The Regional Director – Conversions, Essentials and Suites
leads a team responsible for hotel renovation and conversion projects
from assessment through completion. This role provides strategic oversight,
people leadership, technical direction, and escalation support to ensure
properties meet PIP requirements, brand standards, life safety, ADA,
and franchise agreement obligations. The Regional Director (RD) partners closely
with owners, franchisees, design professionals, contractors, and internal
stakeholders to drive project health, resolve complex issues, support successful
openings, and protect the quality and consistency of the IHG guest
experience.
Location – Atlanta, GA: Our hybrid work structure is
an expectation of three (3) days a week in office. This expectation may
be adjusted to evolve with the changing needs of the business; OR
Remote: **candidate must reside in a major city in
the US and must be within 1 hour proximity to a major
US airport**
Travel – 10-15%
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Responsibilities include leading and overseeing the team
accountable for on-site PIP renovation and conversion design and construction
activities to ensure compliance with franchise License Agreements, associated
PIP requirements, Plan Review and FF&E submittals, brand standards, life
safety, ADA, and applicable code requirements. The RD provides direction,
coaching, technical guidance, and decision support to Renovation Managers
as they assist IHG franchisees and their assigned design teams through all
phases of PIP projects, including resolving complex design or construction field
conditions, managing escalations, and ensuring timely and successful completion
of projects while promoting Great Hotels Guests Love.
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Your day to day
style="list-style-type: disc;">
PIP Projects –
Lead a team conducting PIP site visits and product assessments for existing
and conversion hotels pursuing IHG franchise agreements.
Ensure consistent use of brand Master Plan PIP strategies, thorough evaluation
of architecture, design, condition, life safety, and code compliance,
and development of clear PIP documentation outlining renovation requirements.
Oversee onsite design and scope alignment, support complex strategies,
and monitor renovations over 12–24 months to ensure adherence to PIP standards,
approved plans, brand requirements, codes,
and timelines.Conversion
projects – Oversee team execution of conversion project progress visits
as hotels prepare to enter the IHG system in conjunction with the New Hotel
Opening Program (NHOP). Ensure Renovation Managers use Plan Review documents,
correspondence, and field observations to set project expectations, evaluate
readiness, resolve field issues, and confirm conformance to PIP and Plan
requirements, brand and life safety standards, building codes, and ADA. Provide
escalation support on complex ownership, scope, schedule, or compliance
matters.Manage
and monitor the team’s assigned travel budget, ensuring travel is aligned
to project priorities, business need, cost controls, and timely expense
reconciliation.Lead proactive
engagement with the mid-scale Development team and ownership prior to Franchise
Approval Committee (FAC) review to address scope of work, design issues,
renovation timelines, and project risk. Guide the team in improving success
rates for FAC approval and License execution for new build and PIP conversion
projects.Serve as
the primary escalation point for franchisee and owner PIP waiver requests,
timeline extension requests, and complex compliance matters.
Provide guidance to the team on negotiating PIP issues, finalizing scope
and timelines, determining project risk, and recommending appropriate
enforcement actions, including when projects should be escalated for PIP default
consideration. Develop viable strategies, where possible, to move hotels through
the PIP process in a timely and compliant manner.
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Ensure construction and renovation milestones
are proactively monitored across the team’s portfolio and that relevant
information is communicated to NHOP, Plan Review, Quality, HPS, Development,
and other cross-functional partners to support openings, enforcement,
and project recovery.Consult
with franchisees, design professionals and hotel owners to assist in
the development of construction schedules for Property Improvement Plan (PIP)
hotel projects. Review site plans to ensure compliance with applicable laws,
company regulations and brand standards, and comment on required changes
or improvements to such plans.
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Lead portfolio management across assigned territories
by evaluating project health, tracking field activity, reviewing team reporting,
and preparing written summaries or leadership updates as needed. Ensure
the digital library and PIP Tracking systems are maintained for accuracy,
completeness, and consistency across assigned
projects.Lead or assign
special projects that support department objectives, process improvement,
reporting accuracy, brand initiatives, or operational
efficiency.Establish
expectations for timely, accurate written follow-up associated with site visits,
project communications, owner agreements, and License Agreement documentation.
Review and coach team members on reports, letters, and emails to ensure clarity,
consistency, appropriate documentation, and alignment with business
requirements.Owner Relations –
Lead the team in developing effective franchisee and owner relationships while
maintaining clear accountability for PIP, design, construction, and compliance
requirements.
Support team members in addressing complex waiver requests, design challenges,
construction issues, and ownership escalations. Ensure practical design
solutions are offered within reason and that recommendations for external design
professionals are appropriate and aligned with project
needs.
style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Portfolio and project size – Oversee
a portfolio of PIP projects typically ranging from $500,000 to $5M+
and involving 60 to 400 room hotels, as well as new development projects
typically ranging from $5M to $30M. Ensure team members effectively manage
project risk, owner expectations, compliance requirements, and timely completion
across varying project complexity and scale.
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What we need from you
style="list-style-type: disc;">
Bachelor's Degree
in Architecture, Design, Construction Management, Business, Hospitality, or
a relevant field of work, or an equivalent combination of education
and work-related experience. NCIDQ, AIA, ASID, PMP, or relevant
leadership/project management certifications preferred. CAD training
and familiarity with CAD systems also preferred.
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">7 to 10+ years progressive work-related experience
in design, architecture, construction, renovation, hospitality, or a related
field, including demonstrated technical proficiency and prior experience leading
people, teams, projects, or complex cross-functional initiatives.
Previous hotel industry experience strongly preferred. Strong project,
portfolio, and stakeholder management skills
required.Demonstrate
leadership and portfolio management experience in organizing, planning,
prioritizing, and executing complex, large-scale renovation and conversion
projects through direct reports and cross-functional
partners.Demonstrate
strong communication skills to influence stakeholders, convey program details,
present analysis, negotiate, resolve issues, and coach team members. Effectively
collaborate with PCs, architects, designers, contractors, and internal partners
to clarify requirements and resolve project
challenges.Demonstrate
strong knowledge of brand standards and a full understanding of the differences
across brand requirements. Demonstrate a clear understanding of ADA requirements
and Company Life Safety Requirements, with the ability to guide team
interpretation, ensure consistent application, and maintain a working knowledge
of all requirements described in each brand standards
manual.Demonstrate
ability to read blueprints including architectural, mechanical, plumbing,
sprinkler systems and electrical drawings.
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Must be capable of writing and typing a comprehensive,
technical renovation document (within a specific template) describing
the required PIP scope of work that will become part of a franchisee’s License
Agreement. Demonstrate
ability to effectively prioritize team workload, project details, travel needs,
and business-critical escalations while monitoring active renovation,
conversion, and new development properties. Must ensure timely responsiveness
to franchisees, owners, and internal stakeholders when issues arise regarding
project development, brand standards, vendor-related concerns, compliance,
or enforcement.Demonstrate
knowledge of national building codes, ADA requirements and Life Safety codes.
Travel – 10-15%
style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Location – Atlanta, GA: Our hybrid work
structure is an expectation of three (3) days a week in office.
This expectation may be adjusted to evolve with the changing needs of
the business; OR Remote: **candidate must reside
in a major city in the US and must be within 1 hour proximity to a major
US airport**
#LI-YM1
