Manager, Strategic Market Planning - (Hybrid/Atlanta)

IHG•Atlanta, GA

5d•$83,000 - $97,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Strategic Market Planning manages and performs strategic analysis of complex markets to assess the desirability of locations in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico, and to determine the value of new or converted franchise hotels to the existing franchise system. The role provides strategic analysis and support on complex strategic and operational questions across functions including development, brand strategy, and franchise operations. It supports key decision-making processes, including the Franchise Approval Committee, and maintains a regional view of system size and pipeline to identify actions needed to meet IHG's system growth ambition. The position also provides financial, analytical, and business-planning support and advice to an assigned business unit. Day-to-day work includes developing and interpreting quantitative analyses for Franchise Sales and Development and Americas Finance; assessing market performance drivers and identifying target locations for mainstream, upscale, and new-brand hotels; creating reports and processes to track performance against targets; and translating complex analysis into clear market insights for field sales teams. The role manages strategic reports used by senior management, including the CEO and regional operating committee members, and conducts market analyses of consumer, economic, demographic, and competitive trends. It also conducts independent market fieldwork to assess proposed hotel viability, builds and maintains data systems supporting the Market Strategy approach, tracks system size, pipeline, development revenue streams, and royalty projections, and reviews proposed hotel projects as part of IHG's internal review process. The position is based in Atlanta, Georgia, under a hybrid work structure with an expectation of three days per week in the office. Travel is 15–25%.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Strategy, Finance, Statistics, or a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience.
At least 3 years of progressive work experience in strategy, consultancy, or finance, with demonstrated technical and business knowledge and the ability to address complex strategic issues.
Demonstrated project management experience planning and executing complex analytical projects and processes from conception through implementation.
Ability to analyze markets, performance data, and complex business issues to draw insights and conclusions.
Demonstrated financial modeling and analysis skills, including DCF, NPV, accounting, statistics, and basic financial principles.
Ability to assess internal and external economic and financial issues, analyze data, and forecast future business trends in support of strategic market and business planning.
Effective verbal and written communication skills for providing information to clients, vendors, senior management, and staff.
Ability to communicate and present data and analysis persuasively or effectively negotiate a position.
Advanced-level knowledge of economic conditions, industry trends, financial statements, and other issues affecting potential franchise transactions, with the ability to analyze these factors and draw logical conclusions.
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills to explain analyses, recommendations, and decisions to the Director, Market Strategy & Development Analytics, the development/franchise sales organization, and senior management.
Financial and business analysis skills, including the ability to analyze operating, forecast, and budget information and use the results to make effective strategic decisions.

Nice To Haves

Previous work experience in the hotel industry, market planning, or real estate development.

Responsibilities

Conduct strategic analyses, including developing, data mining, and interpreting quantitative analysis for Franchise Sales and Development and Americas Finance.
Analyze market performance drivers and identify target locations for the Company's mainstream, upscale, or new-brand hotels.
Develop reports and processes to track performance against targets over time.
Communicate market insights to the field sales team by translating complex analyses into clear, understandable information.
Support the development and ongoing improvement of COMPASS model builds and the tool.
Develop and manage strategic reports used by senior management, including reports for the CEO and regional operating committee members.
Analyze current and future consumer, economic, demographic, and competitive trends in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico.
Conduct market fieldwork independently to establish the viability or feasibility of proposed IHG-branded hotels.
Build and maintain data and systems supporting the Market Strategy approach, including Compass, Tableau, Business Objects, and Access databases.
Maintain and track the Americas region's system size, pipeline, development revenue streams, and royalty projections to support alignment with IHG's system growth ambition.
Review proposed hotel projects for location attributes, notification to existing owners, and recommendations as part of IHG's internal review process.
Provide financial, analytical, and business-planning support and advice to the assigned business unit.