Director of Sales and Marketing - Hilton - Harrisburg, PA

$85,000 - $110,000/Yr

Hotel Equities - Harrisburg, PA

Full-time - Senior

Harrisburg, PA

Accommodation

About the position

The Director of Sales and Marketing at Hilton Harrisburg is a pivotal role responsible for the development and solicitation of business across all markets to ensure the hotel achieves the necessary bookings for a successful and profitable operation. This position requires a strategic thinker who can develop and direct the overall marketing, public relations, and sales efforts of the hotel, focusing on room, food, beverage, and sundry sales. The Director will provide conceptual and strategic planning to enhance the hotel's market presence and revenue generation. In this role, the Director will lead the sales staff's solicitation efforts, ensuring effective communication and oversight of rate, date, and space commitments for Rooms and Food and Beverage sales. The position also involves administering staffing, training, and performance reviews for the Sales Department, conducting regular training programs to meet Hilton's standards of performance, and guiding staff towards excellence. As a member of the hotel Executive Committee, the Director will maintain a leadership position, coordinating ongoing research of the travel industry to identify market trends and develop new marketing strategies. The role includes conducting persuasive sales presentations to prospective clients, preparing reports on the Sales Department's operations, and initiating the preparation of the annual Market Plan while adjusting strategies based on current market conditions. The marketing responsibilities include negotiating marketing programs, documenting and evaluating market conditions, promoting the hotel through various communication channels, and motivating employees to maintain high morale. The Director will also travel to target market areas to identify new visitor pools and promote the hotel as a prime business and resort destination. Overall, this position requires a dynamic leader who can effectively manage the sales and marketing functions to drive the hotel's success.

Responsibilities

• Direct the solicitation efforts of the sales staff through effective oral and written communication while overseeing rate, date and space commitments for Rooms and Food and Beverage sales within the hotel
• Administer the staffing, training, and performance reviews for the Sales Department
• Maintain a leadership position as a hotel Executive Committee Member
• Coordinate ongoing research of the travel industry to detect market trends and related information for development of new marketing strategies
• Develop and conduct persuasive verbal sales presentations to prospective clients
• Compile and/or direct the preparation of reports pertaining to the operation of the Sales Department as required
• Initiate preparation of computerized annual Market Plan and execute plans as outlined
• Organize and/or attend scheduled Sales Department and related meetings
• Negotiate marketing programs and packages for purchases ranging from collateral materials, advertising space, and costs involved in joint marketing programs
• Document and evaluate market conditions and trends
• Promote the hotel through frequent oral and written communication and/or participation in business and community relations activities
• Interact with and motivate employees to maintain high morale
• Travel to target market areas/destinations to identify new visitor pools and promote the hotel as a prime business and resort destination

Requirements

• High school diploma required; college degree preferred
• Minimum of 7 years sales experience and 2 years of supervisory experience required
• Prior hotel or hospitality experience required
• CPR Certification required and available by the hotel
• Valid Driver's License required
• Ability to access, understand and accurately input information using a moderately complex computer system
• Ability to effectively deal with internal and external customers and staff
• Ability to stand and move throughout the hotel property and continuously perform essential job functions
• Ability to read, listen and communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing
• Hearing and visual ability to observe and detect signs of emergency situations

Nice-to-haves

• First Aid Training preferred
• Industry related certification helpful