Regional Hostel Manager


Regional Hostel Manager — Queenstown

Haka House Hostels | Queenstown & Queenstown Lakefront | Permanent Full Time

 

Lead two of the most exciting properties in Aotearoa, in one of the most extraordinary places on earth.

Queenstown does not need an introduction. And neither does Haka House if you have been paying attention. We are one of New Zealand’s most awarded hostel brands, and we are looking for a Regional Hostel Manager to lead our two Queenstown properties with the kind of energy, accountability and genuine care that makes a great place even better.

This is not a role for someone who wants to manage from behind a desk. You will be in the thick of it every day, leading a team of Duty Managers, Night Managers, a Housekeeping Supervisor and a crew of Hosts and Housekeepers who keep the show running. You will own the guest experience, the numbers, the culture on the floor, and the relationships that make this business tick.

If you are the kind of leader who knows every person on your team by name, responds to guest feedback before your manager has to ask, and genuinely loves the energy of a busy hostel, keep reading.

 

🏔️ About Haka House

 

We are a proudly New Zealand-owned group of hostels with properties across the motu, from the Bay of Islands to Aoraki Mt Cook. We care deeply about our people, our guests, and the places we call home. Our values, Whanau, Aotearoa Proud, Keeping it Real, One in a Million, Reach for It and Sense of Place, are not just words on a wall. They are how we hire, how we lead, and how we show up every day.

 

✨ What You Will Be Doing

 

Leading two properties in Queenstown with full operational accountability across people, finance, guest experience, H&S and reporting. You will be the person your team looks to when things get hard, the person your guests remember, and the person your Operations Manager trusts to get it done without being asked twice.


Day to day that means:

 

* Running a high-performing team through strong people leadership, regular coaching and clear expectations

* Owning the guest experience end to end, from OTA rankings to TripAdvisor responses to the way your team greets someone at 11pm

* Managing your budget, controlling costs, and making smart decisions that protect the business and your team

* Completing monthly reports, daily reconciliations and audits accurately and on time

* Building strong relationships with accommodation partners, tour operators and your Haka peers across the network

* Maintaining brand standards, cleanliness, H&S compliance and a property your whole team is proud of


🌟 What We Are Looking For

 

You are not just a good operator. You are a genuine leader who gets the best out of people and takes real pride in the environment you create.

 

You bring:

* 5+ years in hotel, lodge or accommodation management (including DM or Assistant Manager experience)

* 3-5 years of people leadership with a track record of developing others

* Experience managing budgets and financial reporting

* Solid knowledge of H&S requirements in the accommodation sector

* A passion for the youth travel industry and the kind of guests who walk through our doors

* Exceptional communication skills and the ability to stay calm and clear when things get busy

* A can-do attitude and genuine accountability for outcomes

💫 What You Will Get

* The chance to lead two iconic Queenstown properties with real autonomy

* A genuinely supportive national team who invest in your growth

* Access to our Leadership Framework, Learna microlearning platform, and ongoing development

* Wellbeing support through Groov and EAP

* A culture where people are promoted from within and careers are built, not just had

* The privilege of waking up and going to work in Queenstown every day

 

If this sounds like the role you have been working towards, we would love to hear from you. Apply with your CV and a short note about what draws you to Haka House and why Queenstown is the right place for you right now.

Apply now

Permanent Full-Time

Job no: FIAK60375

Salary range: $75,000 - $85,000

Location: Queenstown

Closing Date: Thursday, 9 July 2026