Hotel General Manager in Exeter

Salary up to £80,000 plus performance bonus

Full-time Permanent

Hotel Indigo Exeter is a boutique, design-led hotel in the heart of Exeter's historic City Centre. The hotel has individually styled rooms, The Retreat Spa and a strong food and drink offer, including Dotties Bar and Restaurant, Becketts Champagne and Cocktail Rooftop Bar and The Dugout Sports Bar.

Why this role

This is a General Manager role where driving and developing food and beverage is a key focus. We are looking for someone who can lead the whole hotel, but who also knows how to drive a strong restaurant, bar and events operation. You will understand how food and beverage impacts guest experience, reputation, team engagement, revenue, profit and the overall personality of the hotel. You will take ownership of the hotel day to day, bringing together team leadership, commercial performance, guest experience, brand standards, owner expectations and compliance. You will be supported by Michels & Taylor, with access to experienced operational, commercial, people and finance support. The leadership environment is built around clear communication, trusted decision-making, honest feedback, recognition and practical support when it is needed. The expectation is simple: the hotel, owner and management company work as one team, with high standards and a shared focus on performance, people and guests.

What you'll do

• Lead the full hotel operation, with food and beverage as the main commercial and guest experience focus.
• Take clear ownership of Dotties Bar and Restaurant, Becketts, The Dugout and the wider food and drink offer, ensuring service, standards, sales and controls are consistently strong.
• Build and lead a confident senior team across rooms, food and beverage, spa, finance, maintenance, sales and support functions.
• Drive total revenue, profit, payroll control, cost management and local commercial opportunities.
• Create a hotel-wide sales culture, making sure the team understands how to convert business, grow spend and protect the guest experience.
• Work closely with the owner, brand partners and Michels & Taylor to protect the hotel's reputation and deliver agreed performance targets.
• Use guest feedback, audits, brand standards and daily visibility to keep improving service and operational readiness.
• Ensure the hotel is safe, compliant and well controlled, including health and safety, fire safety, licensing, food safety, employment and brand requirements.
• Develop a positive, accountable culture where people know what is expected, receive honest feedback and are recognised for doing things well.

What you'll bring

• You will need to be either an experienced General Manager from a quality hotel with a strong food and beverage operation; or a very strong Deputy General Manager who is genuinely ready for their first General Manager role.
• A strong food and beverage background - this is essential.
• Proven experience leading hotel teams and senior managers.
• A strong commercial approach, including revenue, payroll, cost control, forecasting, local sales activity and profit delivery.
• Confidence working with owners, brand representatives, senior leaders, team members and guests.
• The ability to lead standards in a branded, quality hotel environment while keeping the hotel's local character and guest experience front of mind.
• Good judgement under pressure, especially when balancing guest expectations, commercial needs and operational reality.
• A practical, visible leadership style. This is not a desk-only role.
• Already living within a reasonable commute of Exeter, or relocate before starting.
• Experience with IHG, Hotel Indigo or another branded lifestyle or boutique hotel would be useful, but it is not essential if you bring the right General Manager or senior Deputy General Manager background and strong food and beverage experience.

Hours and working pattern

This is a full-time senior leadership role. You will manage your time around the needs of the hotel, including key trading periods, evenings, weekends, events and peak guest activity when required. There will be flexibility in how the role is managed, but this is an on-site operational leadership position and regular hotel presence is essential.

Pay, bonus and benefits

• Salary up to £80,000, depending on experience
• Performance bonus
• Auto-enrolment pension
• Wellbeing support via Hospitality Action
• Discounted hotel stays
• Discounted food and beverage

How to apply

To apply, click the Apply button and submit your CV. We aim to contact shortlisted candidates within 10 working days. The process is likely to include an initial conversation, a formal interview and a final stage with senior stakeholders. Reasonable adjustments can be discussed at any stage of the recruitment process. No agencies at this stage please.