AREA SALES MANAGER

Esri - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Entry Level

Chicago, IL

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Sales Manager position at White Lodging is a critical role within the hotel's sales team, primarily responsible for securing group and volume business to meet the hotel's financial goals. This position is designed for individuals who are passionate about developing a career in hospitality sales and are driven to build strong relationships with clients. The Sales Manager will engage in the sales call process, actively seeking out new business opportunities and responding to customer inquiries and leads for group sales. This includes managing requests for groups, particularly those that fall within the Selected Service/Extended Stay category, and ensuring timely responses to incoming group and catering opportunities. In this role, the Sales Manager will work closely with customers to align their preferences with the hotel's brand needs, actively upselling each business opportunity to maximize revenues and enhance customer loyalty. Daily and weekly tasks will involve proactive sales efforts to seek out new business that may not otherwise utilize the hotel, as well as developing action plans to address revenue generation issues in collaboration with management and the sales team. Building long-term relationships with potential clients is essential, as is maintaining accountability through effective communication and recording of activities to measure efforts and implement successful strategies. The ideal candidate will possess a variety of competencies, including strong analysis skills, strategic thinking, resourcefulness, and the ability to negotiate effectively. They should also demonstrate ambition, drive, and excellent communication skills, with a focus on converting strategies into actionable tactics. The Sales Manager will be responsible for developing talent within the team, inspiring followership, and generating revenue through effective problem-solving and talent recruitment.

Responsibilities

• Solicit, confirm and coordinate Special Corporate and Group sales.
• Handle customer inquiries and leads requests for groups, particularly for Selected Service/Extended Stay with 10-99 peak room nights.
• Respond in a timely manner to incoming group/catering opportunities within predefined Group Sales parameters.
• Work with customers to align their preferences with brand needs and actively up-sell business opportunities to maximize revenues.
• Seek out new business that would not utilize the hotel without direct efforts.
• Collaborate with management and the sales team to identify revenue generation issues and execute strategies to address them.
• Develop long-term relationships with potential clients to secure ongoing business.
• Communicate actions and record activities to measure efforts and implement successful strategies.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 2-year degree from an accredited university in Business Administration, Marketing, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or a related major preferred.
• 1 year of experience in the hospitality industry preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in sales within the hospitality industry.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Proven ability to build and maintain client relationships.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage.
• Short- and Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Paid Time Off including Vacation, Holidays, and Sick leave.
• Tuition Reimbursement for further education.
• Complimentary and Discounted Rooms.