Director of Sales and Marketing

Ritz-Carlton - Rancho Mirage, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

Rancho Mirage, CA

Accommodation

About the position

The Director of Sales and Marketing at The Ritz-Carlton functions as the leader of the property's sales department, specifically for properties with bookings exceeding 300 peak rooms and significant local catering revenue. This role is pivotal in managing both reactive and proactive sales efforts, providing day-to-day leadership to sales associates, and ensuring the achievement of property sales objectives. The Director is responsible for achieving booking goals and maximizing property revenues while implementing the brand's service strategy and applicable initiatives throughout the sales process. A key focus is on building long-term, value-based customer relationships that facilitate the attainment of the hotel's sales objectives. In this position, the Director evaluates the property's participation in various sales channels, such as Area Sales and Group Sales, and develops strong working relationships to effectively position and market the property. The role also involves managing the marketing budget to create property-specific campaigns, promotions, and collateral aimed at driving revenue and meeting property objectives. The Director collaborates with regional marketing communications to ensure the successful execution of regional and national promotions. The Director develops and implements strategies that deliver products and services tailored to meet or exceed the needs and expectations of the brand's target customer profile, while also providing a return on investment to the owner and Marriott International. This includes managing the development of strategic account plans for demand generators in the market, determining marketing communication activities, and providing customer intelligence to adapt sales strategies based on market and economic trends. The Director also plays a crucial role in maintaining awareness of the hotel's market position through competitive analysis and strategic alignment reviews.

Responsibilities

• Manage the development of a strategic account plan for demand generators in the market.
• Oversee the property's reactive and proactive sales efforts.
• Determine and develop marketing communication activities in conjunction with Regional Marketing Communications.
• Provide customer intelligence to evaluate market and economic trends affecting sales strategy.
• Review the Strategic Alignment Review (STAR) report and competitive shopping reports to maintain market awareness.
• Research competitor sales strategies to identify growth opportunities for occupancy and RevPAR.
• Attend sales strategy meetings to provide input on overall sales strategy.
• Suggest innovative marketing ideas and develop deployment strategies to grow market share.
• Evaluate and support participation with Area Sales and Group Sales within the Sales Office.
• Serve as the sales contact for the General Manager and property leadership team.
• Act as the customer advocate and sales authority on processes and contracts.
• Coordinate with various hotel departments to ensure effective sales processes.
• Participate in sales calls to acquire new business and close deals.
• Identify public relations opportunities to enhance marketing communication strategy.
• Support the General Manager in coordinating crisis communications.
• Execute and support Marriott's Customer Service Standards and Brand Standards.
• Implement a seamless turnover from sales to operations while maintaining high service levels.
• Monitor resolution of guest issues arising from the sales process.
• Maintain successful performance by increasing revenues and controlling expenses.

Requirements

• 2-year degree from an accredited university in Business Administration, Marketing, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or related major with 4 years of experience in sales and marketing; OR a 4-year bachelor's degree in a related field with 2 years of experience.
• Demonstrated skills in supervising a team.
• Lodging sales experience is preferred.
• Hotel industry work experience showing progressive career growth and exceptional performance.

Nice-to-haves

• 4-year college degree preferred.
• Experience in lodging sales.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise a team effectively.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Dental insurance coverage
• 401k retirement savings plan
• Paid holidays
• Flexible scheduling options
• Professional development opportunities
• Employee discount programs