Regional Director, Hotel Openings, Premium Brands

Role Purpose

Responsible for opening a portfolio of Managed and Owned hotels across the Americas Region, including all IHG brands; this role ensures the efficient and timely opening of all Hotels in the Americas Pipeline including the implementation of global best practices. Directs and project manages the cross functional opening team in all activities on each hotel; manages relationships with Owners, Developers, Consultants, Hotel Services, Asset Managers, Pre-opening Teams and Operations to ensure the success of IHG hotels in Americas. The role also ensures compliance with quality and operational standards upon opening, as well as ensuring the effective implementation of the Sales & Marketing ramp-up plans to drive excellent revenue performance directly upon opening.

Key Accountabilities

• Opening Hotels – Project manages and directs the pre-opening activities of a portfolio of managed hotels in Americas; manages the input of functional heads in the pre-opening team throughout the process, including Technical Services, CMH Operations, Development, TAM, Franchise Administration, Distribution Marketing, Global Sales, etc. as well as the locally based teams. Manages the hotel through the pipeline, from the signing to the opening of the hotel. Sets the opening dates with respective owners, in partnership with Technical Services. Drives/Delivers Hotel Opening Training for Owner, then GM and HODs. Conducts site visits to all projects to track, monitor and report on progress back to NHOP Director. Project manages the whole team on the opening programme throughout the process. Works with the new hotel and corporate functional teams to set new hotel up for HeartBeat, QES, ES and Mystery Shoppers, etc. Conducts pre-opening inspection, with input from Technical Services and Risk Management and authorizes the hotel to open to the system and take paying guests. Ensures all Global Sales and Marketing ‘Ramp-Up’ tools and systems are accurate and live as appropriate to maximize initial revenues.
• Operations Best Practice – Partners with the Director, Hotel Opening Americas, by rolling out Operational Best Practice in all new hotel openings and to Ops team; inducts new hotel GM.
• Relationships - Engages with and manages the communication activities and progress to Owners, COO’s, DOO’s and GM’s throughout the process; directs a team of internal and external members, without formal hierarchical authority. Communicates and updates project team with changes in brand standards and keeps them informed on progress. Conducts post-project reviews with internal and external team members for best practice learnings and builds them back into the NHOP process for continuous improvement.
• Performance & Delivery – Develop and deliver the Americas NHOP plan through effective project management and partnerships, supported by strong management information, all aimed at driving an agreed number of annual hotel openings and initial revenue performance (ramp-up). 

Key Skills & Experiences

Education Qualifications –

• Bachelor Degree in Hotel, Business or equivalent preferred

Experience –

• 10 years’ hotel management operations experience
• 3-5 years’ hotel opening experience or similar
• Experience of managing teams, preferably cross-functional/discipline teams as well as with and without direct hierarchical authority (i.e. external teams or teams from other functions with no direct line management authority)
• Project management experience in a matrix organization overseeing multiple business units.
• Previously worked within an international or global organization

Required Skills –

• Project management and delivery
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent inter-personal skills, with strong negotiation, impact and influence and problem solving skills
• Able to work under pressure and prepared to travel extensively within Europe
• People- and task-oriented

Work Model: This position offers a hybrid setup—4 days in-office for collaboration and connection, and 1 remote day each week