Business Development Manager

ADLER Spa Resorts & Retreats; Bolzano; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Company car

Healthcare fund

Meal vouchers

Employee discounts

Corporate welfare programme

Bolzano office in centre

Job summary

ADLER Spa Resorts & Retreats in Bolzano seeks a Head of Business Development to shape expansion, brand positioning, and new hotel concepts across Italy and Europe. You will lead market analyses, identify opportunities, and work closely with the owning family and management team.

The role offers autonomy, diverse projects from concept to opening, and extensive travel within Europe. You should bring proven real estate and hospitality development experience, strong negotiation skills, and fluency

Qualifications

• Proven experience in real estate and hospitality development.
• Strong understanding of hotel operations and financial success factors.
• Knowledge of construction, planning, and building regulations.
• Extensive experience in Italy with knowledge of local permitting processes.
• Entrepreneurial, independent and results-oriented approach.
• Excellent written and spoken Italian and English.

Responsibilities

• Prepare analyses of hotel and real estate markets to identify opportunities in Italy and other European countries.
• Support development of hotel concepts and brand positioning with the owning family.
• Source investment properties and maintain contacts with owners, agents, and partners; conduct site visits.
• Coordinate preliminary financial and technical assessments and regulatory reviews.
• Prepare analyses to support owning family decisions and negotiations with sellers/partners.
• Support projects through development to opening with the owning family, management team and external specialists.

Skills

Real estate development

Hospitality industry knowledge

Negotiation skills

Italian language

English language

Entrepreneurial mindset

Willingness to travel

Job description

ADLER Spa Resorts & Retreats is a family-owned hotel group that develops high-quality hotel concepts and properties with entrepreneurial foresight and successfully operates them under the ADLER and AKI brands. Set in some of Italy’s most beautiful natural and cultural landscapes, our resorts and retreats combine sophisticated architecture, distinctive spa and nature experiences, and personal hospitality. In doing so, we create places with unique characters and support the long-term development of our group.

For ADLER Hotels, we are looking for an experienced professional with an entrepreneurial mindset to take on the role of Head of Business Development and actively contribute to the continued development of our hotel group.

In this key role, you will shape the future of our group together with the owning family: you will further develop existing brands, contribute to the creation and positioning of new brands, and drive our expansion in Italy and other European markets.

Your benefits

• A key position with considerable scope to shape the business and a high degree of autonomy and responsibility within a growing hotel group.
• The opportunity to help develop new hotel concepts and brands from the outset and position them in the market.
• A varied role covering the entire development process, from the initial idea to the hotel opening.
• Flat hierarchies, short decision-making paths, and direct interaction with the owning family and the entire management team.
• Attractive remuneration, a company car, and numerous ADLER benefits, including a corporate welfare programme, a healthcare fund, meal vouchers, and employee discounts at ADLER Spa Resorts & Retreats.
• A modern working environment in our offices in the centre of Bolzano.

Your responsibilities

• Preparing analyses of relevant hotel and real estate markets and identifying suitable locations and development opportunities in Italy and other European countries.
• Supporting the development of hotel concepts and brand positioning, and contributing to the definition of suitable property search and investment criteria together with the owning family.
• Actively sourcing suitable investment properties, building and maintaining contacts with owners, agents, and local partners, and conducting regular site visits in coordination with the owning family.
• Coordinating preliminary financial and technical project assessments, construction feasibility assessments, planning and building regulation reviews, permitting enquiries, and due diligence.
• Preparing analyses to support the owning family’s decisions, and helping to prepare for and participate in discussions and negotiations with sellers and project partners.
• Supporting acquired projects through the development and implementation phases to opening, in close collaboration with the owning family, the management team, and external specialists.

Your profile

• Proven experience in real estate and project development with a focus on hospitality, together with a sound understanding of hotel operations and their key financial success factors.
• A good understanding of construction, planning, and building regulations, with the ability to assess the feasibility and development potential of properties and coordinate detailed reviews with specialists.
• Substantial professional experience in Italy, a good knowledge of local administrative and permitting processes, and confidence in working with architects, engineers, technical consultants, and public authorities.
• An entrepreneurial, independent, and results-oriented approach, with the ability to identify opportunities proactively and advance projects to the point where an informed investment decision can be made.
• Strong negotiation skills, a confident professional manner, and an interest in building long-term relationships with external partners.
• A high degree of flexibility and willingness to travel extensively within Italy and to other European countries.
• Excellent written and spoken Italian and English.