Project Director, Opening Services

Choice Hotels International•Minneapolis, MN

About The Position

The Project Director, Openings is responsible for managing a complex multistage onboarding process for a portfolio of New Construction, Conversion and rebranding projects that are entering the Choice Hotels system. This key role is the main point of contact with owners, management companies and/or their representatives from contract execution to opening their hotel. You will act as an advisor to our franchisees and developers throughout every stage of the opening process, ensuring construction completion, compliance with brand standards and product design, adherence to scheduled opening dates, and achievement of key milestones. By fulfilling these responsibilities, you will help ensure successful openings and contribute to the company’s strategic brand growth objectives.

Requirements

5+ years of relevant experience, including extensive hotel operations
Bachelors degree or equivalent years of experience
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Ability to multitask and manage high stress complexities associated with project management and opening requirements
Must have strong customer service, training, consultation, and negotiating skills
Demonstrate proficiency in use and coaching of proprietary and industry technologies.
Possess significant property and/or above-property-level hotel operations and sales/marketing experience.
Proficient in Microsoft Office, Salesforce, Project Management tools
Ability to utilize AI tools
Consultative approach with holistic business view
Self-starter
Requires excellent written and verbal communication skills
Able to uphold Choice’s Values & Performance Principles of collaboration, performance excellence, sense of urgency, openness to new ideas, inclusion & diversity, integrity, customer focus, and respect.
Demonstrate Choice’s Values: Be Bold, Be Quick, Listen, Be curious, Show integrity
High level of travel is required

Nice To Haves

Multi property experience a plus

Responsibilities

Deliver new hotel openings with project management, training, operational development, milestone tracking, and single-point-of-contact service.
Perform onsite/virtual consultation throughout the various stages of the opening process.
Oversee the hotel onboarding progress to ensure compliance with brand standards, design requirements, Rules & Regulations, and enforce the Property Improvement Plan (PIP) as needed.
Guide owners using a range of onboarding tools, including the openings portal and Choice Connect, which offers helpful resources throughout the onboarding process.
Manage the hotel data migration into Choice’s PROP-EL tool for accurate distribution on Choice channels and third-party sites.
Enforce and monitor our franchisees to use Choice approved vendors and services during the purchasing stages prior to opening.
Oversee and track hotel consultations and openings to ensure brand design and PIP/new construction compliance, monitor PIP completion for timely conversion property openings, and serve as liaison between owners and CHI Architecture and Design on new construction or conversion requirements.
Aide owners on opening obstacles, sourcing issues, and provide expedited solutions to avoid delays in opening.
Implement pre-opening training programs by Choice so that both owners and hotel managers are familiar with Choice’s operational procedures.
Communicate to compliance committee if an opening needs an extension or a project is not moving forward.

Benefits

Competitive compensation and benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage
Leave and paid time-off for holidays, vacation, personal, family, volunteer, sick, jury duty, bereavement, military, and religious observance
Financial benefits for retirement and health savings
Employee recognition programs
Discounts at Choice hotels worldwide

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