At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate our national food and beverage strategy across 230 bar-cafes and 370 hotels.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at Travelodge, committed to inclusivity and employee wellbeing.
- Benefits: Earn up to £120,000, enjoy hybrid working, and receive generous discounts on hotel stays.
- Other info: Collaborative culture focused on diversity and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-volume F&B operation while shaping guest experiences.
- Qualifications: Proven commercial leader with P&L accountability and experience in large-scale restaurant retail.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 84000 £ per year.
Find where you belong! Do you have the commercial and customer-first mindset to develop and deliver a successful F&B business on a national scale? Can you architect a 3-year F&B strategy that drives out-performance, puts our guests first, and translates into a seamless mission for our c230 restaurants and c380 lodges and their teams? If yes, our Head of Food & Beverage position might be the right next move for you.
Your Purpose
We are seeking a visionary leader to scale our multi-million pound F&B operation. Overseeing 230 bar-cafes and our F&B proposition across 370 hotels, you will be responsible for driving revenue, margin and ensuring a consistent brilliant customer experience across the entire estate. Reporting directly to the Customer Director, you will hold full P&L accountability and lead the 3-year strategic roadmap for our food and drink proposition.
Key Responsibilities:
- Define the 3-year F&B vision, identifying new growth initiatives and pricing strategies that maximize our revenue and optimise margin through a customer-first approach.
- Oversee a c£2m management budget and influence investment.
- Lead the lifecycle of our products from "napkin sketch" conceptualisation to national launch, ensuring every item is both profitable and beloved by guests.
- Act as the bridge between Marketing, Finance, and Ops, ensuring we deliver a consistent, high-quality brand experience.
- Spearhead the use of data dashboards and digital platforms to optimise conversion, the guest journey and commercial performance.
Your Strengths
To lead this division, you must be a heavyweight commercial leader with a proven track record in high-volume F&B or large-scale restaurant retail. We require a candidate who has held full P&L accountability—ideally for portfolios exceeding £50m—and possesses the analytical mindset to transform complex market trends and consumer data into high-growth strategies. Beyond the numbers, you must demonstrate "operational empathy", showing a history of working hand-in-hand with ground-level teams to ensure that national change is implemented seamlessly and sustainably. You’ll need to influence at the ExCo level and negotiate high-value supplier relationships with ease. You should be a collaborative leader known for winning "hearts and minds" across a business, pairing exceptional stakeholder management with the flexibility to travel nationally. We are looking for a rare blend of strategic foresight and technical precision—someone who can navigate board-level presentations one day and dive into the data behind a 1% margin shift the next.
Your Perks
- Up to £120,000 & Annualise Bonus
- Car Allowance payable at £570 per month
- Contributory pension scheme - auto enroll at 5% after 3 months and we contribute 8%
- Hybrid working - a minimum of 60% of your time should be spent in the office and or visiting suppliers
- 50% personal discount for hotel bookings and great friends and family discounts too!
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays, increasing with length of service
Why Travelodge?
We believe in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can be their true self and belong. We work hard to improve the diversity of our teams and celebrate our differences. And we care about our colleagues’ wellbeing, ensuring there are plenty of resources available so everyone can look after their emotional, physical, financial and work wellbeing. We call this “Better Me”.
Head of Food & Beverage in Thame employer: Travelodge Hotels Limited
Travelodge Hotels Limited is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where creativity and strategic thinking are highly valued. With a strong focus on employee development and a culture that encourages collaboration, team members have ample opportunities to grow their careers while contributing to impactful PR campaigns across the UK and Spain. The company's commitment to innovation in the hospitality sector, combined with its supportive atmosphere, makes it an attractive place for professionals seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Food & Beverage in Thame
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts and attend relevant events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its F&B strategy. Show them you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for their brand and how you can contribute to their vision.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your experience and how it aligns with their goals. Highlight your P&L accountability and any successful strategies you've implemented in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Food & Beverage in Thame
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for F&B:When writing your application, let your love for food and beverage shine through! Share specific examples of how you've driven success in previous roles and how that aligns with our vision for a customer-first approach.
Be Data-Driven:We’re all about using data to make informed decisions. Highlight your experience with data analysis and how you've used insights to shape strategies in the past. This will show us you can navigate the numbers while keeping the guest experience at the forefront.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the key responsibilities and strengths outlined in the job description. We want to see how your unique skills and experiences make you the perfect fit for leading our F&B operations.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Travelodge Hotels Limited
✨Know Your Numbers
As a candidate for the Head of Food & Beverage role, you need to be well-versed in P&L accountability. Brush up on your financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've driven revenue and optimised margins in previous roles. Prepare specific examples that showcase your analytical mindset and how you've transformed data into actionable strategies.
✨Showcase Your Vision
This position requires a visionary leader who can define a 3-year F&B strategy. Think about your past experiences and be prepared to articulate a clear vision for the future of food and beverage operations. Highlight any innovative growth initiatives or pricing strategies you've implemented that put customers first and led to successful outcomes.
✨Bridge the Gap
Collaboration is key in this role, so be ready to discuss how you've worked with different departments like Marketing, Finance, and Operations. Share examples of how you've ensured a consistent brand experience across various teams and how you've influenced stakeholders at all levels. This will demonstrate your ability to act as a bridge between departments.
✨Operational Empathy Matters
The interviewers will be looking for someone who understands the ground-level operations. Be prepared to talk about how you've engaged with teams on the front line to implement changes effectively. Discuss any experiences where you've balanced strategic foresight with operational realities, showing that you can connect with staff while driving national initiatives.
