Area Manager Franchise Services- SW (Remote)

Who are we looking for?

Choice Hotels, one of the world’s largest lodging franchisors, has an exciting new opportunity as our Area Manager in the Franchise Performance Team.  At Choice Hotels, we connect the world through the power of hospitality.  We bring together the people, brands and technology that enable the success of others—welcoming every guest, every partner everywhere their journey takes them!

As an Area Manager with Choice Hotels, you will serve as a trusted advisor to a portfolio of hotel owners based throughout Western and Southwestern states. You will provide our small business owners who own and operate our economy segment brands, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn, with insights and strategies to drive their hotel’s performance so that they continue to grow with Choice Hotels.  In the spirit of hospitality, you will engage with each owner on a one-on-one basis to help boost their profitability, increase guest service, and encourage portfolio growth with Choice Hotels.

As a key member of our team, you will use your education and experience to help owners consistently deliver excellent levels of guest satisfaction, support top line revenue growth and to optimize profitability while establishing relationships.  As such, this position requires excellent relationship-building skills, and results-focused communication skills, the most valuable of which is the ability to listen and learn while working with each owner and their hotel team.

Many resources at Choice Hotels are available to our owners. These resources can help our owners to achieve their service and profitability goals and assist in operational, sales, revenue, training, and execution needs. The Area Manager will work in partnership with all departments in Choice to ensure owner satisfaction by connecting owners to these resources and departments.

In addition to operational knowledge, best-fit candidates for this position will have a good working knowledge of guest service diagnostics, action planning, property systems, sales and marketing, profit and loss statements, and more. While direction is provided, and helpful resources including peer-to-peer assistance are always available, you are self-directed as a remote employee and will need to use time effectively and efficiently to achieve optimal results.

If the idea of helping small business owners achieve greater success intrigues you; if being part of a diverse team of supportive and collaborative colleagues excites you; and if personal career advancement and even greater personal success is important to you, then consider joining our team as an Area Manager today.  We invite you to apply today for our Area Manager role and #MakeItYourChoice.

Your Responsibilities

• Develop proficiencies to interpret performance and personal workflow data through internal and external sources, including STR, GIS/Medallia, Salesforce, Cvent, Workday, Concur, Zoom, Tableau, Profitability Benchmarking (HotStats), Okta/MFA, Business Intelligence, and related corporate reporting systems.  Identify the greatest opportunities to improve performance at portfolio hotels.
• Understand and utilize appropriate tools and resources to ensure effective and consistent On-Site and Virtual consultation delivery. 
• Effectively collaborate with Choice teams in various departments and champion key programs and initiatives.
• Generate post-consultation follow-up correspondence and maintain effective property and ownership documentation notes within Salesforce.  Regularly update management records.
• Remain current on all Choice programs, franchise requirements, operating practices, market trends, and industry conditions to provide necessary information and support to franchisees.
• Monitor and improve consultation effectiveness through RVP feedback, Owner Engagement Index surveys, and hotel stakeholder adoption of recommended action steps

• Able to utilize all modes of communication (online meetings, phone, email, and text).
• Support Choice Hotels franchise sales growth through the engagement of regional vice presidents of franchise sales and ongoing interaction to ensure the identification of franchise opportunities and development of leads.
• Actively participate in franchise association activities and communications, including current corporate initiatives, as directed by the RVP.
• Seek and share industry and market intelligence and best practices with peers, franchisees and corporate staff; become the eyes and ears, recognizing trends, threats and opportunities that can benefit franchisees and Choice.
• Understand and successfully integrate Choice’s cultural values and performance principles into all facets of franchisee, peer, and internal stakeholder interaction. 

Your Experience, Skills & Competencies

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent experience recommended
• At least five years’ experience in hotel level leadership or relevant related experience
• Must have keen analytic skills and data management abilities, along with excellent written and verbal communication skills, franchise industry savvy, and proven track record in driving hotel performance success
• Must have strong training, consulting, and persuasion skills
• Must have good working knowledge and abilities in all aspects of Microsoft Office including Microsoft Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Word
• Must have superior time-management and follow-through skills
• Must be self-motivated, organized, and able to balance multiple project support requests beyond ongoing portfolio support requirements
• Must thrive on exceeding goals, meeting deadlines, and seeing results.
• Demonstrates key competencies to include ensures accountability, driving results, effective communication using influencing skills and relationship building. 

Your Team

This is an individual contributor role that will report to the Regional Vice President of Franchise Performance. You will collaborate with our team of Area Managers and Area Directors along with cross-functional departments on a regular basis. You will work with Choice hotel owners on a daily basis. 

Your Work Location

As our Area Manager, you will be a remote-based associate, working from your home. You will be required to connect virtually with Choice team members and leadership on video via Zoom, with periodic travel in-person to our beautiful, state-of-the-art worldwide offices in Rockville, Maryland or Scottsdale, AZ. Some nationwide travel will be required, approximately 10% of the time to attend meetings.

About Choice

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With nearly 7,500 hotels, representing nearly 630,000 rooms, in 46 countries and territories, with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upper upscale, upper mid-scale, midscale, extended-stay, and economy segments. We’re the hotel company for those who choose to bet on themselves – the underdog, the dreamer, the entrepreneur – because that’s who we are, too.

At Choice, we are united by the simple belief that tomorrow will be even better than today – for associates, our company, and our franchisees. At our worldwide corporate headquarters in North Bethesda, MD and St. Louis Park, MN as well as our technology center in Scottsdale, AZ, and through our associates around the globe, every voice is heard, and every idea is listened to, no matter what area of the company they come from. We are united in supporting the entrepreneurial dreams of our more than 18,000 franchise owners, which propels us forward – giving our work at Choice a purpose larger than our business.

About Choice Hotels Financial Performance 

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for second quarter 2024 grew to a quarterly record of $161.7 million, a 6% increase compared to the same period of 2023. Please click here to review to review the details.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $74,168- 83,000 annually.

The pay range listed is for this position and is what Choice Hotels reasonably expects to pay. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee’s pay position within the pay range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, and business or organizational needs.

Choice prioritizes our associate's well-being by offering a comprehensive benefits program that is both competitive and flexible to help you achieve your well-being goals - here are just a few:

·         Competitive compensation and benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage

·         Leave and paid time-off for holidays, vacation, personal, family, volunteer, sick, jury duty, bereavement, military, and religious observance

·         Financial benefits for retirement and health savings

·         Employee recognition programs

·         Discounts at Choice hotels worldwide

*** PLEASE NOTE: This role is not eligible for sponsorship *** 

Ability to model Choice’s Cultural Values: Welcome and Respect Everyone, Be Bold, Be Quick, Listen, Be Curious and Show Integrity.