Regional Director, Construction & Openings

**1.** **KEY RESPONSIBILITIES** Job Summary – Responsible for the construction and opening of Essentials & Suites branded hotels across the MLAC Region; this role ensures the efficient and timely opening of hotels in the Americas Pipeline including the implementation of global best practices. Serves as a recognized architectural and construction expert for New Development hotels within the region. Provides construction progress updates by assessing 360 degree photo captures of project sites, combined with onsite visits, to measure construction pace and ensure projects are built to brand standards. Simultaneously serves as owner’s main point of contact after license execution. Conducts regular touchpoints to ensure ground break and opening milestones are achieved. Directs, deploys and project manages the cross functional opening support teams. 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.**Essential Duties and Responsibilities –** ***(Key Activities)*** - **Construction Assessment** – Responsibilities include conducting on-site and virtual / desktop New Development design and construction activities to ensure compliance with brand design initiatives, Franchise License Agreement, Plan Review and FF&E submittals, and brand standards. Provide construction expertise and implementation assistance to IHG franchisees and their assigned project team members through all phases of construction for New Development projects, including solving design / construction issues as project field conditions arise, thus ensuring timely and successful completion of projects. Provide progress evaluation of assigned projects per frequency determined and deployed by NHOP Leadership. - - **Opening Hotels –** Project manages and directs the pre-opening activities of a portfolio of hotels in MLAC region; manages the input of functional heads in the pre-opening team throughout the process, including Development, TAM, Operations Support, Franchise Performance Support, Procurement, PIP, Franchise Administration, Distribution Marketing, Global Sales, Training, 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. Conducts site visits to all projects to track, monitor and report on progress back to NHOP leaders. Project manages the whole team on the opening programme throughout the process. Conducts pre-opening inspection 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 NHOP leadership 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). - **2.** **REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS** **Education Qualifications –** - Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Architecture, or a relevant field of work, or an equivalent combination of…