Sales Manager

Sage Hospitality • Portland, OR

7d • $75,000 - $85,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Group Sales Manager generates profitable group business for The Bidwell Marriott Portland through proactive prospecting, account development, lead conversion, negotiation, and closing. The role sells group room nights and related meeting space and food and beverage commitments within assigned markets and booking parameters, supporting the hotel’s revenue and market share goals. It presents the hotel’s distinctive character, local connections, and Marriott reliability in ways that address each prospect’s objectives and encourage repeat business.

This is a dedicated selling position, covering the process from prospecting and qualification through proposal development, contract negotiation, execution, and handoff to the designated servicing team. The Group Sales Manager retains the commercial relationship for future sales, repeat bookings, and referrals. Contract servicing and operational execution—including event planning, banquet event orders, rooming lists, reservation and room-block administration, billing and collections, pre-convention meetings, and on-site group coordination—belong to designated servicing or operating departments. Service requests received after handoff are directed to the responsible contact.

The position collaborates with hotel departments and sales partners, maintains accurate records and forecasts, and represents The Bidwell and Sage Hospitality with integrity and a service-focused attitude. Work takes place in a general office and hotel environment and includes off-site sales appointments, property tours, and industry events. Schedule flexibility may be needed for client presentations, sales travel, and industry events.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Knowledge of general sales techniques, strong selling skills, yield-management experience, and highly developed customer-service and relationship-building skills.
• Effective English communication, business writing, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Mathematics, spelling, and reading skills at a 12th-grade level sufficient for accurate proposals, contracts, and sales calculations.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions, manage multiple priorities, plan activities, solve problems, make sound business decisions, and respond constructively to coaching and training.
• Ability to use office equipment and hotel sales systems, proficiency with common business software, and ability to learn approved sales platforms.
• Reliable personal transportation and a valid state driver’s license for off-site sales calls, consistent with current position requirements.
• Ability to perform job activities that include property tours, stairs, operating door keys and office equipment, reading detailed documents and screens, and viewing spaces with varying light levels; occasional standing, repeated bending or kneeling while filing, and occasional lifting or carrying of files and office items up to 25 pounds.
• Schedule flexibility may be needed for client presentations, sales travel, and industry events.

Nice To Haves

• College degree preferred.
• At least six months of experience in sales, a customer-service role, or a hotel environment preferred.
• Hotel group sales and Marriott or boutique hotel familiarity are helpful.

Responsibilities

• Work toward assigned group room-night and revenue goals; achieve at least 90% of productivity goals and 100% of activity goals established by management.
• Dedicate at least 90% of work time to direct sales efforts and plan outreach, appointments, proposals, and closing activity around the department budget, marketing plan, and hotel need periods.
• Prioritize qualified opportunities, track progress and gaps, and agree on corrective sales actions with the Director of Sales & Marketing.
• Maintain a prioritized Targeted Account Development list with account potential, decision makers, booking patterns, next actions, and follow-up dates; turn research into consistent outbound sales activity.
• Generate new opportunities through telephone and email outreach, off-site sales appointments, referrals, networking, trade events, and other prospecting; use ethical competitor research and publicly available reader board information to identify potential accounts.
• Develop assigned group segments, research Portland organizations, event calendars, and local demand generators, and grow existing accounts through additional meetings, recurring programs, new decision makers, and referrals.
• Build relationships with meeting planners, third-party intermediaries, local partners, and Marriott sales channels; coordinate account ownership and lead follow-up, and refer appropriate opportunities to other Sage hotels.
• Follow up on all leads within 24 hours of receipt, or sooner when required by applicable brand or lead-channel standards; respond accurately and promptly to proposal requests and client questions.
• Qualify dates, flexibility, peak rooms, total room nights, meeting and dining needs, budget, decision process, competing options, and booking timeline; verify fit with hotel availability, space, and operating capabilities before making commitments.
• Prepare persuasive proposals and approved alternatives, conduct sales presentations, property tours, client entertainment, and familiarization visits, and maintain accurate knowledge of hotel amenities, capacities, inclusions, and restrictions.
• Follow up and close opportunities, address objections, confirm next steps, document decisions, and record reasons for lost or declined business.
• Use yield-management techniques to negotiate profitable room rates and function-space commitments; work with the DSOM and Revenue Management on pricing, need dates, seasonal demand, and business mix.
• Evaluate total booking value alongside concessions, commissions, acquisition costs, and potential displacement; obtain approval for offers outside established parameters.
• Prepare and negotiate accurate contracts using approved templates and delegated authority; document applicable terms, secure internal approvals and client signatures, record final agreements and bookings in approved systems, and refer nonstandard terms or legal questions to the designated approver.
• Sell appropriate enhancements and future programs without promising services or concessions beyond approved hotel capabilities.
• Transfer executed agreements and complete sales records promptly to the designated servicing team under established CI/TY sales and turnover procedures; include required documents and relevant client information, introduce the client to the servicing contact, and clarify sales commitments when requested.
• Maintain commercial relationships for future booking opportunities and referrals, while routing service matters to the assigned team and not assuming responsibility for contracted-program servicing.
• Maintain accurate customer profiles, account histories, trace dates, opportunity stages, proposal versions, contract records, and next steps in approved sales or customer relationship management systems.
• Prepare sales activity, production, conversion, and pipeline reports; provide realistic forecasts and report material changes in opportunity status to the Director.
• Collaborate with the Conference Services Manager on thoughtful experiences for key groups, using account objectives, preferences, and relationship history to support client relationships and repeat business.
• Coordinate Sales Coordinator support for prospect research, proposals, records, and other selling activities, providing priorities and feedback within the role’s indirect supervisory scope.
• Use approved Marriott, Sage Hospitality, and Bidwell Marriott operator sales tools; follow brand standards and company procedures; protect confidential information; control approved travel and sales expenses; and maintain professional conduct and appearance.
• Represent The Bidwell and Sage Hospitality with integrity, care, open communication, and a welcoming, inclusive approach; communicate the hotel’s Portland character, outdoor connections, design, restaurant, local relationships, and Marriott reliability in relevant sales conversations.
• Perform other duties assigned by management that are consistent with the position’s dedicated selling scope.

Benefits

• $50 discounted Tri-Met monthly pass
• Drastically reduced hotel rates for you and your friends and family at Marriott and Sage Hotels
• Sage Restaurant Concepts discounts
• Unlimited paid time off
• Paid sick time
• Paid holidays
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance
• Complimentary parking at the hotel garage
• Referral bonus eligibility

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED