Director of Advisory Services

WATG International; Tustin (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

WATG International is seeking a Director of Advisory Services for the Americas, based in the United States in Tustin, Los Angeles, or Dallas offices. This senior role leads growth, positioning and delivery of the Advisory business across North America, the Caribbean and Latin America.

You will oversee strategic advisory, business development, client leadership and team management across hospitality, tourism, leisure, mixed-use, and destination development sectors.

Qualifications

• Degree in real estate, economics, tourism, hospitality, finance, urban planning, or a related field.
• 12–15+ years of experience in hospitality consulting, tourism advisory, real estate development, or related industry.
• Proven experience in business development, client management, and project leadership.
• Strong understanding of hotel, resort, mixed-use, and destination development economics.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and complex client engagements.
• Advanced financial modelling and analytical skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial awareness and leadership capability.

Responsibilities

• Leads growth and commercial performance of the Advisory practice across the Americas.
• Identifies and secures new business opportunities within hospitality, tourism, leisure, mixed-use, and destination development sectors.
• Develops and maintains senior relationships with developers, investors, operators, tourism authorities, and strategic partners throughout the region.
• Leads proposals, fee negotiations, and client presentations to convert opportunities into secured work.
• Represents the firm at industry conferences, client events, and market-facing activities.
• Oversees the delivery of market studies, feasibility analyses, tourism strategies, operator selection assignments, development programming, and highest and best use studies.
• Provides strategic direction and quality oversight for financial modelling and development appraisals.
• Collaborates with Planning and Design teams to support integrated project opportunities and downstream design work.
• Manages project staffing, financial performance, forecasting, and client communication.
• Recruits, mentors, and develops Advisory team members while fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Contributes to strategic planning, thought leadership, and markets intelligence across the global Advisory platform.

Skills

Business development

Client management

Project leadership

Financial modelling

Analytics

Presentation skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Education

Degree in real estate, economics, tourism, hospitality, finance, urban planning, or a related field

Job description

WATG is the world’s preeminent destination and hospitality design firm. We are employee-owned, home to more than 500 professionals globally, located remotely and in our offices in Atlantic City, California, Dallas, New York, Honolulu, London, Singapore, and Shanghai.

Our approach to design applies a hospitality ethos to the development of all shapes and sizes. From initial feasibility studies to finishing touches, we operate globally as an integrated, multidisciplinary practice. Along with our interior design studio, Wimberly Interiors , we specialize in hospitality, gaming + entertainment, urban + mixed-use, and high-end residential design.

We were founded in Honolulu in 1945, and the spirit of the islands taught us to focus on community strength, self-reliance, and sustainability – which we still prioritize today. We passionately believe that culture and heritage are the roots that lead to long-term resilience. We stay true to our values of designing spaces that respect, protect, and enhance the natural magic of their surroundings while delivering long-term value for our clients and their communities.

WATG is hiring a Director of Advisory Services, based in our Tustin, Los Angeles, or Dallas office.

ROLE

The Director of Advisory Services for the Americas is a senior leadership role responsible for the growth, positioning, and delivery of the Advisory business across North America, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The role combines strategic advisory, business development, client leadership, and team management across hospitality, tourism, leisure, mixed-use, and destination development sectors.

The Director of Advisory Services serves as a trusted advisor to developers, investors, operators, tourism authorities, and institutional stakeholders, providing strategic and commercially grounded advice on development opportunities and investment strategies. In parallel, the role is responsible for expanding the regional Advisory practice, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and supporting the conversion of advisory engagements into broader planning and design opportunities.

The Director of Advisory Services reports to the Global Head of Advisory Services and works closely with regional and global leadership teams across Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Interiors.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leads the growth and commercial performance of the Advisory practice across the Americas
• Identifies and secures new business opportunities within hospitality, tourism, leisure, mixed-use, and destination development sectors
• Develops and maintains senior relationships with developers, investors, operators, tourism authorities, and strategic partners throughout the region
• Leads proposals, fee negotiations, and client presentations to convert opportunities into secured work
• Represents the firm at industry conferences, client events, and market-facing activities
• Oversees the delivery of market studies, feasibility analyses, tourism strategies, operator selection assignments, development programming, and highest and best use studies
• Provides strategic direction and quality oversight for financial modelling and development appraisals
• Collaborates with Planning and Design teams to support integrated project opportunities and downstream design work
• Manages project staffing, financial performance, forecasting, and client communication
• Recruits, mentors, and develops Advisory team members while fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture
• Contributes to strategic planning, thought leadership, and markets intelligence across the global Advisory platform

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in real estate, economics, tourism, hospitality, finance, urban planning, or a related field
• 12–15+ years of experience in hospitality consulting, tourism advisory, real estate development, or a related industry
• Proven experience in business development, client management, and project leadership
• Strong understanding of hotel, resort, mixed-use, and destination development economics
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and complex client engagements
• Advanced financial modelling and analytical skills
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial awareness and leadership capability
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within a collaborative team environment
• Passion for hospitality, tourism, and destination development with a strong awareness of global market trends

WATG is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.