Director of Business Luxury Sales

Position: Director of Business Travel and Luxury Sales
Why us?

Iconic architecture, a thriving culinary scene, beautifully landscaped public spaces, and an array of museums are just part of what draws visitors to the Windy City. At The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, a luxury hotel set atop Water Tower Place in the historic Gold Coast, guests will have every chance to explore the city, from shopping along Michigan Avenue to viewing famous works at the Art Institute.

Yet with our hotel’s spa, rooftop lounge, locally inspired restaurant, indoor lap pool and spacious accommodations overlooking the city, guests may not want to leave the premises.

Recognized as the gold standard of hospitality, The Ritz-Carlton selects only the most passionate and skilled hospitality professionals. As one of our Ladies and Gentlemen, you will reflect the values that make us the world’s finest luxury brand. Here, in a diverse environment where individual aspirations are fulfilled and quality of life is enhanced, you will be inspired to work alongside your fellow employees to bring special moments to life for our guests and each other.

Job Overview

Actively sells and leads business travel and travel industry team to meet and exceed revenue goals by developing new accounts and growing existing hotel accounts with a profitable and win-win selling approach. Manages accounts with corporate travel throughout the year and negotiates rates for those accounts which travel on a consistent basis. The Director will also manages travel industry and wholesale accounts that book both business and leisure travel.

The Director and their team are responsible for managing the relationship of corporate and travel industry accounts located locally and nationally and working with the Hotel brand channels. The primary intent is to drive revenue for the hotel in all transient business and leisure segments.

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Ensures team is proactively prospecting and soliciting, working all accounts to produce the highest greatest amount of revenue possible in line with yield management practices, providing a high level of service to build strong relationships and repeat business, and ensuring that deadlines for RFPs, contracts and client needs are met promptly.

• Leads by example and holds team accountable for goals and revenue production, creative selling strategies and wow site inspections.

• Produces reports on a timely basis.

• Positive interaction and providing information to other hotel departments to ensure smooth customer service experiences and delivering on promises.

• Ensures team and self to achieve a minimum of 90% of productivity goals and 100% of activity goals, as established by management.

• Participants in revenue management discussions and stays aligned with hotel’s overall goals.

• Shows initiative, proactive approach and can work independently.

Direct Sales

• Targets results-oriented high revenue potential sales calls to ensure a successful direct sales program, in

• accordance with goals established by department budget and marketing plan.

• Key account management: maximizes current hotel key accounts by identifying and capturing those that offer revenue growth.

• Strategically works with GSOs to ensure maximizing opportunities to communicate with travel managers, agents and travelers with new and existing accounts.

• Uses negotiating skills and creative selling abilities to close on business and negotiate contracts.

• Develops contracts and correspondence, manages opportunity details and proactively develops customer solutions.

• Understands the overall market – competitor’s strengths and weaknesses, economic trends, supply and demand etc. and knows how to sell against them.

New Account Development

• Captures competitor's accounts through networking, research and Hotelligence reports in order to target and solicit those most probable to generate new business. Acquires referrals from existing accounts:
Follows up on all leads within 24 hours of receipt in an effort to create new business for the hotel, and, when appropriate, sends leads to other Sage hotels.

• Plans and implements an on-going Targeted Account Development "hit list" in order to create new revenue and acquire valuable…