Assistant Director of Sales - Market Sales Melbourne
JOB SUMMARY
Responsible for proactively soliciting and managing all group and catering opportunities. Manages reactive group and catering opportunities. Actively up-sells each business opportunity to maximize revenue opportunity. Leads and manages all day-to-day activities related to the sales function with a focus on building long-term, value-based customer relationships that enable achievement of property sales objectives. Achieves personal booking goals and makes recommendations on booking goals of direct reports.
Ensures business is turned over to properly and in a timely fashion for proper service delivery. Responsible for driving customer/guest loyalty by delivering service excellence throughout each customer/guest experience. Provides service to customers in order to grow the account on behalf of the company.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Education and Experience
2-year degree from an accredited university in Business Administration, Marketing, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or related major; 3 years experience in the sales and marketing or related professional area.
OR
4-year bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or related major; 1 year experience in the sales and marketing or related professional area.
CORE WORK ACTIVITIES
Understanding Market Opportunities & Driving Revenue
Reactively handles all group and catering opportunities with a strong emphasis on increasing conversion rates.
Partners with group/catering counterparts; Market Sales, GSO, to effectively manage the business opportunity.
Responds to all incoming group/catering opportunities for the property in line with MI response time guidelines.
Identifies, qualifies and solicits new and repeat group/catering business to achieve personal, team and each property's revenue goals.
Focuses efforts on group/catering accounts with significant potential sales revenue.
In conjunction with the Snr. Director, Sales & Distribution, develops effective group/catering sales plans and actions.
Working with the individual properties, designs, develops and sells creative catered events.
Maximizes revenue by upselling packages and creative food and beverage.
Understands the overall market - competitors' strengths and weaknesses, economic trends, supply and demand etc. and knows how to sell against them.
Closes the best opportunities for each property based on market conditions and individual property needs.
Effectively cross sells to maximise market share for the participating hotels.
Uses negotiating skills and creative selling abilities to close on business and negotiate contracts.
Hotel Communication - coordinates with hotels for site inspections and entertainment. Updates hotels on their accounts and pending business status and ensures follow-through and property "buy-in" on customers' service needs.
Maintains accurate and up-to-date account data and reporting using an account management system.
Maximizing Revenue
Provides positive and aggressive leadership to ensure maximum revenue potential (e.g., sets example with personal booking goals).
Recommends booking goals for sales team members.
Managing Sales Activities
Approves space release for catering to maximize revenue (DOS, Group) in the absence of a Business Evaluation Manager.
Participates in sales calls with members of sales team to acquire new business and/or close on business.
Executes and supports the operational aspects of business booked (e.g., generating proposal, writing contract, customer correspondence).
Analyzing & Reporting on Sales and Financial Data
Analyzes market information by using sales systems and implements strategy to achieve property's financial room and catering goals.
Assists Revenue Management with completing accurate six period projections.
Reviews sales and catering guest satisfaction results to identify areas of improvement.
Leadership
Adaptability - Maintains performance level under pressure or when experiencing changes or challenges in the workplace.
Communication - Conveys information and ideas to others in a convincing and engaging manner through a variety of methods.
Problem Solving and Decision Making - Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; obtains and compares information from different sources to draw conclusions, develop and evaluate alternatives and solutions, solve problems, and choose a course of action.
Professional Demeanor - Exhibits behavioral styles that convey confidence and command respect from others; makes a good first impression and represents the company in alignment with its values.
Ensuring Exceptional Customer Service
Displays leadership in guest hospitality, exemplifies customer service and creates a positive example for guest relations.
Interacts with guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels.
Meets with guests during pre- and post-convention meetings to obtain feedback on quality of product (e.g., rooms, meeting facilities and equipment, food and beverage), service levels, execution against contract and overall satisfaction.
Empowers employees to provide excellent customer service.
Observes service behaviors of employees and provides feedback to individuals and/or managers.
Incorporates guest satisfaction as a component of department meetings with a focus on continuous improvement.
Ensures that a customer recognition program is in effect throughout Sales.
Executes and supports the company's Customer Service Standards and property's Brand Standards.
Participates in and practices daily service basics of the brand.
Executes exemplary customer service to drive customer satisfaction and loyalty by assisting the customer and ensuring their satisfaction before and during their program/event.
Serves the customer by understanding their needs and recommending the appropriate features and services that best meet their needs and exceed their expectations, while building a relationship and loyalty to the company.
Gains understanding of the property's primary target customer and service expectations; serves the customer by understanding their business, business issues and concerns, to offer better business solution both prior to, and during the program/event.
Building Successful Relationships
Develops and manages relationships with key stakeholders, both internal and external.
Works collaboratively with off-property sales channels (e.g., Event Booking Center, Market Sales, GSO) to ensure the property needs are being achieved and the sales efforts are complementary, not duplicative.
Works with Human Resources, Engineering and Loss Prevention to ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations and/or union requirements.
Attends customer events, trade shows and sales missions to maintain, build or develop key relationships with GSO Managers and customers.
Generating Talent and Organizational Capability
Organizational Capability - Evaluates and adapts the structure of own assignments and suggests improvements to work processes to best fit the needs and/or support the goals of an organizational unit.
Talent Management - Provides support and feedback to help individuals develop and strengthen skills and abilities needed to accomplish work objectives.
Basic Competencies - Fundamental competencies required for accomplishing basic work activities.
o Basic Computer Skills - Uses basic computer hardware and software (e.g., personal computers, word processing software, Internet browsers, etc.).
o Mathematical Reasoning - Demonstrates ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly, correctly, and in a way that allows one to solve work-related issues.
o Oral Comprehension - Demonstrates ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
o Reading Comprehension - Demonstrates understanding of written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
o Writing - Communicates effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Additional Responsibilities
Meet the grooming standards of the hotel as set out in the Associate Handbook.
Maintain company confidentiality, ensuring that business dealings within the organization are not discussed with outside parties.
Performs other duties, as assigned, to meet business need
At Marriott International, we are dedicated to being an equal opportunity employer, welcoming all and providing access to opportunity. We actively foster an environment where the unique backgrounds of our associates are valued and celebrated.Our greatest strength lies in the rich blend of culture, talent, and experiences of our associates. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, including disability, veteran status, or other basis protected by applicable law.
When you join the Sheraton family, you become a member of its global community. We've been a place to gather and connect since 1937. At Sheraton, associates create a sense of belonging in more than 400 communities around the world. We invite, we welcome, and we connect guests through engaging experiences and thoughtful service. If you're a team player who is excited to deliver a meaningful guest experience, we encourage you to explore your next career opportunity with Sheraton. Join us on our mission to be 'The World's Gathering Place'. In joining Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, you join a portfolio of brands with Marriott International. Be where you can do your best work, begin your purpose, belong to an amazing global team, and become the best version of you.