Director of Sales and Government Relations

Position Overview

The Role As Director of Sales and Government Relations you will be the commercial architect and government-facing leader of Faena Wadi Safar driving revenue building strategic partnerships and positioning the hotel as the destination of choice for luxury travelers, corporate clients, and government entities across the Kingdom and beyond. This is a dual-mandate role that demands both a hunter's instinct for commercial growth and a diplomat's skill in navigating Saudi Arabia's government landscape.

You will lead the hotel's pre-opening commercial strategy, build the sales infrastructure from the ground up, and establish the high-profile relationships that will define Faena Wadi Safar's market position from day one. As a senior leader reporting to the General Manager, you will shape the hotel's revenue trajectory, represent Faena at the highest levels of government and industry, and build a team that delivers results aligned with our vision and Saudi Vision 2030.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive pre-opening sales strategy covering all segments: corporate, MICE, government, leisure, travel trade, and diplomatic accounts.
• Set and deliver ambitious revenue targets across rooms, F & B, events, and ancillary services.
• Build and manage the hotel’s rate strategy, account portfolio, and sales pipeline from the ground up.
• Lead contract negotiations with key accounts, agencies, and government bodies, ensuring commercially sound and mutually beneficial agreements.
• Represent Faena Wadi Safar at industry events, road shows, and trade fairs locally and internationally.
• Develop and manage strategic relationships with government ministries, royal court entities, embassies, and quasi-government institutions.
• Position Faena Wadi Safar as the venue of choice for official state functions, VIP delegations, ministerial meetings, and government-hosted events.
• Identify and secure government room block agreements, long‑stay contracts, and event partnerships.
• Collaborate with the General Manager to respond to government RFPs and official invitations for proposals.
• Stay current on Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives and identify commercial opportunities that align with national priorities.
• Serve as the hotel’s senior representative in engagements with key government entities including the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Commerce, and regional authorities.
• Oversee the hotel’s regulatory compliance and licensing requirements in partnership with the People & Culture and Finance teams.
• Build and maintain relationships with government contacts to facilitate smooth processing, issue resolution, and proactive communication.
• Monitor the regulatory landscape and brief leadership on changes with operational or commercial implications.
• Build, lead, and mentor the Sales & Government Relations team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and commercial ambition.
• Develop the department’s tools, systems, and processes including CRM management, account planning, and performance tracking.
• Work closely with Revenue Management, Marketing, and Events teams to align commercial activity with pricing strategy and brand positioning.
• Produce regular sales performance reports, forecasts, and market intelligence for the General Manager and ownership.

A seasoned commercial leader with 8+ years of progressive sales experience in luxury hospitality, with a proven track record of driving significant revenue growth in pre-opening or repositioning environments. Deeply networked within Saudi Arabia's corporate, government, and diplomatic landscape with existing relationships that translate directly into commercial opportunity. Experienced in managing both high-volume transient accounts and complex, relationship-driven government and institutional business.

A natural leader who builds and inspires high-performing teams, sets clear expectations, and holds people including yourself to ambitious standards. Strategically minded and data-driven, with the ability to translate market intelligence and performance data into actionable commercial decisions. Fluent in Arabic and English, with exceptional communication and presentation skills that are equally at home in a boardroom, a government ministry, or a corporate sales call.

Deeply familiar with Saudi Arabia's government systems, regulatory requirements, and the cultural fluency to navigate both the public and private sectors with confidence and discretion. Aligned with Faena's brand vision passionate about luxury, design, and delivering extraordinary experiences that go beyond hospitality.