THE BAMFORD COLLECTION IS A GROUP OF CONSCIOUSLY MINDED LIFESTYLE BRANDS COMMITTED TO NOURISHING AND NURTURING PEOPLE AND PLANET. 

SALARY: £43,000 per annum
HOURS: 45 hours per week, including weekends

ABOUT US
Daylesford Stays' 'The Cottages' is redefining rural hospitality. Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, our collection of beautifully designed cottages blends the warmth of the countryside with the refinement, care, and consistency of a five-star experience. Every stay is personal, every detail considered, and every guest cared for with quiet elegance.

The Cottages represent the next chapter in rural hospitality: a world-class collection of luxury countryside retreats in the heart of the Cotswolds. Every stay combines the warmth and authenticity of a boutique experience with the refinement, consistency, and precision of a five-star hotel.

Our Guest Experience team lies at the heart of this vision, ensuring each stay feels seamless, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in the essence of Daylesford; living natural luxury, genuine care, and an intuitive sense of service.

ABOUT THE ROLE
We are seeking an exceptional Guest Experience Manager to lead the next evolution of our guest journey.

This is a rare opportunity to shape and lead something truly unique, redefining what countryside hospitality can be. You will design, implement, and oversee the full guest journey from first enquiry to post-departure follow-up, ensuring every touchpoint reflects our values of warmth, authenticity, and excellence.

You will build and inspire a dedicated Guest Experience team, creating the operational foundations, service standards, and culture that will define this new department. With an eye for detail and a heart for service, you will blend strategy with presence, thinking big while staying close to the guest.

This role is both hands-on and visionary, ideal for a leader who thrives in creating, refining, and elevating experiences that stay with guests long after they depart.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead, mentor, and grow the Guest Experience team across The Cottages, setting the standard for thoughtful, intuitive, and seamless service
• Map and manage the full guest journey from pre-arrival planning through to post departure engagement
• Ensure every guest experience feels fully serviced, consistent, and personal
• Oversee guest communications, ensuring every touchpoint reflects our tone of warmth, care, and professionalism
• Collaborate closely with Housekeeping, Maintenance, Reservations, and The Wild Rabbit restaurant to ensure a flawless guest experience
• Manage departmental budgets, service KPIs, and quality metrics
• Develop new service procedures, SOPs, and systems to embed excellence and efficiency
• Lead the creation of bespoke itineraries, in-cottage experiences, and concierge style services that bring the Cotswolds to life
• Build strong relationships with guests, anticipating needs and responding promptly to requests or feedback
• Act as the ambassador for Daylesford Stays — representing our brand, values, and standards both internally and externally

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Proven leadership experience in luxury hospitality, ideally within guest relations or front of house management
  
• Deep understanding of five-star service and modern guest journey design
  
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with emotional intelligence and grace under pressure
  
• Strategic thinker with operational rigour — able to design systems and also deliver at ground level
  
• Strong local knowledge of the Cotswolds, with a passion for sharing the best of the region with guests
  
• Naturally warm, approachable, and empathetic, with a commitment to creating memorable, meaningful experiences
  
• Confident managing budgets, staffing, and service performance metrics

PERKS & BENEFITS

• Discounts: We offer a range of discounts on our products, treatments, and dining
  experiences from day 1.
• Volunteering Days: Employees are offered one paid day per year to volunteer with a charity of their choice.
• Private Medical: We offer subsidised private medical insurance through Bupa.
• Pension Scheme: Pay up to 9% of your salary into your pension each month; we contribute up to 4.5%.
• Life Assurance: We offer life assurance cover, equivalent of up to a year of your annual salary.
• Mental Health Support: Our Employee Assistance Programme provides 24-hour support, seven days a week.