VIV (vēv) {revive} / ÂMEE (áh/mā) {soul}
VIVÂMEE Hospitality seeks a Resort General Manager (RGM) with at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience to lead its historic Kent Island Resort property (kentislandresort.com). VIVÂMEE Hospitality consists of four very special properties, of which Kent Island Resort is one.
Reporting directly to the CEO, this leader will combine values-driven servant leadership with hospitality excellence, reviving the souls of teammates, guests, and the properties themselves. This role may provide leadership to its nearby sister property, Bohemia Manor Farm (bohemiamanorfarm.com).
Built in 1820, Kent Island Resort is the epitome of country house charm and contemporary new-world sophistication on the shores of Chesapeake Bay. Since VH restored and reopened the property in 2020, it has grown to almost $7 million in revenues and 45 year-round employees, with a peak of 125 in the May to December high season.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
VIVÂMEE Hospitality
VIVÂMEE’s mission is to “create a superior hospitality experience where their guests feel personally changed and positively affected and inspired by the level of service they provide.” This kind of hospitality inspires their guests to revive the best parts of themselves in the same way that VH’s restoration of four historic properties has taken place.
VIVAMEE Virtues are their top three values, which live within an environment that strives for excellent execution and accountability. Their top three values that achieve this excellence are joy, humility, and ministry, and staff and guests alike describe the experience as “love in action.”
Similar to the narrative of the Bible and the mission of God to restore all humanity and creation to himself, the owners believe, “If you never take time to focus on your best attributes and restore them to their best quality, you will fail to live a life full of restoration.” The founders, Melanie and Josh McCallen, resonate with the values of the Franciscan (Catholic) university they attended and where they met. They hope never to change their mission to love guests, revive souls, and help people feel their dignity.
At all four locations, VH sells destination experiences--primarily weddings, secondarily leisure tourism getaways, and thirdly, corporate retreat getaways. Kent Island Resort boasts:
A beautiful physical property that meets or exceeds guests’ expectations
A clear commitment to warm, loving hospitality, which is each teammate’s top priority when interacting with guests
Proximity to major cities, including Washington DC, where many businesses and families need Kent Island’s type of property for a restorative destination experience. In addition, Kent Island regularly hosts guests from Annapolis and Baltimore.
Reviving the soul, VH has found, rests on their “Pillars of Programming: Truth, Beauty and Goodness.” These pillars are essential for this RGM to uphold:
Truth – Reviving the mind through learning and growing, which the RGM values for staff and guests alike
Beauty – Reviving the senses and embracing the whole person—upholding beauty for staff, guests, and the properties.
Goodness—Reviving the soul comes from creating programming that allows staff and guests to experience joy. The RGM advances goodness by honoring the dignity of staff and guests alike.
THEIR STORY
VIVÂMEE Hospitality
VIVÂMEE was created to deliver authentic hospitality. Its owner-investors believe that giving oneself in service has the power to revive the soul. They say, “Authentic hospitality is possible when we cherish the souls of our guests and the team we trust to serve them.” Accordingly, as developers, they have a passion for reviving the soul of distressed properties, too. VIVÂMEE seeks to bring these historic properties back to a fullness of life and…profitability.” VIVÂMEE Hospitality is a team of passionate leaders who see strength in humility and service. They seek the good for guests and each other. Today’s guest yearns for this type of “soul service,” and the team believes their VIVÂMEE culture will provide tremendous dividends for years to come.
The culture at Kent Island Resort builds on their shared VIVÂMEE Values of JOY,
HUMILITY and MINISTRY:
JOY means that they are a true team of teammates who sincerely enjoy serving others and winning together.
HUMILITY means that they recognize the infinite dignity of each other (both team members and guests) and seek to be helpful to everyone no matter what is asked. Additionally, they are not afraid to ask for help or admit when they make a mistake.
MINISTRY means they want their hospitality to become a true gift for their guests. They have the power to transform their duties from merely a task to be completed into a means to show love for their guests. They believe this power of intentionality has the capacity to revive the souls of their guests and their team.
VH hires, rewards, and acknowledges team members based on these values, so the successful candidate must be inspired to grow in these virtues and inspire growth in others.
About Kent Island Resort
Kent Island Resort was the second resort in VIVÂMEE’s portfolio, with revenue of more than $7 million this year, most from weddings. Kent Island Resort has 125 total staff, with 45 people year-round, of whom 30 work full-time. In the future, VH wants the Kent Island Resort property to grow far beyond the wedding business, adding corporate and leisure getaways with culinary at the heart of everything and catering execution as a core capability. They provide heartfelt hospitality delivered in the hotel, restaurant, weddings, catered events, and fun amenities--including a beach, boat club, and activities.
Kent Island Resort has a history and reputation that extends across America and reaches back to its 1820 founding. Kent Island Resort offers guests the opportunity to fully live the VIVÂMEE experience—to separate from technology, experience nature, revive their soul, and find connection.
They have curated culinary experiences, wine-tasting events, luxurious guest rooms, hands-on workshops, music events, festivals, and connections with nature.
They especially cherish the trust that brides and families invest to deliver a holistic wedding experience. Weddings are the pinnacle expression of the VIVÂMEE mission, and Kent Island Resort seeks to improve the design, delivery, and overall experience for the bride and the entire wedding party.
ABOUT THE AREA
The candidate must be in or relocate to a reasonable driving distance to be onsite at Kent Island Resort regularly and—at times—at Bohemia Manor Farm. A typical 3-bedroom house in this area costs $450,000. Team members from this area describe it as a highly connected town, and many live less than 10 minutes away, though others commute from major cities in the surrounding area. It is made up of the cities of Stevensville and Chester and is close to Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Annapolis. Kent Island is located in Queen Anne County, Maryland, and is a scenic island in Chesapeake Bay known for its history, natural beauty, and outdoor activities.
History: Kent Island is the site of Maryland's first permanent European settlement in 1631. The island has been inhabited for nearly 12,000 years and was home to the Matapeake tribe of the Algonquin nation.
Natural beauty: Kent Island is surrounded by water and wildlife, including nesting eagles and blue herons.
Outdoor activities: The island has many places to explore, including:
Terrapin Nature Park: A nature and wildlife area with hiking trails
Matapeake Clubhouse, Public Beach, and Fishing Pier: A beach with a dog park
Romancoke Fishing Pier: A fishing pier.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The role of the General Manager is to serve the entire Kent Island Resort leadership
team. The GM creates a guest-driven resort with a guest loyalty vision that inspires the resort team to be their very best at all times. The RGM oversees processes that ensure guest satisfaction by consistent delivery of quality product and service, that achieves VH profitability goals.
This role drives the quality, exceptional service, and profitability of Kent Island Resorts. As the head of Kent Island Resorts’ senior leadership team, the Resort GM leads all aspects of the property and seeks to achieve excellence in core business units: Catering, Restaurant, Cultural Events, Culinary Experiences, Guest Rooms, Corporate Retreats, Boating, Nature Events, and all Amenities on the Resort Campus.
This role provides leadership in all aspects which includes, but is not limited to, designing and systematizing set up and operations of all events on property, accurate budgeting, careful facilities management and maintenance, consistent inventory management, team member hiring, training, mentoring, and termination. In addition, the RGM models the core value of servant leadership and teaches the VIVÂMEE Virtues of Joy, Humility, and Ministry. This role will have a prominent leadership role within Kent Island Resorts, and will have opportunities to participate in training at other VIVÂMEE properties as required.
The role reports directly to the CEO and is responsible for the full profit and loss of the resort. In addition, this position is counted on as a close advisor to the CEO for the formation of the overall VIVAMEE hospitality brand in the different experiments done on the resort property. Additionally, this role is responsible for all staff members at any given time and is a leader who is both practical and knows how to operate a robust catering-driven resort operation and how to motivate and inspire excellence.
The RGM must have a strong catering and events background as well as restaurant experience with cost controls and property operational maintenance. The key function to revenue growth will be a strong sales department, and the resort general manager is expected to be focused on supporting the sales department and participating in closing as many sales as possible.
The top strengths essential to success in this position are leadership, sales ability, financial acumen, team development, and operations. The ideal candidate will be a mission-aligned, servant leader and teacher to whom sales are sacred. The resort needs a leader who can:
Coach, lead, and facilitate VIVÂMEE culture, creating integrity in the Kent Island Resort culture, connecting quality and the mission that focuses on the dignity of teammates
Directly oversee daily property operations to ensure they are on pace for budget goals and profit margins
Teach and achieve great things through and with others
Commit to quality and excellence in cuisine, property maintenance, and staff training.
Strive for excellence and rally teammates to partner well
Boost sales as a destination resort.
VH is a sales-driven organization with the most revenue from its sales team and direct marketing that supports sales. This leader must love sales and believe that sales are “sacred.” That is, by being a great salesperson, the RGM serves teammates and guests. This individual is responsible to grow revenue through focused efforts to increase weddings and maximize room and restaurant revenue. This year, Kent Island Resort expects $4.5 million dollars from weddings, less than $1 million from rooms, and less than $1 million from the restaurant, named 1820. The remaining projected revenue from events and combined revenue is nearly $7 million.
This working environment is both collaborative and independent. VH wants a leadership team that debates, discusses and challenges each other, and then takes bold steps to run their business robustly.
JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Resort General Manager
REPORTS TO: President and CEO
DIRECT REPORTS: Heads of catering, restaurants, sales manager, front desk, physical plant, corporate sales and the chef.
LOCATION: Kent Island, Maryland
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
VIVÂMEE Hospitality seeks to hire a servant leader who wants to contribute immediately
with a passion for hospitality, leadership, team training, process management, and financial results. The Resort General Manager is the leader of Kent Island Resort.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Committed to the Vision, Mission and Values of VIVAMEE Hospitality
Adheres to and is able to sign in agreement with the statements upholding culture and mission in the employee manual
Thrives in a culture that creates excellent execution and accountability as it upholds the VIVAMEE Virtues of Joy, humility, and ministry
Degree in business management or a master’s in business administration preferred and minimum of 10 - 15 years in progressive leadership roles within the hospitality industry or 15 - 20 years of relevant leadership experience mostly in the hospitality industry in lieu of degree
Good knowledge of different business functions, excellent understanding of catering and events with a special emphasis on weddings
Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
Excellent communication skills
Strong problem-solving capabilities
Excellent financial management abilities
Able to attract and maintain a high-quality staff
Highly organized
Strong work ethic
Good interpersonal skills
Meticulous attention to detail.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Promote and portray the VIVÂMEE Values
Know, understand, and adhere to company-established policies and procedures
Responsible for overseeing successful operations in the following departments: Front Desk, Housekeeping, Food and Beverage, Sales and; Marketing, Banquet Operations, Weddings and all Catering, and programming, Informational Technology, Security, and Maintenance/Engineering, implementing established SOP’s effectively, and creating new standard operating procedures as the need arises
Create and monitor overall hotel and departmental budgets to ensure they are on pace to make or exceed budget, through ensuring effective scheduling, accurate forecasting, managing inventory, controlling expenses, reviewing labor costs, creative promotions, and enforcing systems and controls
Book and schedule entertainment for Food and; Beverage, track sales vs. cost to make sure the resort is profitable
Look for innovative and creative sales ideas across the property to increase revenues
Establish and set hotel rates and package offers
Prepare and authorize purchase orders as required supporting hotel operations
Create and maintain relationships with clients and guests in all areas, with a strong passion to elevate the overall experience at the property. Must be willing to become the face of the property, exercising pro-active community involvement, and interpersonal guest services
Foster and nurture relationships with Investors and other VIPs
Enforce outstanding internal and external guest service standards according to Kent Island Resorts’s Standard Operating Procedures. Look for creative ways to reduce cost without losing quality and service
Manage positive Employee Relations to instill a fun, exciting work environment in line with VIVÂMEE Values while providing training, guidance, and support for all team members whose goal is to advance
Oversee and assist in all hotel management in the creative recruitment, interviews, hiring and onboarding, training and development, progressive discipline, motivation, rewarding, and termination of staff
Responsible for practicing and ensuring compliance in all health, sanitation, safety, and security laws, labor laws, state certifications/licensing, and all internal policies and procedures
Work closely with all department leaders in developing sales and marketing strategies (i.e., menus, advertisements, entertainment, food-and-beverage promotions, signs, incentives, flyers, e-blasts, social media, etc.) and coordinating the management of all third-party marketing resources.
SALARY & BENEFITS
Salary: Competitive salary plus up to 30% bonus.
Benefits: Employer-supported coverage for health, dental, vision with HSA option, etc., 401K, company-purchased life insurance, paid vacation.
Relocation: Yes
Travel: A few days a week to Bohemia Manor Farm, about one hour away, and as-needed, VH meetings within the region may be required.
Additional: At VIVÂMEE Hospitality, they believe their teammates are the most important investment they can ever make. Benefits include advancement and development opportunities, a positive/growth mindset work culture, discounts on VIVÂMEE resort stays, merchandise, and meals. MOST IMPORTANTLY, VH offers a community of teammates just like you. They seek to attract only positive, driven, and caring teammates who already live by their own standards in alignment with VIVÂMEE Virtues. They believe this positive culture is the greatest benefit their team can offer to new teammates and say, “You will be welcomed here!”
Disclaimer:
This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements,
efforts or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g., emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs or technical developments).
VIVAMEE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In Compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, VIVAMEE may provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodation with the employer.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
Opportunities
Team members use words like “family” and “authentic” to describe the feel of working at Kent Island Resort, and they genuinely enjoy working together and want to help each other succeed. In addition, many team members cite that they helped get Kent Island Resort up and running, creating a transformation of which they are proud.
The incoming RGM will build upon the strengths of the most recent person in this role, who was appreciated for their:
Eye for spotting details, including guests’ needs that others might not see
Extensive knowledge of hospitality standards and practices
Come-alongside training of staff
Respect for particular leaders, allowing freedom to do their jobs and create new experiences.
In addition, the successful candidate will continue to build sales revenue, lending strong support to and personal engagement with the sales team and guests, with a particular focus on weddings. The RGM must bring deep experience in catering and events, particularly for weddings. Understanding the culture in Maryland, Delaware, and areas of Pennsylvania is a plus, and the role requires living within commuting distance to be on the property.
Challenges
While team members want to help each other out to accomplish the highest level of excellence for guests, several cite that, at the present time, there exists a lack of clarity. Team members need more clarity about the decision-making process, who is responsible for approving schedules and purchases, and handling other administrative tasks. Similarly, in the all-important handoffs between sales and event (banquet) team members, there is a need for clearer role descriptions, so team members know how best to help each other instead of getting in the way or duplicating others’ responsibilities.
Kent Island, MD, is a close-knit town with little awareness of the Resort. Its future leader will need to invest in the town personally to create vital connections. At present, marketing is centralized within VH, and discerning how to boost the visibility of both the Kent Island Resort and Bohemia Manor Farm locations is a need.
As is common in many hospitality organizations, turnover has happened at Kent Island Resort. Providing steady leadership, via long-term commitment, emotional intelligence and regulation, healthy work-life boundaries and resilience are vital for this leader, to inspire the same in team members. Similarly, a history of earning team members’ and guests’ trust and goodwill will be essential for the successful candidate.
After reviewing this information, if you sense this position opportunity could be a good fit for you, please click on the APPLY NOW button below. Or if you know someone who may be interested and a fit, please share this opportunity using the social media and email buttons at the top of this page.
The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements.