Sales Manager - Leisure

Salary Range: $68,000.00 To $70,000.00 Annually

The Leisure Sales Manager is responsible for generating transient leisure room revenue by developing and maintaining relationships with luxury travel advisors, travel management companies, tour operators, destination management companies, and key leisure travel partners. This position plays a vital role in expanding the hotel's presence within the luxury travel market while supporting the overall sales strategy of one of Chicago's premier luxury hospitality destinations.

The ideal candidate is a passionate hospitality professional with exceptional relationship‑building skills, strong market knowledge, and a proven ability to drive revenue through strategic partnerships and proactive sales efforts. The Leisure Sales Manager serves as a brand ambassador, ensuring the hotel's luxury positioning is effectively represented to domestic and international travel partners.

• 30% — Strategic Relationship Development: Build and maintain strong relationships with key travel advisors and leisure partners to influence booking behavior, increase brand awareness, and drive market share growth within the leisure segment.
• 20% — Luxury & Preferred Agency Engagement: Promote hotel awareness and preferred status across American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts (FH&R), Trump Elite, Signature, Ensemble, and Citi Bank agencies through regional travel, in‑person presentations, and targeted sales calls. Actively represent the hotel through off‑property sales initiatives, client entertainment, trade shows, and industry and community events to generate new business, present proposals, and close leisure accounts.
• 20% — Program Ownership & Internal Training: Lead the training, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of luxury and preferred agency programs, ensuring internal teams are fully aligned to deliver exceptional guest experiences for the hotel’s highest‑value clientele.
• 10% — Performance Review & Revenue Optimization: Conduct quarterly business reviews with key accounts to evaluate room night production, revenue performance, and growth opportunities. Collaborate with sister properties to align strategies and achieve predetermined revenue goals. Participate in weekly sales meetings and other operational reviews, including tentative business, lost business analysis, and pickup tracking, to support overall sales strategy and forecasting accuracy.
• 5% — Property Tours & Client Hosting: Conduct personalized property tours for travel advisors and prospective clients, highlighting hotel amenities and services. Host and entertain clients during site inspections, pre‑planning visits, and active programs as appropriate.

• Leisure Sales & Business Development:
  • Solicit, negotiate, and secure new leisure travel business to achieve and exceed revenue goals.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with luxury travel advisors, preferred partner agencies, tour operators, wholesalers, and destination management companies.
  • Identify and pursue new opportunities within domestic and international leisure travel markets.
  • Conduct proactive sales calls, virtual presentations, and in‑person client meetings.
  • Generate room night production through strategic account development and market penetration.
• Account Management:
  • Manage a portfolio of key leisure travel accounts and maintain regular communication with clients.
  • Develop account plans and growth strategies for top‑producing travel partners.
  • Monitor production reports and booking trends to identify opportunities for increased business.
  • Negotiate preferred partnerships and promotional opportunities when appropriate.
  • Ensure accurate account information and activity tracking within the hotel's CRM system.
• Luxury Travel Advisor Relations:
  • Build strong relationships with luxury travel advisors and consortia partners.
  • Coordinate and host site inspections, familiarization trips (FAMs), and educational visits.
  • Participate in advisor events, luxury travel showcases, and networking functions.
  • Promote the hotel's unique guest experiences, suites, amenities, and luxury offerings to travel partners.
• Market…