What’s the job?

The Assistant Director of Sales is responsible for maximizing revenue opportunities in the areas of room reservations by driving sales acquisitions, maximizing business opportunities and increasing business conversions.

He/she is knowledgeable on local and international market trends and will recommend strategic sales initiatives to win the business and maintain hotel's market leader position as preferred hotel for international business and leisure travel segments.

Your day-to-day

• Assist the Director of Sales in management of all sales activities and events including direct sales, sales solicitation, sales administration, public relations and management of the sale team.

• Develop and procure new and repeat business for the hotel by monitoring contact with airlines, travel agencies, commercial houses, private clubs and professional associations within local and international markets.

• Utilise knowledge of local, international corporate and leisure segments to drive and support business acquisition and conversion.

• Procure new and repeat business for the hotel by monitoring contact with airlines, travel agencies, commercial houses, private clubs and professional associations within local, domestic UK and international markets.

• Maintain contact with planners, corporate accounts, incentive buyers, airlines and wholesalers, through personal sales calls, telephone contacts and written communications. Provides direction on and conducts market research. Maintain close liaison with Regional/ Corporate Sales teams and those of other IHG hotels to ensure the hotel receives proper corporate consideration, direction and support.

• Attend major travel functions to promote sales for the hotel.

• Organize and attend major sales/ PR related functions within the hotel.

• Conduct sales visits, product presentations (including virtual sessions), site inspections and attend trade shows to drive business acquisitions.

• Support for exceptional service delivery from operations teams of Front Office, Housekeeping and Food & Beverage to deliver exemplary guest experience.

• Support the Director of Sales in maintaining business excellence and guiding the team to achieve business goals.

• Acquire new business and maintain existing business relationships with accounts.

• Maximise group room revenue and maintain accurate room blocks including group attrition.

• Maintain accurate and timely update of groups to support forecast accuracy.

• Be the key contact for communication with superior and the sales team to support new account acquisition, market penetration and business conversion.

• Qualify business opportunities, prepare corporate rate agreements based on static rates or dynamic rates contracting.

• Ensure accurate rate loading upon signed agreement returned to hotel or RFP accepted.

• Respond to all groups' enquiries and work with groups, meetings and events team to drive business conversion.

• Work with Director of Sales on manpower planning and management needs.

• Other duties as assigned by Director of Sales or the management.

What we need from you

• Bachelor’s degree / higher education qualification / equivalent in marketing or related field

• Minimum 5 years' experience in a similar role with a proven track record. Candidates with more senior years of experience shall be considered for role of Director of Sales

• Corporate, Leisure, OTA experience and event sales background an advantage

• Excellent organisational and planning skills

• Prior knowledge of Opera, Oasis and use of Delphi fdc as an advantage

At IHG, we’ve made a promise. As one of the world’s leading hotel groups, we’re here to deliver True Hospitality for Good. Making our guests and colleagues feel welcome, cared for, recognised and respected – wherever they are in the world. Want to be part of the journey?

At Holiday Inn Express, we’re all about travel that’s simple AND smart.

That means we offer more to our guests where it matters most to them. Easy check-in? Check. All the essentials in a comfy room? They’re all included with a great night’s sleep. We’re focused on getting our guests more than ready. So we’re always ready. Are you?

Don't quite meet every single requirement, but still believe you'd be a great fit for the job? We'll never know unless you hit the 'Apply' button. Start your journey with us today.

At IHG Hotels & Resorts, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We firmly believe that all our colleagues deserve to be treated equally and have the same opportunities to develop and grow their skills within our business and provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and colleagues without regard to an individual's, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or familial status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.