Matthew Townley - FIH MI

Group Operations Director

Dakota Hotels

Upon completing his degree in Tourism and Hospitality in 2006, Matt joined the Malmaison group as part of the Graduate Management programme, later transitioning to deputy General Manager positions in both Liverpool and Manchester. Matt has since held a number of Resident and Hotel manager positions at Mottram Hall, Principal York Hotel, and Principal Hotel in Manchester, overseeing extensive refurbishments in all properties. In 2017, Matt joined Dakota Hotels as Opening General Manager in Manchester, one of the city’s most significant openings in recent years, before transitioning to Regional Operations Director. In his most recent role of Group Operations Director, Matt is responsible for delivering exceptional results and is now focussed on positioning the brand for significant growth. Fostering a multi award winning culture, Matt has supported the brand to place 3 consecutive years as one of The Caterer’s Top 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality, as well as mentoring Acorn Award winners and overseeing multiple regional awards across all sectors of the industry. In his personal life, he is also incredibly focussed on charitable works and recently raised over £12,000 for Doddie Aid, a Motor Neurone disease charity in memory of his late father.