About Hotel Calipo
Located in Vila Viçosa, in the heart of the Alentejo, Hôtel Calipo is a unique destination combining boutique hospitality with an artist residency and an agrotourism offering. The property currently features 26 guest rooms (will increase to 52 by summer 2026), a restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool, sauna and hammam facilities, two padel courts, dedicated art spaces, and agricultural activities, providing guests with an immersive experience centred on nature, wellbeing, and creativity.
Essential Functions
* Act as the operational business leader for the hotel, accountable for all aspects of the operation, including guest and employee engagement, financial performance, sales and revenue generation, staff development and retention, and the deployment of ESG initiatives.
* Foster an entrepreneurial and highly commercial culture at all levels, building a cohesive team focused on delivering strong returns to ownership while staying true to Calipo's artistic and agrotourism identity.
* Develop and continually refine a distinctive product that integrates art programming and farm-to-table principles with boutique service standards, anticipating the needs of current and future guests.
* Lead the creation of meaningful, achievable hotel budgets and other short- and long-term strategic goals; oversee rigorous performance management against plan.
* Oversee hiring, training, and, where necessary, disciplinary processes; ensure a safe and compliant environment for guests and employees at all times.
Commercial & Sales Functions
* Maximise all revenue opportunities (rooms, F&B, programming, experiences, retail) using industry-leading tools and, where appropriate, specialist third parties. Ensure best-practice revenue management and front-of-house/F&B upselling are embedded.
* Achieve budgeted revenue streams and outperform market share objectives; align paid media and advertising spend accordingly.
* In collaboration with the concept Creative Director, approve all online and offline communications and brand touchpoints; curate collateral (website, photography, brochures, sales kits) reflecting the property's artistic and agrotourism positioning.
* In collaboration with the concept Creative Director, ensure social media and PR strategy effectively targets Calipo's key audiences (art, nature, wellbeing, gastronomy), and represent the hotel within the local community and tourism ecosystem (e.g., Vila Viçosa, Alentejo and national bodies).
* Identify partnerships, residencies, and sponsorships that elevate the brand, generate exposure, and contribute to revenue and image.
Financial Functions
* Control costs across all departments; analyse results frequently to identify variances and implement corrective actions to improve margins and profitability.
* Deliver daily, weekly, and monthly financial reporting as required by ownership; manage budgets, financial plans, and expenditure while maintaining accurate statistical and financial records.
* Ensure robust cash management and control procedures.
Operational Functions
* Actively manage key property issues (repairs and maintenance; customer service; refurbishments), ensuring minimal disruption to guest experience and art/land activities.
* Seek and respond to guest feedback to drive high satisfaction; review online feedback daily and ensure timely, quality responses.
* Hold regular HOD briefings and cross-functional meetings (Rooms, F&B, Art Residency, Agriculture) to align operations and guest programming.
* Be visible within the operation, meet and greet guests, resolve complaints, and lead problem-solving.
People & Culture
* Provide clear, values-driven leadership to meet and exceed targets; attract, retain, and motivate a multi-disciplinary team spanning hospitality, culinary, arts programming, and farm operations.
* Hire, train, develop, empower, coach, and counsel; conduct performance and salary reviews; build an open-communication culture; and handle disciplinary actions in line with policy.
* Optimise scheduling and workforce planning to minimise payroll while safeguarding service quality; ensure employment and dismissal practices comply with Portuguese law.
* Maintain an up-to-date company handbook and induction programme; continually educate staff on the property, programming, unique selling strategies, and guest experience standards.
Safety, Compliance & Capex
* Ensure compliance with licensing laws, health and safety, environmental obligations, and other statutory regulations applicable in Portugal.
* Respond to internal and third-party audits and drive continuous improvement.
* Maintain any brand/affiliation standards (if applicable in the future) and deliver quality consistent with targeted classification.
* Plan and supervise on-site works with minimal guest impact; arrange required maintenance checks and surveys; and, with ownership, propose the annual Capital Plan to uphold quality and H&S standards.
Education & Experience
* Degree from a hotel school (hospitality management focus) preferred
* Strong knowledge of the lodging/hospitality sector and ROI principles; experience in boutique or concept-led properties (arts, wellness, agritourism) is an advantage.
* A minimum of two years' experience in a hotel or hospitality management company is preferred; however, candidates with business management experience in other sectors, who demonstrate strong alignment with the concept's philosophy, will also be considered.
Skills & Competencies
* Confident, hands-on leader able to perform under pressure; excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
* Strong commercial acumen with experience in budgeting, revenue proposals, and forecasting.
* Creative, collaborative, and guest-centric; able to win business through compelling proposals, special events, site inspections, and partnerships.
* In-depth knowledge of hotel/leisure/service operations; proficiency with PMS and Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and hospitality systems.
* Languages: Portuguese and English required; additional European languages (e.g., Spanish/French) are an advantage.
* Team-oriented, dynamic, innovative, resilient, and accountable.
This job description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job functions that an employee in this position may be asked to perform from time to time.