Business Development Manager

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

Benefits offered by this job

Company car

Healthcare fund

Meal vouchers

Employee discounts

Corporate welfare programme

Job summary

ADLER Spa Resorts & Retreats in Bolzano seeks an experienced Head of Business Development to shape the future of the hotel group, develop brands, and drive expansion in Italy and Europe with the owning family.

The role offers significant autonomy, responsibility, and the chance to create new hotel concepts from the ground up, collaborating with management and external specialists.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in real estate and project development with hospitality focus.
• Strong understanding of hotel operations and key financial success factors.
• Excellent negotiation skills and ability to build long-term partnerships.
• Entrepreneurial, independent, and results-oriented approach.
• Willingness to travel extensively within Italy and Europe.
• Excellent written and spoken Italian and English.

Responsibilities

• Preparing analyses of relevant hotel and real estate markets and identifying opportunities in Italy and other European countries.
• Supporting the development of hotel concepts and brand positioning with the owning family.
• Actively sourcing investment properties and maintaining contacts with owners, agents, and partners.
• Coordinating preliminary financial and technical project assessments and due diligence.
• Preparing analyses to support decisions and assisting in negotiations with sellers and partners.
• Supporting acquired projects through development to opening in close collaboration with the owning family and management team.

Skills

Real estate development

Hospitality operations understanding

Negotiation skills

Entrepreneurial mindset

Independent and results-oriented

Travel willingness (Italy/Europe)

Fluent Italian and English

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.

• 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.