Director of Development Benelux

The Director of Development – Benelux plays a pivotal role in driving Leonardo Hotels’ expansion strategy across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

This senior role is responsible for identifying, evaluating, structuring, and closing hotel development, conversion, and repositioning opportunities in line with the Group’s growth ambitions. The position requires strong commercial judgement, real estate expertise, financial sophistication, and the ability to build and manage senior-level relationships across a complex, mature hospitality market.

Main tasks

Development & Growth Strategy

• Proactively source new hotel opportunities (existing assets, conversions, repositionings, and new developments) across the Benelux region.

• Focus on urban and high-demand locations aligned with Leonardo Hotels’ target segments: corporate, MICE, leisure, and bleisure.

• Build, manage, and prioritise a robust development pipeline in line with agreed growth targets.

Market Intelligence & Strategic Positioning

• Analyse market fundamentals including demand drivers, RevPAR performance, competitive landscape, pipeline supply, and destination growth trends.

• Identify strategic opportunities in both core cities and high-potential secondary markets.

• Provide regular insights and recommendations to senior leadership on market dynamics and competitive positioning.

• Ensure brand alignment by matching each opportunity to the appropriate Leonardo brand and operational model.

Deal Origination & Execution

• Lead the full deal lifecycle from origination through to contract execution.

• Conduct feasibility studies, including financial modelling, cash flow projections, and return analyses.

• Structure and negotiate commercial terms with property owners, developers, asset managers, and institutional investors.

• Prepare investment memoranda, development proposals, and brand presentations for internal and external stakeholders.

• Oversee and support due diligence processes (technical, legal, financial, and operational).

Relationship Management - Develop and maintain strong relationships with:

• Property owners and developers

• Real estate funds and institutional investors

• Local brokers and advisory firms

• Banking partners and hospitality consultants

• Represent Leonardo Hotels at industry events and networking platforms within the Benelux region.

Internal Coordination & Governance

• Work closely with operations, technical services, finance, legal, and brand teams to ensure feasibility and alignment.

• Present business cases to senior management and support internal approval processes.

• Ensure a smooth transition from signed deal to pre-opening and operational handover, safeguarding brand standards and commercial objectives.

LEONARDO HOTELS BENELUX
A young, fresh, and slightly rebellious hotel chain that does things just a bit differently — that’s Leonardo Hotels. A no‑nonsense approach is what defines us. Leonardo Hotels operates in the Benelux and has 29 hotels. The employees of our Shared Service Office perform tasks related to their discipline for all these hotels. Sales, Marketing, Revenue, Finance, and Human Resources are centralized and work across the Benelux hotels.

A fixed workplace? That’s not how we do things! Employees from these departments regularly visit the various hotels and occasionally work at the Shared Service Office located at Leonardo Hotel Amsterdam Rembrandtpark. No day is the same, making the work dynamic and challenging!