Commercial Manager

Relais & Châteaux; Thornbury; Remote; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28-day holiday

Birthday day off

Complimentary castle stay after probat

Staff and family rates

Training programmes

Free parking

Job summary

Thornbury Castle is seeking a Commercial Manager to own the hotel’s commercial strategy across rooms, F&B and events. You will lead a small team, personally handle key client relationships, negotiate contracts and drive revenue growth while aligning with the General Manager and Revenue Manager.

You will shape pricing, rate strategy, and distribution, monitor market trends and competitor activity, and represent the castle at shows and events as required.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a commercial, sales, events role, ideally in hotels.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to interpret data and drive results.
• A collaborative, approachable leader who sets the standard for the team.
• Excellent organisation, attention to detail and calm under pressure.
• Great people skills and a positive, can-do attitude.
• Flexibility to work on site and attend trade shows when required.

Responsibilities

• Own the commercial strategy across rooms, F&B and events; lead pricing and distribution decisions.
• Prospect for new business and develop relationships with corporate clients, agents and tour operators.
• Negotiate contracts and rates, manage key accounts and drive revenue growth.
• Represent the castle at shows and networking events when needed.
• Oversee Events Manager and support event revenue growth through pricing and packages.
• Prepare commercial reports and forecasts for senior management and support operations on demand.

Skills

Commercial mindset

Sales experience

Events management

Leadership

Organization

Flexible on-site presence

Job description

Thornbury Castle is a place where history and hospitality meet: a Tudor castle once owned by Henry VIII, now a luxury hotel welcoming guests for stays, celebrations, weddings and events. We're looking for a Commercial Manager who will help us share it with more of the right people and make every booking count.

Relais & Châteaux, One Micheline Key, 3 AA rosette restaurant.

This is a senior, hands‑on role reporting to the Hotel General Manager. You'll own the commercial strategy across rooms, food and beverage, and events, and you'll lead a small, close‑knit team. In a team this size, much of the selling will be yours. You'll be the one picking up the phone, meeting clients, closing deals and growing our key accounts, while also setting the commercial direction for the hotel. And on a busy event day, during a show‑around with a couple who've just fallen for the castle, or when operations need an extra pair of hands, you'll be right there.

You'll shape and deliver the commercial plan that drives revenue across the whole hotel, working closely with the General Manager and Revenue Manager on pricing, rate strategy, and distribution. You'll keep a sharp eye on market trends and competitors, spot new opportunities, and help the team to optimise occupancy, ADR and RevPAR.

You'll lead sales personally: prospecting for new business, building lasting relationships with corporate clients, agents, and tour operators, negotiating contracts and rates, and managing our key accounts. You'll also represent the castle at shows and networking events when needed.

Events are a big part of what makes Thornbury Castle special. You'll oversee and support the Events Manager, helping grow events revenue through smart pricing, strong packages and excellent enquiry conversion. You'll ensure every enquiry gets a prompt, accurate response, lead show‑arounds when needed, and support the team on event days so each one runs beautifully.

You'll guide and develop the Sales & Events Coordinator, oversee digital marketing, OTA relationships and online reputation, prepare commercial reports and forecasts for senior management, support operations across the hotel when needed, and take part in our Duty Manager rota

• Develop and implement the commercial strategy to grow revenue across rooms, F&B and events
• Lead, coach and support the Sales and Events team, working alongside them rather than just delegating
• Discuss pricing, rate strategy and inventory across all distribution channels with the GM and Revenue Manager
• Support the revenue mananger OptimisingRevPAR, ADR and occupancy through market, competitor and demand analysis
• Win new business and grow key accounts with corporate clients, agents and tour operators
• Ensure prompt, accurate responses to enquiries and maximise conversion into confirmed bookings
• Work alongside digital marketing team, OTA relationships and online reputation
• Negotiate contracts and rates with clients, agents and suppliers
• Prepare commercial performance reports and forecasts for senior management
• Take ownership of key events and support their successful delivery on site
• Act as Duty Manager as part of the hotel's management team

• Previous experience in a commercial, sales, eventsrole, ideally in hotels
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to interpret data and drive results
• A collaborative, approachable leader who sets the standard for the team
• Excellent organisation, attention to detail and calm under pressure
• Great people skills and a positive, can-do attitude
• Flexibility to work on site and attend trade shows when required

• 40 hours a week on 5 flexible days according to business needs
• Salary 38000 per annum + ashare of the service charge, distributed monthly
• 28-day holiday, including bank holidays
• Paid extra day off on your birthday
• Complimentary stay at the castle after the 3-month probation period has passed
• Training programmes via internal & external professionals and access to online training facilities
• Staff and family rates on hotel accommodation and discounts on food and beverage
• Recognition programmes
• Uniform and meals provided whilst on duty and free parking

At Thornbury Castle, we think and perform like owners; we're always looking to improve, we communicate clearly so there are no surprises, and we invest in our people so they can be the best they can be.