Spa Director - Cluster: Hotel Palace Portoroz and Adriatic Istria Resort

Minor Hotels is a global hospitality group operating over 560 hotels, resorts and residences in 56 countries in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe and the Americas.

As a hotel owner, operator and investor, Minor Hotels fulfils the needs and desires of today’s global travellers through its diverse portfolio of 12 hotel brands – Anantara, Minor Reserve, Avani, Colbert Collection, Elewana, The Wolseley, NH, NH Collection, iStay, nhow, Oaks and Tivoli.

As part of Minor Hotels, the region of Minor Hotels Europe & Americas is responsible for more than 350 properties in 30 countries and plans to grow across all segments, with a focus on its upper-upscale and luxury brands.

WHAT WE BELIEVE AND HOW WE CHOOSE TO BEHAVE

At Minor Hotels we always behave in the following way…

• We have pride in the work we do, how we present ourselves, and how
we communicate with our guests and our colleagues.
• We use our initiative and always find the best way to solve a problem for a guest 
or a colleague.
• We work as a team with colleagues across all departments to deliver the
highest quality of service on all occasions.
• We always think of new ways to surprise and delight our guests.
• We treat guests and colleagues with dignity and respect. Everyone is important.
• We hold ourselves to the highest standards of honesty and integrity.
• We are proud to represent our hotel and our country to guests from all over
the world.

WHY THIS JOB EXISTS

The Cluster Spa Director is not a traditional operational role. As a key strategic leader at 
Minor Hotels, you are the entrepreneurial force behind the wellness offer of two 
landmark Adriatic properties being relaunched under our brands: Anantara Adriatic Istria 
Resort in Savudrija, Croatia, and Hotel Palace Portorož, Minor Reserve Collection, in 
Slovenia. Less than thirty minutes apart, yet distinct in soul, the two spas must each 
find, and then own, their own identity: the Anantara spa as a gateway to the brand’s 
signature journeys, enriched by Istrian nature, coastline and golf lifestyle; the Minor 
Reserve Collection spa as the custodian of Portorož’s long-standing wellness heritage, 
reinterpreted for today’s discerning guest.

You will lead both spas through pre-opening and re-opening, shape their concepts, build 
and develop their teams, and stand behind two Spa Managers so that each succeeds on 
its own terms. You own the cluster’s wellness bottom line, design the retreats and 
programmes that make the Adriatic a year-round wellness destination, and act as an 
evangelist who embeds wellness into the DNA of both hotels. Proven pre-opening 
leadership in luxury spa and wellness is essential for this role.

At Minor Hotels, we are proud to represent our hotel and our country to guests from all 
over the world. We treat our guests and our colleagues with respect, and work hard 
together to deliver the highest quality of service to all.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of everything that needs to be done. Minor 
Hotels employees always find new ways to look after the business, their guests, and
their colleagues. Within this, the key responsibilities for this position are:

1. Pre-Opening, Re-Opening & Project Leadership

Lead the full spa and wellness pre-opening and re-opening programme for both 
properties: critical path, opening budgets (pre-opening and capex wish-lists), operating 
supplies and equipment (OS&E), technical specifications, and readiness milestones, from 
refurbishment through soft opening to stabilisation.

Act as the spa and wellness voice in the design and refurbishment process. Review 
layouts, guest flows, treatment rooms, thermal and pool areas, back-of-house and 
storage with owners’ representatives, architects, designers and Technical Services, 
ensuring every space is beautiful, functional, compliant and commercially efficient.
Select, negotiate and onboard product houses, equipment suppliers, spa software and 
technology partners, aligned with Anantara and Minor Reserve Collection standards and 
the cluster’s financial targets.

Build the opening teams from the ground up: organisational charts, job descriptions, 
recruitment campaigns, cross-border sourcing and relocation, onboarding and preopening training academies, so that both spas open with confident, brand-ready teams 
from day one.

Write, adapt and launch the spa SOPs, treatment protocols, menus, pricing strategies 
and opening KPIs, and run mock services, snagging and quality walkthroughs ahead of 
each opening date.

2. Spa Identity, Concept & Brand Stewardship

Define and protect a clear, distinct identity for each spa. Deliver the Anantara Spa brand 
pillars and signature journeys at Anantara Adriatic Istria Resort, while crafting a bespoke, 
heritage-led wellness concept for Hotel Palace Portorož that reflects the independent 
spirit of the Minor Reserve Collection.

Weave a genuine sense of place into both offers, drawing on the Adriatic sea, local 
botanicals, salt, olive, wine and Istrian culinary culture, the destination’s wellness 
traditions and its outdoor landscape, so that each journey could only happen here.
Ensure the two spas complement rather than compete with each other: differentiated 
menus, positioning and guest profiles, with smart cross-selling and shared expertise 
across the cluster.

Partner with Brand, Marketing and the Minor Hotels Spa & Wellness team to keep both 
concepts relevant, integrating thoughtful longevity and preventive wellness trends (sleep, 
movement, nutrition, recovery and mindfulness) into high-end guest journeys.

3. Cluster Leadership & Spa Manager Development

Lead, coach and support the Spa Managers of both properties, giving them the tools, 
clarity and autonomy to succeed. Set shared goals, hold regular one-to-ones and 
performance reviews, and step in on the floor when it matters.

Build one cluster culture with two distinct expressions: shared standards, training and 
talent pool, with teams who are proud of the identity of their own spa.
Design clear growth paths and continuous learning for therapists, receptionists, 
attendants and fitness professionals. Identify high-potentials early, mentor them, and 
grow the next generation of Spa Managers from within the cluster.

Plan resourcing across the cluster with agility, including cross-property deployment, 
seasonal and year-round staffing models and multi-skilling, to protect service levels and 
labour costs alike.

4. Wellness Retreats, Programming & Revenue Generation

Conceive, design and deliver signature wellness retreats and immersive programmes 
(multi-day stays, seasonal journeys, recovery, detox, sleep, movement and longevityinspired formats) that create year-round demand and extend the season for both resorts.

Curate and manage visiting practitioners, guest experts and wellness partners, from 
scouting and contracting to scheduling, guest experience and post-retreat review, 
ensuring every collaboration is aligned with our brands and commercially sound.
Build packages with Sales, Revenue and Marketing for leisure, golf, MICE and wedding 
segments, turning wellness into a driver of room revenue, length of stay and repeat 
visits.

Develop local memberships, day-guest and resident offers to secure recurring revenue 
and a loyal community during shoulder and low seasons.
Own the cluster spa budget and forecasts with extreme financial discipline. Drive 
treatment revenue, retail, utilisation, average treatment rate and capture rate, while 
optimising product cost, labour and vendor agreements without ever compromising 
luxury.

5. Market Insight, PR & Community Building

Bring a deep understanding of the Adriatic and Alpe-Adria wellness market, including 
source markets such as Italy, Austria, Germany, Slovenia and Croatia, as well as 
international luxury travellers, competitor sets, seasonality and guest expectations, and 
translate it into pricing, programming and positioning.

Act as the primary face of wellness for both properties. Build long-term relationships with 
VIPs, in-house and local guests, wellness influencers, travel trade and media.
Collaborate with Marketing and PR to position the cluster as a benchmark for wellness in 
the region, securing media coverage, awards and thought-leadership opportunities.
Create exclusive wellness events, panels and community gatherings that turn first-time 
guests into a loyal and engaged community.

6. Ultra-Luxury Service, Quality & Compliance

Set and police the highest standards of service, aesthetics and operational flow across all 
treatment, thermal, pool, fitness and relaxation areas of both properties.
Guarantee that every touchpoint, from booking to post-treatment follow-up, is 
personalised, anticipatory and friction-free, in line with Anantara and Minor Reserve 
Collection service standards.

Ensure all facilities, equipment, treatments and protocols comply with Croatian, 
Slovenian and EU health, safety, hygiene, pool water, data protection and licensing 
regulations, as well as Minor Hotels brand and audit standards.

Lead guest satisfaction and quality programmes (guest feedback, mystery shopper and 
brand audits), turning insights into clear action plans with each Spa Manager.

7. Institutional Excellence & Traditional Operations 

Oversee strict monthly stock counts for retail and back-bar items in both spas. Manage 
purchase orders, vendor contracts and lead times to ensure zero operational downtime 
while minimising carrying costs.

Review and approve schedules prepared by the Spa Managers. Dynamically adjust 
coverage to occupancy, events and retreat calendars to optimise labour, minimise 
overtime and approve payroll accurately.

Author, update and rigorously enforce the Spa SOP manuals for each property. Conduct 
regular walkthroughs and unannounced quality audits to keep facilities, locker rooms and 
treatment spaces pristine and compliant.

Personally take ownership of complex guest complaints, operational friction or billing 
disputes. Implement swift, elegant service recovery that transforms dissatisfied guests 
into lifelong brand advocates.

Ensure flawless data entry in the property management system and spa software. 
Guarantee that guest profiles, health questionnaires, consent forms and intake records 
are up to date and securely archived in line with GDPR.

Coordinate with Engineering and IT on preventive maintenance of thermal, pool, fitness 
and specialised wellness equipment to protect capital investments, particularly through 
seasonal closures and re-openings.

Act as a bridge and an advocate for the wellness teams across both hotels. Educate other 
departments (F&B, Front Office, Sales, Golf and Events) on the value of the spa, breaking 
down silos and integrating your teams into each hotel’s wider success.

Maintain transparent communication channels. Address internal friction or interpersonal 
conflict swiftly and diplomatically before it affects team cohesion or the guest experience.
Create an inclusive, high-morale work environment that actively reduces turnover, where 
every team member, from therapist and receptionist to support staff, feels valued, 
respected and heard.

Lead with high emotional intelligence. Adapt your leadership style to inspire a diverse, 
multicultural and multilingual workforce, maintaining a calm, supportive and motivating 
presence during openings and peak season.

HOW YOU CAN SUCCEED IN THIS ROLE

Within Minor Hotels, the top-performing people who do this job always demonstrate the 
following attitudes:

Working with Others

• Always try to anticipate and exceed the expectations of both guests and colleagues.
• Use personal initiative and good judgment to solve problems calmly and efficiently.
• Enjoy collaborating to achieve common goals and volunteer when needed to ensure 
team success.
• Establish excellent relationships, rapport, and trust with guests and colleagues alike.

Taking Responsibility

•Conduct business honestly and fairly, maintaining strict confidentiality regarding 
sensitive information.
•Prioritize workloads effectively, maintaining a structured, detailed, and organized 
approach to tasks.
• Manage time efficiently to perform high-quality work without needing close supervision.
• Display a positive attitude and resilience, even when working under pressure.

Delivering Results

•Maintain a strong commitment to meeting and exceeding all company performance 
standards.
•Constantly look for opportunities to develop personal and professional skills.
•Perform all daily tasks in strict alignment with established corporate policies and 
procedures.

Are you looking for a new challenge? Apply now!

Minor Hotels Europe & Americas is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all team members are valued and supported equitably. We promote equal opportunities and embrace diversity in all its forms. We warmly welcome everyone.