Director, Brand Portfolio – Greater China Design Hotels

Minimum required Qualifications Degree / Experience · 10+ years of experience in business development, commercial, brand partnerships or owner relations in travel, hospitality or interior design sectors · Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Hospitality or related field · Fluent and effectively bilingual in English and Chinese (spoken and written) · Strong market knowledge of Greater China boutique and independent hotel sectors Specific Knowledge / Skills & Competencies Portfolio and Business Development · Formulating, implementing and driving a market specific strategy to create value through the pursuit of new projects, a strong proactive disposition required · Excellent knowledge of the Greater China hospitality markets and its key players in the different subregions and countries within the boutique and independent hotel market · Understanding of Brand Equity and well-versed in both, the creative and commercial side of a business organization · Strong business acumen and deep hotel commercial and distribution knowledge · In-depth understanding of the regional business landscape in travel / hospitality · Established rolodex of architects, designers, independent hotel developers and operators Competencies · Creative, design-oriented, culturally aware, understanding of local and global aesthetics, aware of key trends / at the pulse of the time · Excellent communication and presentation skills, strong ability to adjust to various audiences - corporate environment and creatives, independently minded individuals · High performing, collaborative solution provider and proactive decision maker · Strong negotiation skills and acute commercial acumen · Strong interpersonal skills, empathetic, enthusiastic, collaborator, excels in building new relationships and instilling trust Other skills and prerequisites · Fluent in spoken and written Chinese and English. · Additional language skills will be a plus. · Strong presentation skills · Willing to travel as needed up to 40-60% Business Understanding · Passion for Design Hotels’ ethos and a solid understanding of the business · Knowledge of the independent hotels landscape in Asia and especially in Greater China. · In-depth understanding of Hotel commercials and distribution Areas of responsibility Strategy · Develop a strategic plan to increase Design Hotels overall portfolio and presence across Greater China. Portfolio Development & Growth · Lead and execute market-specific strategies for portfolio expansion · Build strong pipeline and leads of qualified on-brand hotels through active sourcing, networking, site inspections, and brand-fit assessments · Conduct brand fit assessment for new potential members in alignment with Design Hotels Global Brand Portfolio strategy. This includes: collecting and reviewing relevant hotel information, exchange with owners and representatives, pitching Design Hotels value proposition, preparing tailored presentations, creating case studies · Review membership applications, evaluate the potential for Design Hotels and approve together with responsible teams · Engage prospective on-brand hotels and identify their needs, opportunities, and goals to connect them with our value proposition and services · Demonstrate a solution driven approach to the overall development process · Collaborate closely and partner with Marriott International Greater China Development Team and Legal Team to support overall deal signing and execution Partnerships & Engagement · Establish strong relationships and grow network of hotel owners, developers, architects, interior designers and industry stakeholders · Act as a trusted brand advisor and ambassador for Design Hotels in Greater China Market Expansion & Insights · Identify high-potential growth markets in Greater China and monitor competitor and industry trends · Conduct frequent travel (40–60%) for site visits, existing and potential owner engagement Stakeholder Management · Collaborate closely with Design Hotels APAC team and Global Team · Align with all relevant departments within Design Hotels to ensure smooth workflow and stay updated on new services and developments · Build strong relationships & engagement with the existing and potential Design Hotels owner community · Act as a brand partner and collaborator to Greater China Marriott International Team including Development Team · Ensure transparent pipeline tracking and reporting via CRM