General Manager

Location: The NICI New Forest, Hampshire

Full-time | Permanent

THE NICI Collection is a luxury lifestyle hotel group inspired by some of the world’s most iconic destinations, bringing exceptional hospitality, outstanding food and drink, and unforgettable guest experiences to some of the UK’s most desirable locations.

What began with THE NICI Bournemouth, our original flagship hotel inspired by Miami’s South Beach, has grown into an exciting collection of destination-led properties. In June 2026, the collection expanded with the opening of THE NICI Newquay, inspired by Italy’s Amalfi Coast, and THE NICI New Forest, inspired by the luxury and charm of the Hamptons.

And this is just the beginning.

As we continue to grow, we are looking for an experienced and inspiring General Manager to lead THE NICI New Forest and play a key role in the continued development of the property and the wider NICI Collection.

THE ROLE

As General Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the day-to-day operation, performance and development of THE NICI New Forest.

You will lead the hotel’s management team and work across all areas of the operation, including Front Office, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Spa and guest facilities, ensuring the property consistently delivers the high standards of service, experience and personality that guests expect from THE NICI.

This is a highly visible leadership role. We are looking for someone who enjoys being at the heart of the operation, who is comfortable making decisions, solving problems and holding teams accountable, while creating an environment where both guests and colleagues feel valued.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Hotel Operations

• Take overall responsibility for the successful day-to-day running of the property.
• Lead and support all hotel departments, ensuring strong communication and collaboration across the operation.
• Maintain consistently high standards of service, presentation and cleanliness.
• Be highly visible across the hotel and lead by example.
• Identify operational challenges and ensure they are dealt with quickly and effectively.
• Ensure the NICI brand standards and personality are reflected throughout the property.

Guest Experience

• Ensure every guest receives a warm, professional and memorable experience.
• Take ownership of significant guest feedback and complaints, ensuring issues are resolved appropriately.
• Monitor guest reviews and feedback and use this to continually improve the operation.
• Maintain a strong focus on the entire guest journey, from arrival through to departure.
• Ensure the hotel consistently delivers an experience that reflects the quality and positioning of THE NICI brand.

Commercial & Financial Performance

• Take responsibility for the overall financial and commercial performance of the property.
• Work closely with Finance and Revenue teams to achieve budget, revenue and profitability targets.
• Monitor revenue, payroll and departmental costs, ensuring the operation remains commercially focused.
• Identify opportunities to increase revenue across bedrooms, Food & Beverage, spa, events and other hotel facilities.
• Drive performance while maintaining the quality of the guest experience.
• Ensure managers understand their financial responsibilities and are actively managing departmental performance.

People & Leadership

• Lead, motivate and develop the hotel’s management team.
• Create a positive, supportive and accountable working environment.
• Work closely with HR on recruitment, employee relations, performance management and colleague development.
• Identify talent and support succession planning and internal progression.
• Ensure managers are confident and effective leaders within their own departments.
• Build a strong culture that reflects the values and personality of THE NICI.
• Develop a team that is proud of the property and committed to delivering exceptional hospitality.

Standards, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure the hotel operates in line with company policies, legislation and all relevant health and safety requirements.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, presentation and service throughout the property.
• Carry out regular hotel inspections and ensure any issues are followed through to completion.
• Ensure mandatory training, risk assessments and compliance requirements are maintained.
• Create a culture where high standards, safety and accountability are part of everyday operations.

Sales, Marketing & Local Profile

• Work closely with Group Sales and Marketing to maximise commercial opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with local businesses, tourism partners and key stakeholders.
• Represent THE NICI New Forest within the local community and wider hospitality industry.
• Support the continued development of the property’s reputation and profile.
• Identify opportunities to position THE NICI New Forest as a leading destination within the local market.

ABOUT YOU

We are looking for an experienced hotel leader who is:

• An experienced General Manager or senior hotel operator, ideally from a premium or luxury hospitality background.
• Commercially astute, with a strong understanding of hotel financial performance.
• A confident and inspirational people leader who knows how to get the best from their teams.
• Passionate about hospitality and delivering exceptional guest experiences.
• Hands-on, visible and comfortable being at the heart of the operation.
• Highly organised, proactive and solutions-focused.
• A strong communicator who builds excellent relationships with colleagues, guests and stakeholders.
• Able to balance high standards and commercial expectations with a warm and approachable leadership style.
• Excited by the opportunity to help shape the continued growth and success of THE NICI New Forest.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Success in this role will be demonstrated through:

Strong commercial performance, exceptional guest feedback, high operational standards, engaged and developing teams, and the continued growth of THE NICI New Forest as a leading destination within the NICI Collection.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive salary + service charge
• Staff discounts across THE NICI Collection
• Career development opportunities
• Meals on duty
• Ongoing training and support

JOIN THE NICI

This is an exciting opportunity to join THE NICI Collection at an important stage of its growth.

We are building a collection of distinctive, destination-led hotels with a strong focus on exceptional hospitality, great people, outstanding food and drink and memorable guest experiences.

If you are an experienced hotel leader looking for your next challenge and want the opportunity to lead, develop and make your mark on an exciting new property, we would love to hear from you.

THE NICI New Forest

General Manager

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