Vice President Development- Hospitality

Over the past two decades, The First Group has forged a reputation as one of the hospitality industry’s leading innovators, providing groundbreaking investment opportunities to clients and partners, while delivering exceptional, memorable experiences to hotel and leisure guests. Our corporate ethos and unique vision for the future of hospitality is encapsulated in our fast-growing portfolio of award-winning hotels and residences, exciting F&B outlets and lifestyle venues, and delivered through our array of complementary third-party hotel and asset management services.

Core to our vision for the future of hospitality is The First Collection, our award-winning hotel brand that reflects the rich culture, innovative spirit, and unparalleled refinement for which Dubai is famous for. The First Collection’s urban lifestyle resorts, situated in prime locations across Dubai, are renowned for their unique blend of world-class hospitality and modern flair, as well as their cutting-edge guest facilities and services, which include exclusive access to the stunning Soluna Restaurants and Beach Club, located on the world-famous Palm Jumeirah.

Every hotel in our fast-growing portfolio reflects our ambition to capture the essence of urban living, blending it seamlessly with the tranquillity of a serene getaway. The First Collection echoes the city’s heartbeat, ensuring all our guests are made to feel a part of the magnificent tapestry of Dubai, the world’s most exciting metropolis.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for identifying and pursuing opportunities to manage hotels owned by individual and institutional owners and family offices in the GCC and MENA, specifically Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman.
• Responsible for securing Hotel Management Agreements (HMAs) to grow TFG Hospitality, The First Collection brand system size, and our F&B brands in the designated countries.
• To promote our F&B brands at every opportunity to owners, institutional investors etc. who own/control properties that may be suitable for our F&B brands.
• In conjunction with the SVPD to negotiate and manage the process through to deal close.  
• Attend Trade Shows and Hospitality Conferences, as required, to promote TFG Hospitality, The First Collection, our F&B brands and other brands that emerge in the years ahead.
• Generating new business opportunities through market research and analysis
• Conduct a comprehensive competitive analysis of benchmark offerings and monitor competitors to adjust development strategy accordingly.
• Identifying new business trends and opportunities that will ensure that our Development presentation to partners and Owners is current and compelling.
• Leverage existing and establish new relationships with key owners in the hospitality industry.
• Manage the ongoing relationship with third-party owners to ensure KPI’s are met, and expectations are surpassed.
• Develop key strategic partnerships with leading hospitality companies, including Hospitality consultants and brokers.

• 15+ years in senior positions in the Hospitality industry, preferably in a commercial role.
• 10+ years of experience in development with a proven track record of successfully negotiating and signing HMAs and/or hotel franchise agreements in the GCC and greater MENA regions.
• Strong network (rolodex) of owners, individual and institutional, and hospitality real state consultants and brokers
• Personable with strong communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to work independently and take initiatives
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Arabic as mother tongue
• Fluent in English
• Fluency in French would be an advantage