General Manager will also foster strong partnerships with ownership, team members, customers, and stakeholders while providing strategic leadership, driving operational excellence, delivering outstanding guest service, and achieving long-term financial success.

What are we looking for?

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum two years' Hotel Manager or five years Executive Member experience at a similar-sized or larger hotel.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee operations with an annual revenue of $15M or more.
• Strong commercial acumen with a solid background in financial management and revenue optimization.
• Exceptional people leadership, with the ability to build, inspire, and develop high-performing teams while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and empowerment.
• Strategic and relationship-driven leadership, skilled at cultivating strong community and ownership partnerships and driving long-term commercial success aligned with both brand and ownership goals.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience managing lifestyle brand properties.
• Proven track record as an Opening Executive, leading successful pre-opening and launch efforts.
• Hilton experience.
• Local market experience.

 

Essential attributes for the General Manager, Motto by Hilton Indianapolis also include –

Ownership, Customer, and Stakeholder Relations:

• Expertly manage capital expenses and property requirements by overseeing pre-opening budget and expenditure while ensuring that all property needs are efficiently met and aligned with organizational goals.
• Proactively engage with the regional team, senior leadership, ownership/asset manager by providing updates, successes, and address challenges with innovative solutions.
• Cultivate the hotel's service culture by aligning it with Motto brand values, core pillars and principles while building owner and community relations.
• Balance owner expectations with Hilton standards, effectively aligning both relationships and interests to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Be well-versed in compliance, legal, and crisis management matters, while cultivating strong relationships with Hilton's legal and risk management teams.

Strategy:

• Leverage strong commercial acumen to strategically position the hotel and meet financial performance goals, while actively engaging with clients and partners to cultivate and maintain impactful relationships.
• Develop and implement long-term strategic goals that align with the owner's vision and the needs of the Motto brand. Create a detailed roadmap to achieve key milestones and measurable results from the opening through the first year of operation, leading to stabilization as outlined by the proforma.
• Elevate Motto’s brand values through dynamic marketing, skillfully managing both tangible and intangible elements to leave a lasting impact.
• Coordinate property placement within the community to enhance experiences for transient guests, groups, business travelers, and locals, while actively engaging with local organizations and participating in community service initiatives to build strong local relationships.

Leadership:

• Create momentum in workforce planning, with a keen understanding of the talent market, and adept at motivating teams through effective rallies and engagement initiatives.
• Leverage industry expertise for strategic short- and long-term planning to drive commercial success, optimize financial performance, and ensure optimal market positioning while meeting financial performance expectations.
• Identify, recruit, and develop top-tier leadership talent while building and leading a cohesive team by setting clear expectations and establishing the tone in collaboration with the Executive Team and department heads.
• Demonstrate transparent leadership, adaptability, and flexibility in navigating sensitive situations.
• Constantly strive to improve and adapt, ensuring the hotel evolves year after year, keeping ahead of industry trends and maintaining our leadership in the hospitality sector.

What It Takes to Make the Stay

At Hilton, our core values define what it takes to succeed here and guide the qualities we look for in every team member:

A passion for spreading the light and warmth of Hospitality. Acting with Integrity and always doing the right thing. Inspiring others through Leadership. A belief that Teamwork drives the best outcomes. A sense of Ownership and accountability. And a focus on the Now, bringing urgency and discipline to every moment, knowing it can make a lasting impact.