Business Development Manager (Pre-Opening) in Melbourne, Australia

Business Development Manager (Pre-Opening) – Hotel Indigo Little Collins and Holiday Inn Bourke Street

Nestled in the heart of Melbourne’s vibrant CBD, an exciting new holiday destination is coming to life – enter the boutique charm of Hotel Indigo and the modern comfort of Holiday Inn, offering a unique blend of hospitality experiences across 452 rooms. One of Melbourne’s most iconic CBD arcades is fast transforming, with the redevelopment of “Melbourne Walk” Arcade set to see IHGs first Australian dual-branded hotel project, opening in 2025.

Open the door into Hotel Indigo and guests can expect local character, modern design and warm, professional service with a vibrant and individual flavour, bringing the edgy laneway neighbourhood of Little Collins Street to life. Making the most of the retail haven, Holiday Inn will offer a modern, fresh and friendly stay for a wide variety of guests coming to enjoy the convenience and value they know and love from Holiday Inn, and all that Bourke Street Mall has to offer.

To bring the authentic Hotel Indigo and Holiday Inn experiences to life, we are looking for an innovative and passionate Business Development Manager (BDM). This role is vital in laying the groundwork in developing effective sales and marketing strategies, building relationships with key stakeholders, and ensuring that the hotel is positioned competitively in the market, setting the stage for success from opening day and beyond.

A little taste of your day-to-day

Every day is different, but as part of the pre-opening team, you will play a key role in ensuring this new hotel is ready to welcome its first guests, including:

• Supporting the Director of Sales & Marketing with market research to identify target markets, competitor analysis, and understanding the local business environment.

• Supporting in the creation and development of sales and marketing strategies tailored to the target market segments including developing pricing strategies, promotional campaigns, and sales tactics to attract customers.

• Creating and implementing sales plans that drive measurable incremental occupancy, increase average rates, increase volume, food and beverage sales. 

• Establishing and maintaining relationships with potential clients, corporate partners, event planners, and local businesses through networking and attending industry events to promote the hotel and generate leads.

• Creating sales collateral such as brochures, presentations, and promotional materials to showcase the hotel’s amenities, services, and unique selling points.

• Assisting in the recruitment and training of the sales and marketing team. This may involve conducting interviews, providing training on sales techniques, and ensuring that the team is equipped to effectively promote the hotel.

• Driving the performance and development of the sales and marketing team, and responsible for the leadership of direct reports.

• Identifying and negotiating partnerships with relevant organizations, such as airlines, tour operators, and travel agencies, to drive bookings and increase brand visibility.

• Organising pre-opening events such as media launches, familiarization tours, and networking events to generate buzz and create awareness about the hotel among key stakeholders.

• Building and maintaining a database of potential clients, leads, and contacts for targeted marketing campaigns and sales efforts.

• Hitting all personal and team sales goals to help us maximise profitability.

• Producing and reviewing monthly reports to monitor performance.

What we need from you

• Bachelor’s degree / higher education qualification / equivalent in marketing or related field 

• Four or more years of experience in a hospitality or hotel sales and marketing setting with direct supervisory experience over a sales team

• Strong knowledge of local businesses and business trends required 

• Full working rights in Australia without restrictions

What you can expect from us

Not only will you benefit from a truly unique and career-defining opportunity as part of this exciting hotel opening, working with a talented and experienced General Manager and Commercial team, but you’ll receive a competitive salary that rewards all your hard work and a wide range of benefits designed to help you live your best work life – including, impressive room discounts and some of the best training in the business.

Most importantly, your career journey will be supported through our lifelong development programs, IHG career milestone celebrations, and transfer of leave entitlements as you move and grow with IHG.

Our mission is to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams where we celebrate differences and encourage colleagues to bring their whole selves to work. IHG Hotels & Resorts provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. We promote a culture of trust, support, and acceptance. Always welcoming different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

So, join us and you’ll become part of our ever-growing global family.

Don’t quite meet every single requirement, but still believe you’d be a great fit for the job? We’ll never know unless you hit the ‘Apply’ button. Start your journey with us today.

Don’t quite meet every single requirement, but still believe you’d be a great fit for the job? We’ll never know unless you hit the ‘Apply’ button. Start your journey with us today.

At IHG Hotels & Resorts, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We firmly believe that all our colleagues deserve to be treated equally and have the same opportunities to develop and grow their skills within our business and provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and colleagues without regard to an individual’s, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or familial status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.