Conference Group Sales Manager

About the role

The Colonial Williamsburg Hotels are seeking a Group Sales Manager to join their team. This position will focus on soliciting future conference business for Colonial Williamsburg Hotels in assigned market areas, maintaining and exceeding monthly room night and revenue booking goals, and building positive and lasting client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Contact meeting planners/decision makers by mail, telephone, fax, in person, customer fams and site inspections.
• Maintain a comprehensive account management plan to include a list of target accounts and key accounts.
• Develop sales action plans to achieve revenue goals.
• Build positive and lasting client relationships.
• Secure annual and multi-year contracts.
• Secure new and repeat business.
• Maintain accurate and legible files in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Generate and secure new, referred, and repeat group business, focusing on accounts within the DC region and the Northeast.
• Prepare and execute creative sales proposals and contracts that ensure financial success and profitability to the hotel while managing and minimizing risk to the hotel.
• Maintain regular communication with clients to ensure seamless execution of all events resulting in high customer satisfaction.
• Negotiate space, dates and rates to obtain room night booking goals (focusing on placement of business in shoulder and off-season and other need periods with emphasis on promoting Sunday-Thursday patterns) while maximizing profitability in all areas of operation.
• Auxiliary in developing individual marketing strategies in assigned market areas in concert with annual marketing strategies.
• Responsible for keeping spending in-line with individual Sales plan and with approval of Director of Sales.
• Maximize any cross-selling opportunities with Foundation.
• Achie monthly sales goals as outlined by Director of Sales.
• Develop working knowledge of cost factors (room rates, food and beverage, museum operations) and the conference service operations.
• Administer personnel functions to support staff.
• Must be willing to attend tradeshows and travel to various geographic areas, promoting the Colonial Williamsburg Hotels and CWF amenities.
• Must be willing to make Operate within a team concept; willingness to cover for others when needed while meeting individual performance goals.
• Must be active and participate in monthly industry associations in assigned markets and are encouraged to hold a committee or board position.
• Continue professional development through educational offerings made via industry trade groups (i.e.: VSAE, MPI, AENC…etc.) and in-house industry related educational training as assigned by Director of Sales.
• Knowledge of CWF mission and non-hotel offerings to guests.
• Perform any special projects and all other duties as directed by management that are consistent with the policies and procedures of Colonial Williamsburg Hotels.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree and 2-3 years of hotel sales experience, or 5-7 years of experience in hotel sales and other hotel operations experience (ie: front desk, food and beverage, conference services, concierge, etc.) or a closely related field.
• Proven track record of exceeding sales goals and generating new business.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior conference sales experience at a four star or four diamond hotel/resort and in an assigned geographic location or vertical market a plus.
• Opera experience preferred.

Key Skills / Competencies

• Excellent communication skills, ability to work independently without direct supervision, in-depth knowledge of conference sales skills and techniques.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Physical and Environmental Demands

• Stand: 25%
• Walk: 25%
• Sit: 50%
• Use hands/fingers: 100%
• Climb or balance: 5%
• Stoop/kneel/crouch/crawl: 5%
• Reach with hands/arms: 50%
• Talk or hear: 100%
• Lifting up to 10 lbs: 25%
• Lifting up to 25 lbs: 25%
• Lifting up to 50 lbs (with assistance): 5%
• Lifting up to 100 lbs (with assistance): 1%
• Wet/humid conditions: 20%
• Work near moving mechanical parts: 5%
• Fumes/airborne particles: 5%
• Extreme cold: 5%
• Extreme heat: 5%

Compensation

The compensation listed below for this position represents the anticipated hiring range and is provided in accordance with Virginia pay transparency requirements. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as the selected candidate’s skills, qualifications, experience, education, certifications, internal equity, and the specific requirements of the role. Range: $59,600 - $89,400