Sales Manager - NoMad Detroit

Hilton•Detroit, MI

24d

About The Position

The Sales Manager manages the group sales process from initial prospecting and inquiry through qualification, proposal development, negotiation, and contract execution. After a contract is signed, the Event Manager assumes responsibility for operational planning and group servicing; the Sales Manager provides a clear handoff and remains available to support the Events team with client history and account context. The role focuses on generating profitable group business, developing new relationships, and maintaining and growing existing accounts. The Sales Manager works with meeting planners, corporate clients, associations, agencies, and other group decision-makers; collaborates with Revenue Management and other hotel teams; and helps achieve revenue objectives through effective account development, pricing, negotiation, forecasting, and sales strategy. The position is based at NoMad Detroit and serves a luxury hospitality environment.

Requirements

At least 3 years of hotel group sales, hospitality sales, or related experience.
Demonstrated success generating new business and achieving group sales or revenue goals.
Experience managing the full sales cycle from prospecting and lead qualification through proposal, negotiation, and contract execution.
Strong understanding of group hotel sales, room blocks, meeting space, and the relationship between guest rooms and ancillary event revenue.
Strong prospecting and business-development skills, including the ability to independently identify and cultivate new opportunities.
Exceptional relationship-building, communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
Strong commercial and financial acumen, including understanding of group pricing, profitability, displacement, and hotel revenue-management principles.
Strong organizational skills, exceptional attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple opportunities, deadlines, and client relationships simultaneously.
Strong follow-through and ability to move opportunities efficiently through the sales process.
Professional, polished, service-oriented demeanor appropriate for a luxury hospitality environment.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with hotel sales/CRM systems.
Willingness and ability to travel for sales missions, trade shows, client meetings, and industry events.
Flexibility to work occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays based on business needs.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Hospitality, Business, Marketing, Sales, or a related field preferred.
Luxury or upper-upscale hotel experience strongly preferred.
Experience working with corporate groups, associations, conferences, meetings, or other group market segments preferred.

Responsibilities

Actively prospect for new group business through outbound sales, networking, referrals, industry relationships, trade shows, sales missions, local market research, and other business-development activities.
Develop and maintain a pipeline of prospective group business within assigned markets and segments.
Respond promptly and professionally to incoming group inquiries and leads.
Qualify group opportunities based on room-night potential, dates, rates, meeting requirements, ancillary revenue, and overall value to the hotel.
Identify opportunities to generate group business during need periods and balance short-term opportunities with long-term account development.
Develop and maintain relationships with meeting planners, corporate clients, associations, agencies, entertainment organizations, professional organizations, and other group decision-makers.
Conduct sales calls, client meetings, site inspections, presentations, entertainment, and other relationship-building activities.
Maintain thorough knowledge of the hotel's guest rooms, suites, meeting and event spaces, food and beverage offerings, amenities, and competitive positioning.
Stay informed about market trends, competitive activity, citywide events, and other factors that may influence group demand.
Manage the sales cycle from prospecting or inquiry through contract execution and formal handoff to the Event team.
Develop customized proposals, presentations, room block offers, meeting packages, and other sales materials based on client needs.
Collaborate with Revenue Management on group rates and opportunity evaluation, including demand, displacement, profitability, and account value.
Negotiate rates, room blocks, concessions, meeting space, attrition, cancellation terms, and other contractual components within hotel guidelines.
Maximize total account value by identifying opportunities for meeting space, food and beverage, guest room upgrades, suites, amenities, and other ancillary revenue.
Prepare and present contracts, ensuring terms are accurate, complete, and aligned with hotel policies.
Maintain accurate and timely lead, opportunity, account activity, proposal, contract, and revenue records in hotel sales and CRM systems.
Conduct consistent, strategic follow-up throughout the sales process to maximize conversion.
Communicate confirmed business and contractual details clearly to the Events team upon contract execution and participate in turnover meetings or formal handoffs.
Remain available after turnover to support the Events team with client history, account context, or other information as needed.
Build and maintain long-term relationships with key group accounts and meeting professionals.
Develop account-specific strategies to increase production, repeat business, referrals, and share of wallet.
Conduct regular account reviews and identify opportunities for future group business.
Maintain consistent communication with past, current, and prospective clients.
Develop relationships with intermediaries, including third-party meeting planners, destination management companies, agencies, and other relevant partners.
Deliver a personalized, elevated sales experience aligned with the hotel's luxury positioning.
Partner with Marketing and other hotel departments on client engagement, partnerships, promotions, and market development.
Achieve or exceed individual group room-night, revenue, and other established sales goals.
Manage a balanced pipeline of tentative and prospective group business to support hotel revenue objectives.
Monitor group pace, pickup, conversion, and production within assigned markets.
Provide accurate forecasts and regular updates on pipeline, tentative and definite business, and anticipated revenue.
Partner with Revenue Management to optimize group rates, dates, room blocks, and overall business mix.
Identify opportunities to increase total group revenue through room upgrades, meeting space, food and beverage, and other ancillary services.
Analyze account and market performance and adjust sales strategies to maximize results.
Participate in regular sales strategy and business review meetings with Sales leadership and other commercial stakeholders.