General Manager | Bell Harbor Conference Center & World Trade Center

General Manager | Bell Harbor International Conference Center & Seattle World Trade Center

Columbia Hospitality is seeking a General Manager to lead Bell Harbor International Conference Center and World Trade Center Seattle, driving exceptional financial performance, operational excellence, and guest and team-member engagement. You'll partner closely with our founder, ownership, and corporate leadership while navigating high-level stakeholder relationships, engaging VIP clients and government and community partners, and creating raving fans.

This is a high-profile position within Columbia Hospitality with exposure to many different and important stakeholders. A hands-on leadership style will continue to drive both Bell Harbor Conference Center and World Trade Center Seattle forward in our marketplace.

Let's start off with the most important part-what's in it for you:

The Perks

*Eligibility of perks is dependent upon job status

• Salary Range: $165,000 to $185,000 DOE
• Cellphone Allowance
• Incentive Eligible
• Get Paid Daily (Make any day payday)
• Paid Time off & Holiday Pay (Because Balance Matters)
• Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, 401K
• HSA/FSA Plans -with employer contribution
• Values Based Culture (#OMGLIFE)
• Culture Add (Creating Space for Fresh Perspectives)
• Referral Bonus (Get Paid to Recruit)
• Discounted Lodging, Dining, Spa, Golf, and Retail (Yes, Discounted Travel!)
• Employee Assistance Program
• "Columbia Cares" Volunteer Opportunities
• Committee Participation Opportunities (Fun, Philanthropic, Diversity/Equity/Inclusion)
• Task Force Work Opportunities (Grow your career in idyllic locations across the globe)
• Online Learning Platform to Help You Grow!
• Third Party Perks (Including discounts on Pet Insurance, Rental Cars, Movie and Concert Tickets, Theme Park and Attractions & so much more)

What Success Looks Like:

Your Impact

• Provides overall direction, coordination, and leadership for Bell Harbor International Conference Center and World Trade Center Seattle, aligning all departments with company values, service standards, and business objectives.
• Builds and maintains trusted relationships with Columbia Hospitality's senior leadership and ownership representatives through proactive communication, sound judgment, and consistent follow-through.
• Provides strategic leadership for group sales outreach, key account relationships, negotiations, and business development to strengthen revenue and long-term client partnerships.
• Serves as a primary executive contact for VIP clients and high-profile events, ensuring personalized service, seamless coordination, and exceptional execution.
• Represents both properties with discretion, credibility, and diplomacy in relationships with government officials, community organizations, industry associations, and public relations partners.
• Navigates sensitive stakeholder concerns, government relations matters, and reputational issues, partnering with senior leadership and appropriate internal resources as needed.
• Maintains a visible, hands-on leadership presence, leading and holding department leaders accountable for operational readiness, service quality, and timely resolution of concerns.
• Promotes a "YES"-centric culture that empowers team members to deliver world-class guest, client, team-member, and owner experiences.
• Oversees coordination between sales, event planning, and operations to ensure client commitments align with operational capabilities and translate into exceptional event experiences.
• Leads the preparation and execution of annual operating budgets, forecasts, and financial plans that support the objectives of both properties.
• Establishes and monitors annual operating goals and objectives and key results (OKRs), balancing financial performance, guest and team member experience, and infrastructure needs.
• Develops and implements strategies to enhance profitability, partnering with department leaders to achieve revenue goals, manage expenses, improve productivity and drive positive bottom line results.
• Partners with sales, marketing, and accounting to establish sound pricing strategies and evaluate business opportunities and significant contractual commitments.
• Reviews and approves operating expenses and capital expenditures within established authority and ensures accurate, timely financial and operational reporting to leadership and ownership.
• Protects and enhances property assets through effective maintenance, security, emergency preparedness, and capital improvement planning.
• Ensures applicable laws, codes, regulations, company policies, and operating standards are consistently followed across both properties.
• Analyzes guest, client, and team-member feedback and leads improvements that strengthen service delivery, operational effectiveness, and satisfaction.
• Selects, develops, coaches, and supports department leaders, providing clear expectations, timely performance feedback, and accountability for results.
• Partners with People & Culture and Learning & Development to support staffing, training, succession planning, and an inclusive, engaged team member culture.
• Consistently models and promotes Columbia Hospitality's values of Accountability, Creativity, Enthusiasm, Honesty, Inclusion, and Respect.

What You Bring:

Experience & Qualifications

• At least 10 years of progressive hospitality leadership experience, including at least five years as a General Manager or equivalent senior operational leader at a property or venue of comparable complexity and service expectations.
• Demonstrated success leading upscale hotels, conference centers, event venues, or other hospitality operations with significant group, event, and food and beverage business.
• Experience managing relationships with founders, owners, senior executives, VIP clients, and other influential stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to represent an organization effectively with government officials, community leaders, industry partners, and public-facing stakeholders.
• Proven accountability for financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, expense management, revenue generation, and analysis of financial statements.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and translating strategic priorities into consistent operational execution.
• Working knowledge of applicable Seattle and Washington State laws, codes, and regulations relevant to property operations.
• Bachelor's degree in hospitality, business, or a related field preferred.
• Experience overseeing multiple venues, major capital projects, renovations, or significant operational improvements preferred.
• Experience with independent, boutique, upscale, or lifestyle hospitality operations preferred.

Leadership Capabilities

• Executive presence and relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish credibility and trust across a broad range of stakeholders.
• Exceptional judgment, diplomacy, and discretion when handling confidential information, competing priorities, and sensitive business matters.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare business correspondence, reports, presentations, contracts, and operational documents.
• Ability to present financial results, operational priorities, and business recommendations clearly and confidently to executive and ownership audiences.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills, with the ability to evaluate opportunities and balance service commitments with business objectives.
• Proven track record in leading groups of individuals in operational success.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and decision-making skills, with the ability to anticipate challenges and deliver results in a complex, fast-paced environment.
• A collaborative, accountable leadership style that combines strategic perspective with a willingness to remain engaged in day-to-day operations.

Physical requirements for this role may include the following: prolonged standing/walking, lifting 25-30 lbs, environmental exposure, and clear communication, all of which must be performable with or without reasonable accommodation.

Don't meet every single requirement? At Columbia Hospitality we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles.

Where you'll work:

Seattle's premier waterfront conference venue features 18 meeting rooms totaling 100,000 square feet with capacity for up to 6,000 guests. A multiple recipient of the Planners Choice Award from Successful Meetings and Meeting News, Bell Harbor features panoramic views of downtown Seattle and Puget Sound, Northwest-inspired cuisine and complimentary high-speed internet with REAL bandwidth! Bell Harbor is a member of the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC), ensuring a superior meeting experience with state-of-the-art audiovisual, Herman Miller chairs made for comfort, and well-lit meeting space.

Additional venues offered via the Bell Harbor sales team include Smith Cove Cruise Terminal located on Seattle's Magnolia waterfront with over 96,000 square feet of event space perfect for trade shows and large events, and directly adjacent to Bell Harbor the Maritime Event Center, a less traditional space that adds a nautical-themed backdrop to weddings and social events.

The Fine Print