Director of Sales-Hilton Garden Inn Ponte Vedra

Coury Hospitality•Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

About The Position

Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville/Ponte Vedra is hiring a Director of Sales to lead hotel sales efforts and drive occupancy, average daily rate, room revenue, group production, and account growth. The role develops and executes strategic sales plans, builds and maintains client relationships, identifies new business, and represents the hotel in the Ponte Vedra, Jacksonville, St. Johns County, and surrounding business communities. The Director of Sales manages sales activity and account production, prepares proposals and business reports, negotiates rates and agreements, and works with Revenue Management and hotel leadership on pace, market trends, pricing, need dates, and competitive opportunities. The role collaborates with hotel departments to ensure client and group commitments are communicated and delivered, and supports meetings, celebrations, sports groups, and social events from inquiry through arrival. The position requires previous hotel sales experience, strong sales, communication, organizational, analytical, and follow-through skills, and the ability to manage multiple accounts and priorities. Work takes place in office and hotel settings, includes local travel, and may involve flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends, based on client, event, and business needs.

Requirements

Previous hotel sales experience required.
Strong understanding of hotel sales strategies, account management, forecasting, market segmentation, and revenue principles.
Strong prospecting, presentation, negotiation, and closing skills.
Ability to review production reports, market data, pace, and performance trends.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent organizational, time-management, and follow-up skills.
Ability to manage multiple accounts, deadlines, events, sales opportunities, and changing priorities.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with hotel, regional, and corporate teams.
Ability to travel locally and attend client meetings, networking events, trade shows, and community functions.
Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends, based on client, event, and business needs.
Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods; conduct property tours; use computers, telephones, presentation equipment, and hotel sales technology; and lift or move up to 25 pounds.
Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, through virtual meetings, and through electronic correspondence.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, business, marketing, or a related field.
Previous sales leadership or management experience.
Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn brand experience.
Knowledge of the Ponte Vedra, Jacksonville, St. Johns County, and surrounding business markets.
Experience developing corporate, group, sports, healthcare, wedding, social, and meeting-related business.
Experience using hotel sales, property-management, customer-relationship-management, and reporting systems.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute strategic sales plans that support occupancy, average daily rate, and overall hotel revenue.
Identify new business through prospecting, networking, referrals, market research, and community involvement.
Build relationships with corporate accounts, groups, meeting planners, sports teams, wedding clients, healthcare organizations, and local businesses.
Grow existing accounts by understanding clients’ travel patterns, evolving needs, and future opportunities.
Conduct sales calls, presentations, property tours, client meetings, networking events, and community functions.
Negotiate rates and agreements that balance client needs with the hotel’s revenue strategy.
Prepare proposals, contracts, reports, account plans, forecasts, and business reviews.
Manage group blocks, account production, sales activities, and follow-up through the hotel’s sales systems.
Partner with Revenue Management and hotel leadership to review pace, market trends, need dates, pricing, and competitive opportunities.
Coordinate with hotel departments to communicate and deliver group commitments, event details, special requests, billing instructions, and client expectations.
Represent the hotel in Ponte Vedra, Jacksonville, St. Johns County, and the surrounding business community.
Monitor competitive hotels, new developments, market activity, and local demand generators.
Support meetings, celebrations, sports groups, and social events from initial inquiry through arrival.
Analyze production, pace, market data, and performance trends to adjust sales strategy.
Maintain timely, accurate sales activity and protect confidential guest, client, rate, and business information.