Hospitality Recruiting and Executive Search

Your Hospitality Recruitment Specialists

We are Bristol Associates, a boutique executive search firm. Founded in 1967, our organization has a long history in Hospitality recruitment. Our experienced Hospitality recruiters use comprehensive industry knowledge, an extensive network, and an ever-expanding database to successfully place exceptional talent with industry-leading companies. Our contacts and connections throughout the Hospitality industry are vast, and we value and foster those relationships with great care. Bristol is regarded as one of the top Hospitality executive search firms in the country and has an excellent track record working with a wide range of clients nationally and internationally.

We have conducted executive searches for an array of Hospitality sectors. These include:

Over our agency’s 55-plus years of history, our Hospitality recruiters have had experience recruiting executives across all functions and verticals. Our reputation and experience have helped us form connections with remarkable talent.

Each search is unique. The first step involves an in-depth consultation with one of our Hospitality executive recruiters. The recruiter will take the time to understand your business goals, culture, and job requirements in detail. We will then search for and select the best candidates for your company. Our strategy is mindfully tailored based on each search’s needs. We strive to find the best fit for our client companies as well as our candidates.

The retained search service Bristol offers includes sourcing, screening, submitting qualified candidates, scheduling interviews, and negotiating employment and compensation packages of selected finalists. At Bristol Associates, we are determined to make the recruitment process efficient, manageable, and successful for our clients.

Given our firm’s industry focus and vast database of talent, we have in-depth knowledge of compensation ranges from C-suite executives to mid-level management. We regularly advise clients on current job market conditions and consult on matters of compensation including base salaries, bonus programs, commission structures, incentives, benefits, and long-term compensation. We can provide customized compensation information (wage studies) à la carte to our main retained executive search services. The salary data we provide is always anonymous, in that it is tied to job titles and not executive’s names.

We Recruit for a Variety of Hospitality Functions

Join the Many Hospitality Companies That Already Recruit with Bristol Associates

Our Satisfied Clients Love to Share Their Experiences Working with Bristol Associates

“Bristol Associates has a great national reputation and our personnel has had previous experience working with them in both Casino Gaming and Hospitality capacities. The team displayed professionalism and support for onboarding candidates, providing negotiation assistance, and fulfilling timely placements. We appreciate Bristol being open-minded to operational needs as we’ve worked to reconfigure and rework our company.”

Merrick Dresnin

Corporate Director of Human Resources, Cote Family Destinations

“Bristol Associates was recommended to us by a friend and colleague at the casino we oversee. We reached out to a couple other firms, but Bristol was by far the most responsive and professional company we spoke with. From the first contact, they were always available to us whenever needed. They sent us resumes from many qualified candidates and then helped us through each step to evaluate those choices and finally arrive at the best person to fit our needs. They made the process go so much smoother than it could have. We had to rely on their experience and knowledge several times for even small things that we were not equipped for. They were always willing to help.

Whether you are experienced at hiring gaming professionals or it’s your first time like it was for us, they are the search firm to work with. I would recommend Bristol Associates and Ben Farber to anyone!”

Kevin Lynch

Board Chair, Dubuque Racing Association

“In our opinion, Bristol Associates is the leader for professional recruiting. The team has a wealth of experience and knowledge of the tourism industry. The company is very responsive and is able to match profiles with their extensive database of prospects. A strength is their ability to negotiate complicated transactions in a satisfactory manner to the employer and employee. We have no hesitation in recommending Bristol Associates, Inc.”

Dave Herbert, CTC

Chief Experential Officer, Great Safaris

“Bristol Associates helped us to fill over ten positions in a very short amount of time when our company moved corporate offices to its new location. Our Consultant was able to identify strong candidates for even the most hard-to-fill positions. The firm’s customized approach, responsiveness, and extensive network in the field made them an invaluable partner.”

Peter Watson

Executive Director, Talent Acquisition, Dine Equity, Inc. (IHOP and Applebee's)

Why Work with Bristol Associates?

Over 55 Years in Business

We have specialized in executive search since 1967, and are now in our 3rd generation of family ownership.

Specialized

We have unrivaled industry knowledge in the areas in which we focus.

Individualized Service

We provide consultative, individualized service to our client companies. We pride ourselves in conducting our processes confidentially when necessary.

Network of Candidates

With over 1M+ relevant candidates in our private database, and growing every day, we have a strong network of senior-level talent across the board.

Responsiveness

Our recruiters value a communicative relationship with our select client companies and candidates, providing updates throughout the search.

Experienced

Our exceptional lead recruiters each have at least 15 years’ of experience in executive search.

Partner with Bristol Associates

Our Successful Hospitality Searches Keep Our Clients Coming Back

Chief Financial Officer

We completed the CFO search for one of the largest casino resorts in the Southern region. The property features a 100,000 sq ft gaming floor, over 2,500 slots, a luxury hotel, a variety of restaurants, and live entertainment. This was an exciting opportunity to join an organization that is constantly growing, and our successful candidate now oversees all operations of the Accounting, Cage, Credit, Financial Analysis, and Labor Analysis departments. They had prior experience in financing expansions.

Chief Operating Officer

Our client, located in the Eastern United States, operates convention centers and assembly halls. They were looking for a top industry talent to fill the Chief Operating Officer position. Our placed candidate reports to the CEO and is responsible for operation-related activities for all of the facilities.

President

We placed the President for one of the world’s most respected eco-tourism resorts with over 1,500 acres of manicured gardens, a horticulture center, and a butterfly exhibit. This destination resort/attraction also features two championship golf courses, condominiums, townhouses, and two hotels. Our placed candidate is responsible for driving overall revenue and increasing visitation.

Senior Vice President of Operations

One of Hawaii’s leading hotel and resort management companies was our client for the Senior Vice President of Operations search. The company is a subsidiary of a NYSE listed corporation with significant holdings in the hospitality industry, and they manage over 50 hotels, resorts, and condominiums in Hawaii. They are committed to creating hand-crafted experiences and leaving lasting impressions over their five proprietary brands designed to suit any lifestyle, taste, or budget. The Senior Vice President of Operations is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and managing enterprise-wide property operations for all brands. Our placed candidate establishes and monitors fiscal and operating goals for the company, including the development and maintenance of brand standards, operating budgets, and standard operating procedures, and also manages guest and owner satisfaction.

Vice President of Communications

One of the Nation’s largest privately held service corporations was our client for this successful Vice President of Communications search. The company is the industry leader in the operation of retail concessions at airports, auditoriums, stadiums, convention centers, conference centers, tourist attractions, and state and national parks. This corporate position is responsible for the development and execution of all public relations activities, and also for overseeing the public relations and communications strategies that influence the company’s brand positioning.

Executive Director

Our client is the operator of an Aquarium that was in the process of opening at the time of this search. The Executive Director manages the operations of the Aquarium and directs and oversees the organization’s financial and budgetary activities, including financial accountability and approvals. Our placed candidate works closely with the Aquarium Foundation to ensure volunteers and educators provide exemplary guest service and engagement. They also monitor the maintenance of the building, facilities, equipment, supplies, and utilities in order to reduce damage and waste while controlling costs.

We Can Fill Your Roles Across the Hospitality Industry

  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
  • Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
  • Chief People Officer (CPO)
  • Corporate Director of Sales and Marketing
  • Director of Bars and Restaurants
  • Director of Engineering and Facilities
  • Director of Housekeeping
  • Director of Information Technology (IT)
  • Director of Sales
  • Director of Ticket Operations
  • Executive Chef
  • General Manager (GM)
  • Senior Director of Hospitality
  • Vice President of Finance
  • Vice President of Food and Beverage
  • Vice President of Human Resources
  • Vice President of Operations

We Recruit for Hospitality Positions Nationwide Including the Following Major Markets

Our Latest Hospitality Blogs

A Guide to Networking Effectively in the Hospitality Industry

The Bristol Breakroom Career Advice and More from Our Team Hotel and Resort Networking is one of the best ways to further your career. According to data from LinkedIn, referrals are the #1 way that people find a new job, and 56% of job seekers utilize their...

How to Create an Inclusive Resort Hiring Process: Strategies for Promoting Equality and Diversity in the Workplace

The Bristol Breakroom Career Advice and More from Our Team Restaurant and Foodservice Diversity and inclusion have been a growing priority for employers across the hospitality industry in recent years. Most large resort corporations today have a DE&I strategy, and...

5 Proven Strategies for Taking Your Hospitality Career to the Next Level

The Bristol Breakroom Career Advice and More from Our Team Hospitality Hospitality is consistently among, not just the largest global industries, but also the fastest-growing. The American Hotel & Lodging Association projects that demand for lodging will surpass...