Director of Sales & Marketing

Location: Mazzarò

Job number:  165340

Develop, implement and continuously refine the hotel's integrated commercial strategy , on a total revenue perspective.

Lead all Sales, Marketing, Digital Marketing, Public Relations and Business Development initiatives.

Position Kimpton Villa Miramare Taormina as the preferred luxury lifestyle destination in Taormina and the wider Mediterranean market.

Build commercial strategies aligned with the objectives of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and IHG Hotels & Resorts.

Collaborate closely with the Director of Revenue Management to maximise Occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, Market Share and overall profitability.

Develop annual and long‑term sales strategies across all market segments.

Build and maintain strong relationships with luxury travel advisors, wholesale partners, destination management companies (DMCs), premium tour operators and corporate clients , in accordance with the distribution guidelines of IHG Hotels & Resorts.

Lead negotiations for corporate agreements, preferred partnerships and RFP submissions.

Drive leisure, luxury, strategic MICE and group business while optimising business mix.

Identify new revenue opportunities and strategic partnerships.

Represent the hotel during sales missions and international roadshows.

Marketing & Brand Positioning

Develop and execute comprehensive marketing and communication strategies.

Lead brand positioning initiatives that reinforce Kimpton's unique lifestyle identity.

Manage digital marketing campaigns including SEO, SEM, paid media, content marketing, influencer partnerships and social media strategy.

Oversee creative content, photography, video production and storytelling initiatives.

Ensure brand consistency across all communication channels.

Public Relations

Develop and execute strategic PR plans.

Build relationships with international media, luxury travel journalists and influencers.

Coordinate press trips, media events and hotel launch activities.

Act as a brand ambassador, representing the hotel at national and international events including ILTM, Arabian Travel Market (ATM), WTM London, ITB Berlin and other relevant luxury travel events.

Distribution & Commercial Systems

Optimise distribution strategies across all sales channels.

Maintain strong knowledge of luxury booking platforms and preferred distribution channels.

Drive direct business while optimising OTA performance and cost of acquisition.

Utilise CRM platforms such as Salesforce, Delphi, Cvent and IHG commercial systems to maximise commercial performance.

Luxury Consortia & Partnerships
Develop and strengthen relationships with leading luxury travel networks including:

Signature Travel Network

Serandipians

Internova Travel Group

American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts

Preferred partner programmes and other strategic luxury distribution channels.

Commercial Performance
Monitor and analyse key commercial performance indicators including:

Occupancy

ADR (Average Daily Rate)

RevPAR

Market Share

GOP Contribution

Customer Acquisition Cost

Brand Awareness

Digital Performance Metrics

ROI on Marketing Investments

Develop strategic action plans based on performance analysis and market intelligence.

Leadership Responsibilities

Build, lead and inspire a high‑performing Sales & Marketing team.

Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation and excellence.

Manage departmental budget, recruitment and employee engagement initiatives.

Coach, mentor and develop team members to achieve exceptional performance.

Promote an environment based on trust, respect and continuous improvement.

Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will possess:

Extensive experience as Director of Sales & Marketing, Director of Commercial or Senior Commercial Leader within luxury five‑star hotels.

Previous pre‑opening luxury hotel experience is highly desirable.

Experience with IHG Hotels & Resorts or another international luxury hotel company is considered a strong advantage.

Excellent written and spoken English and Italian.

Comprehensive knowledge of the Italian luxury hospitality market and international luxury travel segments.

Excellent understanding of the Taormina destination, Sicily and the wider Mediterranean luxury market.

Proven success in…