CHANNEL MANAGER - HOSPITALITY & REVENUE

Introduction

ZDS Recruit is looking for an experienced Channel Manager – Hospitality & Revenue to join a dynamic, fast-growing business operating across the hospitality, accommodation and property sectors in Cape Town.

This is a key commercial management position responsible for driving occupancy, room rates, revenue performance and distribution strategy across a growing portfolio of accommodation properties.

We are looking for someone who genuinely understands the commercial engine behind hospitality.

You need to understand rates, inventory, occupancy, demand, booking channels, revenue management, market segmentation and forecasting – and, importantly, know how to turn data into commercial action.

This is not a marketing channel management position .

It is a hands-on hospitality revenue role for someone who understands how to maximise the performance of rooms across multiple properties and booking channels.

THE ROLE

Reporting to the Head of Hospitality Operations , you will take responsibility for the day-to-day management and performance of the business's consolidated hybrid booking environment across both short-term and longer-term accommodation .

Your mandate is straightforward

Drive occupancy. Optimise rates. Maximise revenue. Understand the data. Turn that data into action.

You will oversee rates, inventory, booking platforms, demand forecasting and revenue strategies across multiple locations while working closely with Operations, Sales, Marketing, Leasing and Asset Management.

Although this position requires strong analytical ability, it is not simply a reporting role.

You will be expected to lead, influence, make commercial decisions and drive implementation across the portfolio.

Duties & Responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Your responsibilities will include

• Managing revenue performance across a portfolio of hospitality and accommodation locations

• Driving occupancy and short-term rental revenue

• Developing and implementing revenue generation strategies

• Managing room rates, pricing and inventory across booking and distribution channels

• Reviewing individual and group room rates against market conditions and competitor activity

• Monitoring occupancy, demand, booking pace, lead times, pick-up patterns and market trends

• Forecasting demand and identifying high-demand and need periods

• Developing daily selling strategies based on occupancy and demand

• Managing the market mix across bedroom inventory

• Optimising accommodation yield across available inventory

• Managing and maintaining the portfolio Revenue Management System

• Ensuring rates and inventory are accurately loaded across operating and distribution systems

• Ensuring Electronic Distribution Systems remain accurate and up to date

• Managing close-outs, free-sale periods and inventory restrictions

• Developing overbooking strategies during high-demand periods

• Implementing demand-planning calendars

• Managing group ceilings in line with forecast demand

• Reviewing and approving bookings where required

• Identifying opportunities to maximise revenue from otherwise vacant inventory

• Making recommendations regarding moving suitable long-term rental inventory onto short-term rental platforms during vacancy periods

• Analysing competitor pricing and market positioning

• Presenting recommendations regarding future selling strategies and tactical revenue initiatives

• Investigating new opportunities to capture additional revenue

• Preparing and contributing to annual revenue budgets

• Monitoring performance against budget, benchmarks and forecasts

• Producing daily, weekly and monthly revenue management reports

• Converting operational and revenue data into meaningful business intelligence

• Facilitating weekly Revenue Strategy Meetings

• Working closely with Sales on need periods, corporate accounts and group opportunities

• Working with Marketing to drive market mix, direct bookings and portfolio revenue

• Supporting the loading and launch of new properties onto booking platforms

• Ensuring property, rate and inventory information is accurate when new sites go live

• Supporting and developing the revenue management team

• Setting goals and communicating performance results

• Building a strong culture of revenue optimisation throughout the business

REVENUE & COMMERCIAL FOCUS

A major part of this role is understanding why the numbers are moving – and what to do about them .

You should be comfortable analysing

• Occupancy

• Average room/night rates

• Revenue performance

• Booking pace and pick-up

• Lead times

• Market segmentation

• Demand patterns

• Need dates and high-demand periods

• Competitor pricing

• Channel performance

• Inventory availability

• Forecast versus actual performance

• Budget variance

• Direct versus third-party bookings

We need someone who doesn't simply produce reports.

You should be able to look at the data, identify the commercial opportunity or problem and recommend the appropriate action.

Desired Experience & Qualification

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Ideally, you will bring

• 5–10 years' professional experience

• A minimum of 5 years' hospitality and/or short-term rental experience

• At least 2 years' management experience

• Previous experience within hotels, resorts, serviced accommodation, aparthotels, short-term rentals or a similar hospitality environment

• Strong practical knowledge of hospitality revenue management

• Experience managing rates and accommodation inventory

• Strong understanding of online booking and electronic distribution channels

• Experience with revenue forecasting and demand planning

• Strong commercial and financial acumen

• Experience working across multiple properties or locations would be highly advantageous

• Strong reporting and analytical capability

• The ability to translate data into practical commercial decisions

• Excellent organisational and project management skills

• Strong stakeholder management and communication ability

• Proven leadership and team-management capability

SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY

Experience with hospitality booking, property management, revenue management and distribution systems is important.

Exposure to the following would be advantageous

• Cloudbeds

• RoomPriceGenie

• Whistle

• Zoho

• Google Workspace / G-Suite

• Microsoft Excel

• Microsoft PowerPoint

• Microsoft Word

• Electronic Distribution Systems

• Online booking and accommodation distribution platforms

Advanced or strong Excel and data-analysis capability will be particularly valuable.

THE PERSON WE'RE LOOKING FOR

This environment will suit someone who is

• Commercially astute

• Highly analytical

• Revenue driven

• Decisive

• Detail oriented

• Organised

• Comfortable working with large amounts of operational and financial data

• Able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously

• Confident presenting recommendations to senior stakeholders

• Comfortable challenging existing pricing or revenue strategies when the data supports it

• Proactive rather than reactive

• Adaptable in a fast-moving environment

• A strong people manager

• Collaborative across departments

• Hospitality and guest-experience focused

• Self-motivated and accountable

You should be equally comfortable analysing a revenue report, adjusting a pricing strategy, discussing occupancy with Operations, reviewing market demand, working with Marketing on direct bookings and leading a revenue meeting.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Candidates must

• Be based in or able to work permanently in Cape Town

• Be comfortable working office based

• Have their own reliable transport

• Have their own mobile phone

• Have a good understanding of the Cape Town hospitality/property market

A laptop will be provided.

Package & Remuneration

REMUNERATION

R30 000 - R35 000, dependent on experience

Permanent, full-time position.

Cape Town | Office Based

Interested?

INTERESTE