Director of Housing

Company Description

Informa Markets, a division within Informa, creates global platforms for industries. We organise over 500 large-scale branded and transaction-oriented events in 14 specialist markets. These are typically not-to-be-missed annual events where buyers and sellers build relationships, see and show products and do business.

We also provide year-round online platforms where companies showcase their businesses and products and buyers conduct research, generating valuable leads, and we provide data and digital content that supports the flow of knowledge and transactions in markets.

Job Description

This role is based in Dubai, Dubai Informa Office, Level 6, The Offices 4. One Central, Dubai World Trade Center and requires you to be in the office 3 days a week.

The Director of Housing for Informa Markets & Informa Connect IMEA leads strategic hotel contracting and accommodation solutions across India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey for Informa's exhibitions and conferences. This executive role manages critical partnerships with hotels (individual properties and chains), technology providers and DMCs while overseeing the promotion, sale, reservations and on ground execution to deliver exceptional products to exhibitors, sales agents, visitors, and guests.

Working collaboratively with event marketing, sales, and customer support teams, the Director of Housing and her/his team will help create a comprehensive promotion, sales, and delivery of travel offerings for each event. A fundamental strategic objective involves driving seamless integration of housing products into Informa's broader Marketing and Sales operations, enhancing both organizational efficiency and customer experience over time.

Beyond core accommodation excellence, the Director of Housing and the team champion strategic expansion opportunities through rigorous market analysis, customer feedback integration, and industry trend monitoring to develop value-added services that strengthen customer relationships and drive revenue and bottom-line growth.

The role demands deep expertise in hotel industry dynamics and market conditions, ensuring profitable accommodation solutions that create mutual value for Informa and its clients. The initial focus of the role will be predominantly on Dubai, and will expand to Informa events throughout the IMEA region over time. Comprehensive responsibilities include budget management, revenue strategy development, and achievement of room night capture goals across all regional events, while maintaining Informa's reputation for service excellence.

Key Performance Indicators

• Revenue and bottom-line growth generated from hotel room bookings and value-added services across IMEA events
• Continuous improvement of Audience Capture Rates from both exhibitors and visitors over time
• Continuous improvement of Customer Satisfaction metrics measuring housing programme feedback from exhibitors and visitors over time

Main Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Operations

• Lead, train, and motivate housing team managing exhibitions and conferences across IMEA markets
• Develop comprehensive project management timelines ensuring deliverables are met
• Oversee revenue projections, budgets, and periodic re-forecasting for the IMEA region
• Manage complete event lifecycle: pre-show reservations and logistics, promotional period room block management, onsite execution, and post-show reporting
• Work directly with individual event teams to build knowledge and understanding of how housing strategies add measurable value

Partnership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead strategic negotiations with key partners including:
  • Destination Management Companies (DMCs)
  • Individual hotels, major hotel chains, local chains and independent hospitality players
  • Airlines, tourist boards, and airports
  • Convention & Visitors Bureaus (CVBs)
  • Transportation providers and any stakeholders contributing to successful event delivery
• Develop and enhance long-term relationships across IMEA hospitality ecosystem

Global Coordination & Best Practices

• Coordinate with Global Housing team and other regional divisions in relation to the strategy, execution, marketing and sales of Informa’s housing programme.
• Collaborate with the Group Customer Experience team to continuously focus on customer experience improvements through the housing programme.
• Share best practices and market intelligence across regions
• Align IMEA strategies with Informa's global housing initiatives
• Participate in cross-regional strategy sessions and implement global standards while adapting to local market requirements

Revenue Optimization & Market Analysis

• Analyze historical, current, and future market trends to create effective booking strategies
• Collaborate with regional marketing teams on revenue, sales, and marketing strategies
• Drive customer satisfaction improvements while achieving revenue targets
• Monitor and report on performance metrics across diverse IMEA markets

Any other duties commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility.                                                                        

Qualifications

Experience & Education

• College degree preferred
• 10+ years' experience managing teams
• Deep understanding of hotel commercial operations and distribution systems
• Experience across Leisure, Corporate, and MICE domains (hotels and DMCs preferred)
• Proven track record in strategic partnership management within hospitality industry
• International market experience, preferably within IMEA region (especially within Dubai)

Core Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication with strong analytical skills
• Strategic, resourceful, and proactive approach to complex challenges
• Cultural sensitivity and effectiveness across diverse IMEA markets
• Strong de cision-making ability in fast-paced, multi-market environments
• Stakeholder management
• Collaborative mindset with global coordination skills

Technical Requirements

• Proficient in Microsoft Suite applications
• Experience with international booking systems
• Knowledge of IMEA hotel industry (especially Dubai) regulations and compliance requirements

Work Environment

• Office-based work recommended pending local regulations to maximize team collaboration
• Regular travel within IMEA region required
• Cross-time zone coordination with global teams

Additional Information

We work hard to make sure Life at Informa is rewarding, supportive and enjoyable for everyone. Here’s some of what you can expect when you join us. But don’t just take our word for it – see what our colleagues have to say at LifeAt.Informa.com

Our benefits include: 

• Freedom & flexibility: colleagues rate us highly for the trust they receive and most of us balance time in the office with time working remotely and flexibly.
• Time out: 25 days annual leave, plus a birthday leave day and the chance to work from (almost!) anywhere for up to four weeks a year.
• Broader impact: take up to four days per year to volunteer.
• Great community: a welcoming culture with in-person and online social events, our fantastic Walk the World team day and active diversity and inclusion networks.
• Annual Flight entitlement after completing 1 year service paid as a cash amount.
• A comprehensive company funded private medical insurance with optical and dental coverage.
• A Share Match scheme that allows you to become an Informa shareholder from the start of your employment, and benefit from free matching shares.
• Recognition for great work, with global awards and kudos programmes.
• Strong wellbeing support through EAP assistance, mental health first aiders, and access to health apps and more.
• Career opportunity: the opportunity to develop your career with bespoke training and learning, mentoring platforms and on-demand access to thousands of courses on LinkedIn Learning. When it’s time for the next step, we encourage and support internal job moves.
• As an international company, the chance to collaborate with teams around the world.

We’re not solely focused on a checklist of skills. We champion energy and ambition and look for colleagues who will roll their sleeves up, join in and help make things happen. If it sounds like a match and you have most – although not all – of the skills and experience listed, we welcome your application. At Informa, you'll find inclusive experiences and environments where all perspectives and backgrounds are welcomed.

As part of this approach and our diversity and inclusion commitments, we are also formally an Equal Opportunities Employer. This means we base decisions on relevant qualifications and merit and do not discriminate on the basis of key characteristics and statuses, including all of those protected by law. Ask us or see our website for full information. See how Informa handles your personal data when you apply for a job here

See how Informa handles your personal data when you apply for a job Here