The role and importance of development directors in initiating and implementing development strategy

Reports on the role and importance of development directors in implementing the expansion strategy of an international hotel group. Discusses the methodology utilised and reflects on a set of findings, which are part of an ongoing wider research project. Discusses two themes emerging from the findings related to their seller and educational roles. These two roles incorporate the responsibilities which development directors take on behalf of the hotel group in the market and in the organisation, respectively. Concludes by suggesting that development directors based in the market are important for the organisation in view of the cultural differences between markets and the execution of the development strategy is very much down to these organisational members. However, just as research findings about middle managers, their activities overlap between the formulation and execution of strategy. Also gives the implications of the study for the wider academic debate.