Big Island Hotel Recruiters

By Horizon Hospitality

The Big Island has one of Hawaii’s most diverse hotel markets, with properties serving a wide range of travelers and operating in very different local environments. From the resort communities along the Kohala Coast to the Kailua-Kona and Hilo areas, each market brings its own leadership needs. These differences, combined with the challenges of attracting experienced hospitality executives to the island, make local expertise especially important when choosing Big Island hotel recruiters.

Horizon Hospitality brings almost 30 years of hospitality-exclusive recruiting experience to hotel and resort searches. Our recruiters have direct backgrounds in the hospitality industry, so we understand the operational responsibilities behind the titles we recruit. We help Big Island properties identify leaders who fit the specific needs of their operation, leadership team, and market.

A Diverse Hotel Market Requires a Targeted Search

The Big Island’s geography is an important part of its hospitality landscape. A resort on the Kohala Coast can have very different leadership requirements from a hotel serving visitors and local business activity in the Hilo area. Properties around Kailua-Kona and other West Hawaii communities also operate within their own mix of leisure, resort, event, and business demand.

That diversity means there is no single “Big Island hotel executive” profile.

The right candidate depends on the property’s size, service level, amenities, food and beverage operation, guest mix, ownership structure, and expectations for the leadership role.

Hotel Leadership Searches We Support

Our experience spans general management, operations, sales, culinary, finance, and human resources leadership. Our searches include:

Hotel General Managers and Assistant General Managers
Directors of Operations
Directors of Sales & Marketing
Revenue Management Leaders
Directors of Finance / Controllers
Directors of Human Resources
Director of Rooms / Front Office and equivalent leadership
Executive Chef and senior culinary leadership
Regional and multi-property leadership roles
C-Suite Positions

Addressing the Realities of Big Island Hiring

Recruiting senior leaders to the Big Island can require reaching well beyond the immediately available candidate pool. Qualified executives may be located on another Hawaiian island, elsewhere in the United States, or outside the hospitality market entirely.

Relocation is therefore an important part of many searches. Candidates need to understand the location, lifestyle, housing considerations, compensation structure, and expectations of the position before making a significant move.

For employers, that makes candidate communication and qualification especially important. The goal is not to introduce as many candidates as possible; it is to identify people who are both professionally qualified and realistically positioned to succeed in the role.

We Look at the Organization, Not Just the Vacancy

A hotel leadership opening can be an opportunity to address broader organizational needs. Sometimes the challenge is finding a replacement for a departing executive. In other cases, a property may need a leader with a different background, stronger operational experience, or a particular ability to develop a team.

Horizon Hospitality takes time to understand those circumstances before building the search.

We consider the responsibilities of the position, the existing management structure, the organization’s expectations, and the qualities that will contribute to long-term success. Throughout the process, we maintain communication with both the client and candidates so expectations remain aligned.

More Than 25 Years in Hospitality Executive Search

Horizon Hospitality has specialized in hospitality executive search for more than 25 years. Our recruiting team members have direct hospitality backgrounds, and our industry relationships extend across hotels, resorts, restaurants, clubs, senior living, and other hospitality environments.

That network gives us access to experienced leaders who may not be actively applying for positions. It also allows us to draw on a broader understanding of hospitality leadership when a search involves a specialized or difficult-to-fill position.

Horizon Hospitality was recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms and Best Professional Recruiting Firms for three consecutive years.

The experiences of our clients speak to the value of a hospitality-focused recruiting partner. Click here to read our client testimonials.

Talk With Horizon About Your Next Big Island Hire

Whether you are replacing a General Manager, recruiting a department head, strengthening your leadership team, or searching for a specialized executive, Horizon Hospitality can help you approach the process strategically.

If you have been struggling to find the right candidate, we can also help determine whether the challenge is the size of the candidate pool, the requirements of the position, the compensation structure, or another factor affecting the search.

Contact us to discuss your next executive, management, or leadership-level search.

Related Hotel Recruiting Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Big Island hotel markets does Horizon Hospitality cover?

Our coverage includes resort and hotel markets throughout the island, including Waikoloa, the Kohala Coast, Kailua-Kona, Hilo, and surrounding communities.

Do you recruit for both resort and non-resort hotels?

Yes. We recruit based on the leadership requirements of the individual property, whether it is a resort, full-service hotel, boutique operation, or another hospitality environment.

Can you conduct a nationwide search for a Big Island hotel executive?

Yes. Our candidate network extends throughout the United States, allowing us to look beyond the local market when the position requires a broader search.

Does Horizon Hospitality recruit permanent hotel leadership?

Yes. Our focus is permanent leadership recruitment and interim executive placements. We do not specialize in hourly or non-management staffing.