Director of Luxury Sales

Unclassified - New Orleans, LA

Full-time - Senior

New Orleans, LA

About the position

The Director of Luxury Sales is a pivotal role within the Sales and Marketing department, tasked with driving growth in the luxury market segment for the assigned hotel. This position focuses on expanding business through various channels, including Consortia, Corporate, and Local Negotiated segments. The Director will work to deepen relationships with existing accounts while actively seeking new business opportunities. A key aspect of this role is to meet or exceed assigned monthly sales goals, ensuring that the hotel remains competitive in the luxury market.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for meeting or exceeding revenue goals in the luxury market segment(s) for the hotel.
• Manage the online RFP Management processes for securing new accounts within the Business Travel market segment(s).
• Assist with the completion of required reports for the hotel in a timely manner.
• Effectively communicate with the Director of Revenue and/or Complex Director of Sales & Marketing to review opportunities impacting revenue goals.
• Conduct weekly sales calls to existing and new accounts, uncovering new business in assigned market segments.
• Conduct site inspections, escort client visits, and actively entertain customers as appropriate for transient travel development.
• Travel locally to conduct outside calls and promote the hotel.
• Attend tradeshows representing the hotel as required.
• Generate leads and new business through various channels including internet searches, telephone solicitations, mailings, referrals, and networking.
• Maintain relationships with the brand's national sales office.
• Arrange site inspections at the hotel for new accounts.
• Respond to all sales inquiries within 24 business hours.
• Execute and support the operational aspects of business booked, including generating proposals and writing contracts.
• Negotiate volume account contracts and implement setups as required.
• Analyze historical, current, and future hotel/market trends to maximize occupancy and average rate through creative selling.
• Stay current on competition and market changes.
• Assist in developing the annual budget and quarterly owner reviews.
• Participate in management meetings to discuss budget, forecast, and rate.
• Attend revenue strategy calls and participate in the yearly creation of luxury and transient budgets.
• Assist with marketing and owner presentations.
• Partner with the operations team to coordinate customer specifications and respond to customer issues to ensure satisfaction.
• Provide a weekly sales activity recap to property GM and Complex DOSM, entering information in the property sales system as requested.
• Complete weekly/monthly sales activity goals provided by each property.
• Adjust work schedule as needed to meet business demands, including early morning, evening, and/or weekend hours.

Requirements

• College degree or High School Diploma with related experience.
• Previous luxury hotel sales management experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including leading and participating in formal presentations.
• Advanced level of producing business luxury revenue sales through aggressive prospecting, making presentations, developing contracts, negotiating, and closing sales.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with luxury consortia travel companies.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and Hotel Sales Systems.
• Experience with Amadeus Agency 360 and Demand 360 business intelligence products.
• Experience reading and understanding STR reports.
• Experience with multiple brands (Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott) and brand-specific sales systems.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Strong desire to deliver high-quality customer service.
• Detail-oriented and organized regarding accuracy and efficiency.
• Good personnel management and organizational skills.