Sales Manager - Sports Market

Donohoe Hospitality Services•College Park, MD

2d•$72,000 - $78,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Hotel at the University of Maryland is seeking an experienced Sales Manager focused on professional, collegiate, and amateur sports business. The role owns the full sales cycle, from prospecting and relationship development through negotiation and closing, for group business connected to sports schedules, seasons, tournaments, and major events. The manager works with athletic departments, sports organizations, leagues, tournament operators, and event planners, and partners with hotel operations, catering, and revenue management to ensure successful execution. The position also involves travel as needed, client presentations and site inspections, representing the hotel at industry events, maintaining sales records in Delphi/Amadeus, and preparing activity reports and forecasts. The role is based at The Hotel at the University of Maryland, a 297-room independent property with more than 40,000 square feet of event space.

Requirements

At least 3 years of continuous hotel group sales experience, with a strong emphasis on sports, SMERF, or large-scale group travel.
Proven B2B sales experience with transactions of $25,000 or more.
Strong prospecting skills and ability to build relationships with coaches, athletic administrators, operations managers, and event planners.
High school diploma required.
Polished, professional appearance and confident presence.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, organization, and time-management skills.
Ability to work independently, manage shifting priorities, and perform under pressure.
Proficiency in Outlook, Word, Excel, and Delphi/Amadeus.
Flexibility to work nontraditional hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and event-driven peak periods.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor's degree.

Responsibilities

Own the full sales cycle for professional, collegiate, and amateur sports groups, from prospecting through closing.
Source and develop relationships with athletic departments, sports organizations, leagues, tournaments, and event operators.
Travel as needed for sporting events, trade shows, client meetings, and industry conferences.
Negotiate group room rates, concessions, and hotel services within established guidelines.
Draft, review, and manage contracts and rate agreements accurately and promptly.
Partner with hotel operations, catering, and revenue management teams to support seamless execution for sports teams and event stakeholders.
Conduct site inspections and presentations, and host events for sports decision-makers and planners.
Represent the hotel at sports-focused networking events, showcases, and industry functions.
Maintain accurate and timely records in Delphi/Amadeus.
Prepare and deliver monthly sales activity reports, forecasts, and pipeline updates.
Respond promptly to client inquiries, recognizing the time-sensitive nature of sports travel.
Meet or exceed monthly and annual sales goals.
Contribute to team initiatives and foster a collaborative, high-performance culture.