Christine Friedler
Executive Recruiter
Division: Hospitality
Location: Florida
Christine Friedler
Executive Recruiter, Gecko Hospitality
Hospitality and Restaurant Division | Florida
Phone: (239) 428-2647 | Email: christine.friedler@geckohospitality.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cldickerson
About Christine
Christine Friedler is a hospitality and restaurant recruiter with Gecko Hospitality serving the Florida market. Christine’s focus: matching great hospitality and restaurant talent with clients that value their employees and offer stability, longevity and a culture of professional and personal growth.
Background & Experience
25+ years in hospitality specializing in client relations, sales, events, and management; General Manager for a wedding venue and catering company; over a decade in higher education recruitment, retention, and alumni events.
Areas of Focus
Positions: General Manager and Assistant General Manager; Director of Operations and Rooms Division leaders; Food & Beverage and Sales leadership; Executive Committee and senior hotel leadership; Multi-property and regional leaders for all things hospitality related!
Markets served: Florida.
How Christine Evaluates Talent
First, I focus on how a leader operates, not just what’s on their resume. Next, I look for proof of operational wins and whether they have actually done what the role requires, or are capable of doing so. I also think about how their leadership style would mesh with my client’s culture and the realities of their operation. Finally, I look at what they’ve built, improved, or turned around, because results and leadership in action usually tell the truest story.
Christine’s Market Perspective
The Florida hospitality market is competitive, especially for experienced leaders in luxury hotels, full-service restaurants, private clubs, and upscale dining concepts. Strong candidates are out there, but most are selective and motivated by culture, ownership stability, and long-term growth, not just pay. With an operations background of my own, I try to balance the needs of clients with what really drives a candidate, so I can make matches that last rather than just fill a seat. I’m also an out-of-the-box thinker who looks beyond traditional backgrounds; sometimes the best candidate is already doing the job successfully in a completely different setting, and staying open-minded about transferable experience can lead to the strongest match.
Advice
For employers: The strongest searches start with clarity on culture, leadership expectations, compensation, and the definition of success for the role. Be open-minded and trust the process!
For candidates: Be ready to demonstrate specific operational results, your leadership style, and why this opportunity fits your long-term goals. Be Transparent and always return a call, text, or email – it’s a small world in hospitality!
In Christine’s Words
“I connect great hospitality leaders with roles where they can make a lasting impact and grow (aka The Matchmaker).”
Testimonials
“My experience with Gecko Hospitality was excellent. Christine made the entire process smooth, professional, and truly supportive. She was attentive, clear, and genuinely caring throughout. Highly recommended.”
Roberto B. (Successfully placed candidate)
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and support from Christine throughout the hiring process. From our first conversation, she recognized my skills and potential, and her confidence in me helped open the door to a role that has been a great fit for my career. Christine made the entire process smooth, professional, and stress-free by keeping me informed every step of the way and providing valuable guidance throughout. Her dedication, responsiveness, and genuine commitment to helping candidates succeed truly set her apart. Thank you for believing in my talent and for connecting me with an opportunity that ultimately led to my new position, Christine. I highly recommend working with you and greatly appreciate everything you did to help me achieve this career milestone.”
Daniela M. (Successfully placed candidate)
“It was an amazing experience and heartfelt. Christine was phenomenal. Amazing. Helpful. Attentive. Communicative. 10 across the board. Love Christine!”
Herve C. (Successfully placed candidate)
“Christine was simply amazing to partner with! Clear, concise, and timely communication led to me securing my new role! She was empathetic, kind, and made me laugh throughout the entire journey. I have worked with many recruiters in my career and she is simply top notch! She was relentless in her pursuit to find the right match for me. Thank you, Christine, for the amazing partnership and making the process so seamless! You rock!”
Kathleen J. (Successfully placed candidate)
Christine Friedler
Executive Recruiter
Division: Hospitality
Location: Florida
Christine Friedler
Executive Recruiter, Gecko Hospitality
Hospitality and Restaurant Division | Florida
Phone: (239) 428-2647 | Email: christine.friedler@geckohospitality.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cldickerson
About Christine
Christine Friedler is a hospitality and restaurant recruiter with Gecko Hospitality serving the Florida market. Christine’s focus: matching great hospitality and restaurant talent with clients that value their employees and offer stability, longevity and a culture of professional and personal growth.
Background & Experience
25+ years in hospitality specializing in client relations, sales, events, and management; General Manager for a wedding venue and catering company; over a decade in higher education recruitment, retention, and alumni events.
Areas of Focus
Positions: General Manager and Assistant General Manager; Director of Operations and Rooms Division leaders; Food & Beverage and Sales leadership; Executive Committee and senior hotel leadership; Multi-property and regional leaders for all things hospitality related!
Markets served: Florida.
How Christine Evaluates Talent
First, I focus on how a leader operates, not just what’s on their resume. Next, I look for proof of operational wins and whether they have actually done what the role requires, or are capable of doing so. I also think about how their leadership style would mesh with my client’s culture and the realities of their operation. Finally, I look at what they’ve built, improved, or turned around, because results and leadership in action usually tell the truest story.
Christine’s Market Perspective
The Florida hospitality market is competitive, especially for experienced leaders in luxury hotels, full-service restaurants, private clubs, and upscale dining concepts. Strong candidates are out there, but most are selective and motivated by culture, ownership stability, and long-term growth, not just pay. With an operations background of my own, I try to balance the needs of clients with what really drives a candidate, so I can make matches that last rather than just fill a seat. I’m also an out-of-the-box thinker who looks beyond traditional backgrounds; sometimes the best candidate is already doing the job successfully in a completely different setting, and staying open-minded about transferable experience can lead to the strongest match.
Advice
For employers: The strongest searches start with clarity on culture, leadership expectations, compensation, and the definition of success for the role. Be open-minded and trust the process!
For candidates: Be ready to demonstrate specific operational results, your leadership style, and why this opportunity fits your long-term goals. Be Transparent and always return a call, text, or email – it’s a small world in hospitality!
In Christine’s Words
“I connect great hospitality leaders with roles where they can make a lasting impact and grow (aka The Matchmaker).”
Testimonials
“My experience with Gecko Hospitality was excellent. Christine made the entire process smooth, professional, and truly supportive. She was attentive, clear, and genuinely caring throughout. Highly recommended.”
Roberto B. (Successfully placed candidate)
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and support from Christine throughout the hiring process. From our first conversation, she recognized my skills and potential, and her confidence in me helped open the door to a role that has been a great fit for my career. Christine made the entire process smooth, professional, and stress-free by keeping me informed every step of the way and providing valuable guidance throughout. Her dedication, responsiveness, and genuine commitment to helping candidates succeed truly set her apart. Thank you for believing in my talent and for connecting me with an opportunity that ultimately led to my new position, Christine. I highly recommend working with you and greatly appreciate everything you did to help me achieve this career milestone.”
Daniela M. (Successfully placed candidate)
“It was an amazing experience and heartfelt. Christine was phenomenal. Amazing. Helpful. Attentive. Communicative. 10 across the board. Love Christine!”
Herve C. (Successfully placed candidate)
“Christine was simply amazing to partner with! Clear, concise, and timely communication led to me securing my new role! She was empathetic, kind, and made me laugh throughout the entire journey. I have worked with many recruiters in my career and she is simply top notch! She was relentless in her pursuit to find the right match for me. Thank you, Christine, for the amazing partnership and making the process so seamless! You rock!”
Kathleen J. (Successfully placed candidate)