Hotel Operations Manager

Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc.; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hotel management company is seeking a passionate Hotel Operations Manager for their Mercure Bedford Centre Hotel. The successful candidate will implement operational procedures, maximize revenue, and ensure outstanding guest experiences. Strong leadership and commercial insight are essential. This full-time role offers competitive salary, bonuses, and various employee benefits. Join our inclusive team and shape the future of hospitality.

Benefits

Industry leading training

Hotel discounts portfolio wide

Access to employee assistance programme

Uncapped incentives

Extra holidays with each year of service

Staff meals on duty

Career breaks

Free staff parking

Qualifications

• Track record of managing at HOD level within a hotel or hospitality venue.
• Ability to motivate and manage the hotel team effectively.
• Experience in creating and implementing successful strategies.

Responsibilities

• Implement standard operating procedures across hotel departments.
• Maximize revenue opportunities and oversee hotel operations.
• Lead recruitment efforts and promote a culture of service excellence.

Skills

Leadership skills

Team management

Commercial awareness

Performance coaching

Job description

Mercure Bedford Centre Hotel – Hotel Operations Manager

Aimbridge Hospitality EMEA are now seeking an Operations Manager to lead our Mercure Bedford Centre Hotel.

This is more than a management role - it's a launchpad for your leadership journey. With a planned refurbishment in 2026, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the property, influencing design, service delivery, and operational excellence from the ground up.

Who are we?

Aimbridge Hospitality EMEA are a division of the global Aimbridge Hospitality brand. We're passionate about connecting great people to great experiences in exciting destinations, working with brands such as Hilton, IHG, Accor, Marriott and everything in between. From the rich diversity of our people and locations to our "people first" approach to business, the Aimbridge experience is like no other.

What is in it for you?

As part of the Aimbridge team, you will have access to industry leading benefits that include:

• Industry leading training and leadership development opportunities
• Hotel discounts portfolio wide - Staff rates and up to 50% discount on food & beverage and spa
• Access to Stream - Stream up to 40% pay as it is earned and set automatic savings to support your financial wellbeing
• 24/7 access to our employee assistance programme
• Uncapped incentives to reward you for your contributions
• Extra holidays with each year of service
• Staff meals on duty
• Career and lifestyle breaks - Allowing you to take time off for key life events.
• Free staff parking

A day in the life of…

As the Hotel Operations Manager, you will be responsible for implementing standard operating procedures across all hotel departments, ensuring effective performance management, contributing to the strategic business plan, maximizing revenue opportunities, and overseeing hotel operations in the absence of the General Manager. You will prioritise the customer experience by analysing guest feedback and implementing action plans. Collaborating with department heads, you will lead recruitment efforts, foster team development, and promote a culture of service excellence.

This role offers a significant opportunity for career advancement, including potential delegation of General Manager responsibilities and involvement in enhancing the daily guest experience.

What do we need from you?

• Experience and a successful track record of managing at HOD level within a hotel or hospitality venue, experience within a major global brand is preferred.
• Strong leadership skills: Our Operations Managers are strong leaders with the ability to motivate and manage our hotel team with extensive experience in creating and implementing strategies that drive success.
• Extensive experience of working within a structured team environment and able to demonstrate effective influencing skills.
• Highly commercially driven, thinking like a customer but always acting like an owner.
• Highly motivated and enthusiastic and good team player.
• Experience managing a busy team to improve their performance through coaching and feedback, and create performance and development goals for colleagues, recognising good performance.

Most importantly, to be successful in this role, you will be passionate about providing an exceptional guest experience and living through our brand standards.

At Aimbridge, we recognise that people are the heart of our business. As a Global leader, we are committed to representing our global community and offering everyone 'A Place to Grow'

So, click apply today, we'd love to welcome you to our inclusive team shaping the future of hospitality.

Mercure Bedford Centre Hotel
Mercure Bedford Centre Hotel, 2 St Mary's Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 0AR

• Job Ref: INT23953
• Branch: Mercure Bedford Centre Hotel
• Location: Bedford
• Salary/Benefits: Highly competitive salary with uncapped incentives, including worldwide hotel discounts
• Contract type: Permanent
• Hours: Full Time
• Hours per week: Full Time
• Date posted: 26/09/2025
• Closing date: 02/12/2025

The Mercure Bedford Centre is ideally situated in the heart of the busy market town of Bedford and is ideal for business and leisure guests. Thanks to our prime location, we have great transport links which make getting around by rail or car a breeze. On-site parking is available, and you're within walking distance of Bedford Railway Station. On the bank of the River Great Ouse, our restaurant and bar offers beautiful panoramic views over the river and surrounding area.

We're close to the M1 and just a mile off the A6, so you'll have easy access to local attractions like the Higgins Museum, Silverstone Circuit race track, John Bunyan Museum, Bedford Park and Woburn Safari Park. We have seven air-conditioned meeting rooms fully equipped with modern technology. They're perfect for business conferences or celebratory occasions, accommodating up to 450 guests.

Our hotel is conveniently located to London Luton Airport, London Stansted Airport and London Heathrow Airport for international and domestic guests travelling by plane. Milton Keynes, Cambridge and Central London are all within reach too.