Group Sales Manager

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts•Houston, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Four Seasons is a company driven by its people, fostering a culture where individuals strive for excellence and treat each other with respect. The global team creates exceptional experiences for guests, residents, and partners through a commitment to luxury and genuine hospitality, aiming to build lifelong careers and a sense of pride. The Houston location, described as the country's capital of southern cool, offers urban sophistication with bold Texas hospitality. It serves as a hub for business, social connections, and entertainment, featuring amenities like a rooftop pool oasis, Topgolf Swing Suites, The Spa, a Krigler perfumery boutique, and dining by Chef Partner Richard Sandoval at Toro Toro and Bayou & Bottle. The Group Sales Manager reports to the Director of Sales and is responsible for promoting and selling to group markets within defined geographic regions. This role involves generating hotel awareness through direct phone sales, direct sales calls, tradeshows, and networking groups, collaborating closely with the Sales and Commercial team to solicit, sell, and confirm group business to meet budgeted sales goals. The ideal candidate should be adept at soliciting group travel and possess a high degree of independent judgment and discretion in decision-making. Key attributes include a strong commitment to service, being a team player, impeccable verbal and organizational skills, outstanding attention to detail, the ability to multitask, and a willingness to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Applicants should be comfortable with technology and prepared to accept assignments as needed to promote teamwork, with flexibility to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and travel.

Requirements

Two to three years' experience directly related to hotel group sales
Excellent reading, writing & oral proficiency in the English language
Good organizational skill, attention to detail, ability to multitask, ability to negotiate, organize, delegate & work under pressure
Ability to work long and irregular hours, weekends, and evenings

Nice To Haves

Basic knowledge of audio-visual equipment, internet, telecommunication technology is helpful

Responsibilities

Responsible for all groups of 10 rooms or more per night
Promote and sell to group market in defined geographic region (Southwest & Latam, Embassy, and International Consulates) and Key Strategic Vertical Accounts
Identify and target group customers that will generate business on behalf of the hotel but not conflict with WSO efforts
Negotiate, draft, generate and confirm/sign group contracts that ensure hotel budget and revenue targets are achieved
Responsible for nurturing existing accounts and relationships to maximize revenue while also fielding inquiries, sending proposals and contracts, facilitating billing, food, and beverage arrangements, and effectively communicating needs with all departments of the hotel
Adjust group pricing and recommend group concessions as needed to secure group business in support of hotel budget targets
Team player with a guest centric attitude to do the right thing, think creatively be an active listener with excellent presentation skills
Utilize Various Prospecting Resources to solicit and secure business on behalf of hotel
Use company wide programs, sales developments, prospecting projects, WSO customer events and reporting for group business development
Follow up on all business inquiries and leads and qualify business to generate group room nights and associated food and beverage revenue to impact RevPar performance
Create and execute account plans for assigned market territory to ensure maximum group revenue and budgeted group targets are achieved
Achieve monthly, quarterly and annual revenue and direct sales goals including outside sales calls, prospecting calls, site inspections, and entertainment as outlined
Uncover potential P2P leads on behalf of sister properties and the company
Maintain thorough and complete product knowledge of FS hotel property and in-depth understanding of comp set’s Features/Advantages/Benefits
Perform customer site inspections to uncover needs and present solutions that will maximize booking opportunity and create strong customer relationships
Create VIP or Group resumes identifying and communicating traveller’s needs and acting as liaison to ensure all operational and marketing aspects of their stay are met
Understand and utilize the sales tools the company provides and to follow and support all sales and Commercial MOS
Ability to sell all hotel products and services