Director of Hospitality Management

Position Summary

Development & Project Leadership

• Lead hospitality development projects from concept through design, construction, pre-opening, and handover.
• Manage the full project development cycle including feasibility studies, business planning, budgeting, design coordination, authority approvals, procurement strategy, and execution oversight.
• Ensure hospitality projects align with company's strategic vision, financial targets, and brand positioning.

Hospitality Strategy

• Develop and implement hospitality development strategies in line with tourism growth objectives.
• Identify opportunities for hotels, branded residences, resorts, waterfront destinations, and mixed-use hospitality developments.
• Conduct market research and benchmarking to assess trends, demand, and competitive positioning.

Operator & Brand Management

• Lead negotiations and coordination with international hotel operators, hospitality brands, and consultants.
• Oversee operator selection processes, management agreements, technical services agreements, and branding strategies.
• Ensure operator requirements are integrated efficiently into project design and development plans.

Financial & Commercial Oversight

• Review and evaluate project feasibility studies, development appraisals, and investment models.
• Monitor project budgets, timelines, risks, and commercial performance.
• Collaborate with finance, asset management, sales, and investment teams to maximize project value and ROI.

Design & Technical Coordination

• Oversee master planning, architectural design, and hospitality concept development.
• Coordinate with consultants, contractors, operators, and internal stakeholders to ensure project quality and compliance.
• Ensure projects meet luxury hospitality standards, operational efficiency, and guest experience expectations.

Stakeholder Management

• Liaise with government authorities, tourism entities, consultants, investors, and joint venture partners.
• Present project updates and strategic recommendations to executive leadership and board members.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key hospitality industry stakeholders.

Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor development teams and external consultants.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, innovation, and delivery excellence.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture.
• Master’s Degree or MBA is preferred.
• Minimum 12–15 years of experience in real estate development, with significant exposure to hospitality developments within the UAE/GCC.
• Proven track record delivering hospitality projects such as hotels, resorts, branded residences, or mixed-use destinations.
• Strong understanding of hospitality operations, hotel management agreements, and development economics.
• Experience working with international hotel operators and luxury hospitality brands is essential.