Luxury and Corporate Sales Specialist

Highgate Hotels•New York, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Sales Specialist plays a critical role in providing proactive sales engagement and reactive/inquiry response with the luxury retail travel agency and preferred corporate markets in support of the Director of Sales. He/she is also responsible for providing attentive, courteous and efficient service to all guests. The goal is to maximize total room nights and revenue potential for Park Lane New York across the Corporate- Consortia and Transient Luxury Leisure market segments with a focus on both retention and acquisition. Working in a team, the position will report to the Director of Sales & Marketing with a dotted line to the Director of Luxury and Corporate Sales, segment owner, as support to achieve targets/budget.

Requirements

University qualifications in Business, Hospitality or Sales and Marketing
Minimum 2 years sales experience in a four or five-star hotel or, a similar fast-paced environment
An engaged and results-driven achiever with strong influencing skills
Excellent interpersonal, communication and time management skills
Proven sales experience with the ability to lead, guide and achieve personal rev goals
Highly motivated, solutions-orientated self-starter with adaptable teamwork styles
Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into profitable action
Strategic orientation with the know-how to problem solve under pressure
Ability to create a positive first impression with an understanding of the importance of five-star grooming standards
Refined verbal and written communication skills
University qualifications in Business, Hospitality, or Sales and Marketing preferred
Minimum 2 years of experience in a Sales Coordinator, Reservations, Guest Relations, or Front Office role within a four- or five-star hotel or similar luxury, fast- paced environment
Working knowledge of property management and central reservations systems (e.g., Opera) and GDS platforms
Understanding of revenue management fundamentals, including rate structures, inventory control, and distribution channels
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and time management skills
Strong problem-solving skills with a calm, gracious demeanor under pressure and a talent for service recovery
Highly motivated, solutions-oriented self-starter with adaptable teamwork style
Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into profitable action
Ability to create a positive first impression with an understanding of the importance of five-star grooming standards
Refined verbal and written communication skills
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Flexible availability, including weekends, holidays, and evenings as business needs require

Nice To Haves

Prefer selling, negotiating, business writing and presentation skills training

Responsibilities

Relationship building with B2B travel partners
Selling guest rooms and suites
Conducting site inspections
Travel for the position as needed
Setting business strategies and forward-thinking tactics
Preparing and presenting effective proposals for luxury travel agency inquiries
Entering reservations in support of the Reservations Manager and reservations team
Maintaining well-organized documentation and reports
Participation sales meetings, events and other staff meetings
Works as a team member with the sales and catering team
Developing, implementing and monitoring the hotels sales strategy to achieve and exceed forecasted revenue targets in Rooms, Food and Beverage and all other revenue-generating departments
Manage the hotel sales contacts and achievement of the hotel revenue plan
Attend major travel, trade and corporate functions and conduct sales trips based on business priorities which may include travel on weekends and evening events
Retention and acquisition of corporate business
Building and maintaining strong client relations and developing accounts to increase market share
Maximizing yield potential for corporate business for the hotel
Working closely with the Director of Sales & Marketing and Director of Luxury and Corporate Sales to develop and implement strategies to maximize business levels
Interacts with B2B customer guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels
Serve as a point of contact for VIP, repeat, and high-profile guests booked through the sales office, ensuring a personalized experience from pre-arrival through departure
Anticipate guest needs and proactively resolve concerns, handling service recovery diplomatically to preserve and strengthen key account and guest relationships
Coordinate VIP amenities, welcome notes, and room preferences in partnership with Front Office, Housekeeping, Concierge, and F&B
Conduct pre-arrival research on VIPs, loyalty members, and consortia clients to personalize guest profiles and communicate preferences across departments
Maintain accurate, detailed guest history and preference records within the PMS
Participate in daily pre-arrival/stand-up meetings to review VIP arrivals and special requests
Interact with B2B and individual guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels
Enter, process, and manage individual, and luxury consortia reservations in support of the Reservations Manager and reservations team
Manage rate loading, availability, and inventory controls for sales-driven business across all distribution channels
Support training and quality checks for reservations agents on luxury consortia and corporate booking procedures
Ensure accuracy of reservation confirmations, deposits, and cancellation policies in line with brand and hotel standards
Audit reservations for accuracy, including consortia, corporate, and negotiated rate codes
Prepare and analyze reservations and production reports, including pace, pickup, denials, and no-shows
Works as a team member with the Sales, Reservations, Front Office, and Guest Services teams to deliver a seamless guest journey
Maintains well-organized documentation and reports
Participates in sales meetings, events, and other staff meetings as needed
Interacts with the operation team to ensure understanding of guest needs and in creating a working relationship within all areas of the operation