General Manager in Blackburn

Leaf Hospitality is a Hotel Management Company that operates hotels on behalf of hotel owners. We work with branded and independent hotels. The business was set up in 2007 and we really care about what we do; if you give us the responsibility to manage your hotel, we'll manage it like it's our own. We are a very personable company, with an ethos of always doing what we say we will. We have one simple value that underpins everything we do: be excellent.

The Opportunity

This is a leadership role for an accomplished hotel professional who thrives on accountability, enjoys building high-performing teams, and understands how to balance exceptional guest experiences with strong commercial results. Reporting directly to the Group Operations Director, you will have full operational responsibility for the hotel, leading the executive team and working closely with ownership, brand representatives, and the wider Leaf Hospitality support teams. You will be empowered to shape strategy, drive profitability, develop talent, and ensure the hotel remains a market leader within its competitive set. We are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys being visible, influential and engaged - both within the hotel and the local community.

What We're Looking For

We would love to hear from you if you can demonstrate:

• A proven track record as a Hotel General Manager, ideally with 6+ years' experience in a full-service hotel environment.
• Previous experience within a recognised branded hotel, ideally.
• Experience operating within a multi-stakeholder environment, balancing the expectations of owners, management companies and brand partners.
• Strong Food & Beverage and banqueting expertise, with a clear understanding of how these departments contribute to overall hotel performance.
• Commercial leadership experience, including revenue optimisation, market positioning and business development.
• Excellent financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasting, profit delivery and capital investment planning.
• A passion for developing people and creating a culture of accountability, engagement and continuous improvement.
• Sound knowledge of health, safety and compliance requirements.
• The ability to lead confidently through change, projects and periods of growth.
• Strong local networking skills and a genuine desire to become an ambassador for the hotel within the community.

What Success Looks Like

As General Manager, you will:

• Lead the hotel as a successful and profitable business.
• Inspire and develop a high-performing leadership team.
• Deliver exceptional guest satisfaction and service standards.
• Identify opportunities to grow revenue and profitability across all departments.
• Ensure the hotel consistently meets brand standards and owner expectations.
• Drive a culture of excellence, accountability and innovation.
• Build strong relationships with owners, brand partners, local businesses and community stakeholders.
• Champion new ideas and initiatives that enhance the guest experience and strengthen the hotel's market position.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Culture

• Provide clear leadership, direction and support to the executive team.
• Foster a culture of excellence, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Coach, mentor and develop leaders across the business.
• Lead regular leadership, commercial and town hall meetings.

Commercial Performance

• Take ownership of the hotel's commercial strategy and financial performance.
• Work closely with the commercial team to maximise market share, RevPAR and profitability.
• Identify new revenue opportunities and routes to market.
• Ensure accurate forecasting, budgeting and financial controls.

Operations & Guest Experience

• Maintain a visible presence throughout the hotel, particularly during key trading periods and events.
• Ensure consistently high operational standards across all departments.
• Drive guest satisfaction and service excellence.
• Oversee major events and key operational activities.

Stakeholder Management

• Present hotel performance and strategic plans at monthly business review meetings.
• Build trusted relationships with owners, brand representatives and support teams.
• Lead initiatives and projects that support the long-term success of the asset.

Community Engagement

• Act as a visible ambassador for both the hotel and Leaf Hospitality.
• Build meaningful relationships within the local business community.
• Strengthen the hotel's local reputation and market presence.

Why Join Leaf Hospitality?

We are a growing hotel management company with ambitious plans and a people-first culture. We believe great hotels are built by great teams, and we invest heavily in our people to help them achieve their full potential. In return, we offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Team Member discounted stays across the Leaf Hospitality portfolio.
• 50% discount on food and beverage.
• Ongoing learning, development and leadership support.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Enhanced annual leave and family leave benefits.
• Long-service awards of up to £1,000.
• Team Member of the Month and Year recognition awards.
• Meals on duty.
• Enhanced pension contribution.

About Us

At Leaf Hospitality, we partner with hotel owners to deliver outstanding operational and commercial performance across branded and independent hotels. Our vision is to be a recognised leader in hotel management, where every team member contributes to exceptional experiences for our guests, owners and colleagues.