What does a luxury hospitality recruiter do? A luxury hospitality recruiter finds and places senior leaders for properties and restaurants where service has to be flawless every time: luxury hotels, Michelin-level restaurants, members' clubs and private clubs. Typical roles are General Manager, Director of Food & Beverage, Executive Chef, Director of Service and Director of Operations. The best candidates are already leading luxury operations, so the search relies on confidential outreach and on checking each candidate's standards, team and results. JWB Hospitality is a boutique hospitality executive search firm whose luxury clients include Aman New York, Union Square Hospitality Group, Major Food Group and Café Dior by Dominique Crenn.
At a glance: Most luxury searches take 30–90 days · 300+ hospitality placements · 95% offer acceptance · 20% of first-year base salary on contingency, no upfront retainer · 90-day replacement guarantee
Aman New York · SoHo Grand · Nine Orchard · Wythe Hotel · The Lowell · The Knickerbocker · Watergate Hotel · Park Terrace Hotel · Oram Hotels · Union Square Hospitality Group · Major Food Group · Café Dior and Monsieur Dior by Dominique Crenn · Milos
Many of our luxury searches are confidential, and those clients are never named.
In luxury hospitality, one wrong leader is visible to every guest. A General Manager who lets standards slip, a chef who can't hold consistency or a service director who can't train to a luxury level shows up in reviews, ratings and repeat guests before it shows up in the numbers.
The leaders who can hold that standard are rarely looking. They are running the properties and dining rooms your guests already compare you to. Reaching them takes confidential outreach. Vetting them takes someone who has worked inside luxury operations and knows the difference between a polished interview and a polished operation.
Named clients
Aman New York: Director of F&B Operations, Director of Service and Restaurant General Manager. Senior food, beverage and service leadership for a flagship luxury hotel.
The Modern, Union Square Hospitality Group: Assistant General Manager for USHG's two-Michelin-star restaurant at the Museum of Modern Art.
ZZ's Club, Major Food Group: Assistant General Manager for Major Food Group's luxury dining and private-club concept.
Café Dior by Dominique Crenn, Dallas, and Monsieur Dior by Dominique Crenn, Beverly Hills: General Managers for both of Dior's U.S. restaurants.
Watergate Hotel, Washington, D.C.: Head of Marketing.
Park Terrace Hotel, New York City: Food & Beverage Director and Director of Special Event Sales.
Confidential searches
Boutique luxury hotel, New York City: General Manager. The hotel lost its GM unexpectedly. JWB placed a new GM in six weeks.
Private members' club, Manhattan: Executive Chef. After four months of trying on its own, the club hired through JWB in 34 days.
Michelin-starred restaurants, New York City: Beverage Director and Sales Manager.
Luxury members' club, Miami: Executive Chef, Assistant General Manager and Membership and Marketing lead.
Global investment firm: Executive Chef and two Sous Chefs for its private executive dining program.
Yacht clubs in New York and Florida: Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Operations.
Acclaimed London restaurant: Head Chef.
Hotel leadership
General Manager, Managing Director, Hotel Manager, Director of Operations, Area General Manager
Food, beverage and service
Director of Food & Beverage, Director of F&B Operations, Director of Service, Restaurant General Manager, Beverage Director, Sommelier
Culinary
Executive Chef, Culinary Director, Chef de Cuisine, Executive Pastry Chef, Private Dining Chef
Executive leadership
COO, CEO, President, Vice President of Operations
Luxury and boutique hotels. GMs, F&B and service leaders for independent luxury hotels, boutique and lifestyle properties and luxury brands. See hotel and resort executive search.
Michelin-level and fine dining restaurants. General Managers, Beverage Directors and chefs, recruited so the kitchen and dining room meet the same standard. See restaurant executive search.
Members' clubs and private clubs. Leaders for city members' clubs, country, golf and yacht clubs. See private club recruiters.
Luxury retail and brand dining. Restaurant leadership for fashion and luxury brands that operate their own dining concepts.
Private and corporate executive dining. Chefs and culinary teams for private dining programs at firms and family offices.
1. Discovery. We meet with you to define the role, standards, reporting line, goals and compensation.
2. Market mapping. We identify leaders at the luxury hotels, restaurants and clubs your guests already compare you to.
3. Confidential outreach. We approach candidates directly and keep your search private.
4. Evaluation and short list. We interview, verify results and check references, then present a small group of finalists.
5. Offer and transition. We help with compensation, the offer and resignation, and stay in touch through the first months.
Further reading: best executive recruiters for luxury hotels · what luxury hospitality recruiters look for
JWB Hospitality works on contingency: 20% of the placed leader's first-year base salary, invoiced only when you hire. There is no upfront retainer. Every placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the hire leaves or is let go within that period, we restart the search at no added fee.
Every search is confidential. We can recruit while your current leader is still in place. To compare search models, see retained vs. contingency search.
What is a luxury hospitality recruiter?
A luxury hospitality recruiter specializes in placing senior leaders for luxury hotels, fine dining restaurants, members' clubs and private clubs. The recruiter approaches proven leaders confidentially and evaluates them against luxury service standards, not just their résumés.
What is the difference between a luxury hospitality headhunter and a regular recruiter?
A headhunter approaches leaders who are already employed and not looking. Most strong luxury leaders fit that description. A general recruiter usually relies on job postings and active applicants. JWB Hospitality works mainly through confidential direct outreach.
Which luxury clients has JWB Hospitality worked with?
Clients include Aman New York, SoHo Grand, Nine Orchard, Wythe Hotel, The Lowell, The Knickerbocker, Watergate Hotel, Park Terrace Hotel, Oram Hotels, Union Square Hospitality Group, Major Food Group and Café Dior and Monsieur Dior by Dominique Crenn.
How long does a luxury hospitality search take?
Most searches take 30 to 90 days, depending on the role, location and compensation. Our boutique luxury hotel GM search in New York City took six weeks.
What does a luxury hospitality recruiter cost?
Hospitality recruiters commonly charge about 20% to 30% of first-year compensation. JWB charges 20% of first-year base salary on contingency, with no upfront retainer and a 90-day replacement guarantee.
Do you recruit nationwide?
Yes. JWB Hospitality recruits nationwide, with deep experience in New York City, and has also placed leaders in London.
Tell us about the property or restaurant, the role and your timing. We will tell you what the search will take and who is realistic to approach.
Related: hotel and resort executive search · restaurant executive search · private club recruiters · General Manager recruiter · Executive Chef recruiters
JWB Hospitality
Executive search for restaurants, hotels, resorts, private clubs, and hospitality brands nationwide.