Business Development Director

South India

ABOUT KERTEN HOSPITALITY

Kerten Hospitality (KH) is an end-to-end lifestyle hospitality operator creating bespoke destinations, lodging, experiences and communities while optimising operations and driving profitability for savvy investors with a strong commitment to sustainability. KH transforms destinations through impactful partnerships with Lodging, Food & Beverage, Retail, Entertainment, Art and Wellness brands with a focus on building Ecosystems, and unique community-centric destinations, which connect International & local travellers. The Group’s current pipeline of lodging includes projects in numerous countries in the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa region. An expanding development pipeline of more than 55 lodging projects representing over 4,500 keys planned across our international development pipeline.

Our Impact Every destination we develop and every concept we bring to life is driven by purpose and rooted in ESG, locality, sustainability, innovation, meaningful collaborations, that nurture ecosystems supporting community growth, guided by our values of Connection, Curation, Innovation, and Leading the Way.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Location: South India

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the business development strategy for India, driving the growth of the company’s management and franchising portfolio.

• Identify, originate, evaluate, and secure new hotel, resort, branded residence, F&B, and lifestyle development opportunities.

• Lead negotiations of management and franchising agreements, including commercial terms, deal structures, and key contractual principles.

• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with hotel owners, developers, investors, family offices, consultants, and other key decision-makers.

• Develop and manage a strong pipeline of qualified opportunities across priority markets and key growth corridors in India.

• Lead market assessments, feasibility reviews, financial evaluations, and investment analysis to determine the commercial viability of potential projects.

• Develop compelling proposals, investment cases, presentations, and strategic pitches tailored to owners and development partners.

• Represent the company in high-level discussions with owners, investors, developers, governmental entities, and strategic partners.

• Monitor hospitality investment trends, competitor activity, market performance, and emerging destinations to identify new growth opportunities.

• Lead the execution of strategic partnerships, alliances, and market-entry initiatives that support the company’s long-term expansion strategy.

• Collaborate closely with Development, Operations, Finance, Legal, Technical Services, and Brand teams throughout the deal lifecycle.

• Oversee the business development pipeline, forecasts, deal progress, and performance reporting to senior leadership.

• Represent Kerten Hospitality at major industry conferences, investment forums, exhibitions, and networking events.

• Strengthen the positioning and visibility of Kerten Hospitality and its brands among owners, investors, and development partners across India.

• Provide strategic recommendations to executive leadership on market entry, portfolio growth, partnerships, and development priorities.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Hospitality Management, Finance, Real Estate, or a related field; a Master’s degree or MBA is an advantage.

• 12+ years of progressive experience in business development, hotel development, investment, real estate, or hospitality, with significant experience in a senior leadership capacity.

• Strong track record of originating, negotiating, and closing hotel management, franchise, or hospitality development agreements.

• Extensive knowledge of the Indian hospitality and real estate markets, including key owners, developers, investors, and growth markets across tier-1 and tier-2 cities.

• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience in feasibility analysis, deal structuring, investment evaluation, and commercial negotiations.

• Established network within the Indian hospitality, investment, and real estate sectors.

• Excellent negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively at owner, investor, board, and C-suite level.

• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to identify opportunities and translate market insights into actionable growth strategies.

• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder transactions from initial lead generation through negotiation and execution.

• Strong leadership, communication, presentation, and relationship-building capabilities.

• Ability to operate independently, make commercially sound decisions, and represent the company at the highest professional level.

• Fluency in English and Hindi; knowledge of additional regional Indian languages is an advantage.

JOINING OUR TEAM MEANS

• Competitive Compensation: A rewarding package tailored to your experience.

• Career Growth: Opportunities for advancement within our dynamic organisation.

• Inclusive Environment: A vibrant and inclusive workplace that encourages collaboration.

• Shared Purpose: Working with passionate people who live our values every day — connecting, innovating, curating, and leading the way together.

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