Director of Group Sales - Hotel Polaris

CoralTree Hospitality•Colorado Springs, CO

11d•$100,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

Are you ready to help shape the future of travel and hospitality at the new Hotel Polaris at the U.S. Air Force Academy? Hotel Polaris is seeking an exceptional Director of Group Sales to join our team and play a vital role in shaping the success of Hotel Polaris, an instant icon on the hospitality landscape of Colorado Springs. As the Director of Group Sales, you will be an integral member of the team that leads the pre-opening efforts and stewards the dynamic relationships across all key stakeholders including, Ownership, CoralTree Hospitality and Asset Management to ensure strategic alignment towards the hotel opening and beyond. Your efforts significantly influence the unique and distinctive experiences we seek to deliver to our guests and team members alike. We're looking for someone who wants to be a part of something bigger and shares our passion for creating unforgettable guest experiences, nurturing a vibrant company culture, and building strong connections with our communities. Reporting into the Director of Sales & Marketing you will take the lead in the strategy for the direct sales which includes the leadership of the Group Sales team of this incredible hotel. This role functions as the strategic business leader of the property’s Sales & Marketing department. Position oversees the development and implementation of departmental strategies and ensures implementation of the brand service strategy and brand initiatives. The position ensures the all direct sales meets the brand’s target customer needs, ensures employee satisfaction, and focuses on growing revenues and maximizing the financial performance of the department.

Requirements

College graduate or equivalent industry experience.
5-7 years experience in a senior role within the Sales & Marketing department, preferably within the luxury hotel segment, with more than 25K square feet of meeting space.
Knowledge of group meetings and conference markets.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to utilize them effectively in English with guests, peers and associates.
Ability to work under stressful conditions and balance multiple commitments simultaneously.
Strong customer service aptitude.
Understanding of budgetary and fiscal responsibility within the department.
Familiarity with all operational areas of the resort.
Strong knowledge of corporate, association, SMERF, incentive and other group market segments.
Strong contracting skills including negotiation and closing skills.
Strong business qualification and yield management skills.
Strong leadership characteristics.

Nice To Haves

Expert level in use of Delphi, property management systems, Word, Excel, Outlook and other department specific programs.
Desire to progress within the hospitality industry.
Sales & Marketing certification.
Prior hotel sales and marketing experience.

Responsibilities

Supervision and overall responsibility of the direct Sales function including maintaining and monitoring the accuracy and effectiveness of all written communication from Sales Managers and Coordinators. These procedures include but are not limited to: Proposals, Contracts, Site Tour Communications, Cvent listings and marketing communications, Tradeshow, and related customer events.
Direct a strategic and comprehensive group sales effort to maximize group rooms, food, beverage and other ancillary sales revenue production goals.
Represent the DOS&M on all on-property activities, and be an ambassador to all other departments.
Lead the group sales team to achieve group budget and booking pace.
Direct support of all sales managers, optimizing ROI of site visits and their closure ration.
Master the use of company resources and review with the group sales team on a regular basis as a part of total strategic account management.
Regularly evaluate future or advanced performance or process issues relating to group booking pace, backlog, rate yielding or conversion to identify future revenue and performance shortfalls and upside opportunities.
Collaborate with each individual sales manager to implement a targeted and direct strategic plan to penetrate assigned segments.
Ensure that the team is effectively mapping and maintaining all new and existing accounts, and devoting appropriate account management effort based on their quality ratings and potential: top, target, good or marginal. Achieve this objective within your individually-assigned market segment(s), as well.
Have a refined sense of communication: timely response to client requests; creative proposals; superb time management skills; effective communication with customers and amongst the hotel team.
Engage in and leverage the CT Synergy leads sharing programs.
Execute daily business review meetings and weekly sales meetings along with revenue management.
Actively participate in the appropriate CT Affinity Team(s) for this position.
Be able to understand industry reports appropriate to the position, and implement direct strategies using this business intelligence to positively affect group business bookings.
Evaluate training and development needs of the sales team and recommend and provide appropriate training tools, access to seminars and online learning opportunities. Mentor each direct report to achieve their professional goals through these programs.
Serve as in internal resource for business volume updates and future business forecasts.
Interview sales candidates. Identify qualified external/internal sales and marketing professionals, and maintain talent bank of names for future reference in conjunction with CT corporate efforts.
Be visible within the local community and attend membership meetings of local chambers, bureaus and industry association events when appropriate. Engage in the DOS Affinity Team and be a thought leader and innovator
Conduct creative site inspections with clients, including those from other segments.
Maintain high level of knowledge of the competition’s product.
Make outside sales calls, and handle all incoming inquiries.
Plan and prepare appointments for sales trips. Create pre-trip and post-trip reports in a timely manner.
Ensure financial success and profitability of hotel by overseeing all group and transient booking contracts and agreements, and managing risk within these agreements.
Drive Sales Intensity and ensure goal attainment of direct sales activity.
Work with Catering Sales and Convention Services, Revenue Management, Reservations and Leisure teams on a regular basis and integrate group sales with their direct sales and revenue management efforts.
Meet with DOSM Bi-Weekly to chart progress, adjust/adapt to market changes and shift strategies as deemed necessary.
Contribute as needed to the completion and posting of all required reports and analysis.
Assist in preparation and management of the monthly rooms forecast, annual rooms budget and sales and marketing expense budget.
Facilitate monthly book keeping, check book management and invoice processing for the Group and Transient Sales Department.

Benefits

Group medical, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits.
Participation in a pre-tax flexible benefit plan for healthcare and dependent care reimbursement.
An employee assistance program.
Paid time off/sick time.
Participation in a 401(k) plan with a company match.
Complimentary team member meals.
Complimentary room nights at CoralTree Hospitality managed properties.

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