Regional Director, Southern Europe

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Regional Director, Southern Europe

Today Requisition ID: 1569

Who we are:

At Preferred Travel Group, we champion the power of travel to inspire meaningful connections and enrich lives around the world. As a global family of brands and programs representing the finest independent hotels and resorts, we are united by a shared belief in authenticity, collaboration, and the value of independent spirit. Our culture reflects our ideology in action: people first, relationships at the center, and a commitment to creating lasting impact for our partners, our global community, and one another. When you join Preferred, you become part of a purpose-driven organization where ideas are welcomed, growth is encouraged, and your work contributes to shaping the future of travel.

Why this role matters:

We are seeking a commercially driven and relationship-focused Regional Director to lead member engagement, retention, profitability, and local market coordination across Southern Europe. The role serves as the primary regional contact for member hotels, working closely with teams across Preferred Travel Group to strengthen hotel performance through distribution, revenue, sales, marketing, and other managed programs. The Regional Director also provides local market insight, introductions, and coordination support for development opportunities led by the central development team.

Success in this role comes from building trusted relationships with owners and key decision-makers across member hotels, renewing member agreements ahead of schedule, improving hotel and regional profitability, and coordinating effectively with the central development team on agreed regional priorities. Success also requires disciplined follow-through, timely reporting, effective cross-functional collaboration, and clear progress against annual regional SMART goals.

What you’ll deliver:

• Serve as the first point of contact for member hotels, maintaining regular engagement through visits, calls, regional meetings, and product training. For agreed prospective hotel opportunities, act as the local coordination point in support of the central development team.
• Lead member retention by conducting scheduled partnership reviews, providing responsive support, and renewing contracts well ahead of expiry dates.
• Drive hotel and regional profitability through GDS, internet, revenue management, and other Preferred Travel Group channels and revenue sources.
• Coordinate with revenue, domestic and global sales, marketing, and accounting teams to deliver effective support and programs for regional hotels.
• Oversee regional accounts receivable, with support from the central accounting team, and provide timely scheduled and ad hoc reporting.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with owners, decision-makers, and influencers across member hotels to strengthen engagement, retention, and long-term value.
• Support development opportunities led by the central development team by providing local market insight, relevant introductions, and regional coordination, and report progress against agreed regional priorities and SMART goals.

What would make you stand out:

• Established relationships and credibility with hotel owners, operators, and industry decision-makers across Southern Europe.
• A demonstrable record of retaining and growing high-value hotel partnerships while delivering regional revenue and profit targets.
• A third European language and experience working successfully across global markets and cultures.
• Deep knowledge of independent luxury hospitality, hotel commercial models, and the priorities of hotel owners and operators.
• A proactive, high-energy approach with the judgment to turn market insight and trusted local relationships into effective coordination and support for regional priorities.

What you’ll bring to the team:

• Degree in business, marketing, hospitality, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Demonstrated success in travel-industry commercial, account management, sales, or marketing experience, with a strong track record of developing customer relationships and delivering results-oriented programs.
• Fluency in written and spoken Italian and English.
• Strong experience managing budgets and profit-and-loss accounts.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication, influencing, and persuasion skills.
• Strong analytical and strategic-thinking skills, combined with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and translate insight into action.
• Strong knowledge of electronic distribution channels and proficienc