About Four Seasons:
Four Seasons is powered by our people. We are a collective of individuals who crave to become better, to push ourselves to new heights and to treat each other as we wish to be treated in return. Our team members around the world create amazing experiences for our guests, residents, and partners through a commitment to luxury with genuine heart. We know that the best way to enable our people to deliver these exceptional guest experiences is through a world-class employee experience and company culture.
At Four Seasons, we believe in recognizing a familiar face, welcoming a new one and treating everyone we meet the way we would want to be treated ourselves. Whether you work with us, stay with us, live with us or discover with us, we believe our purpose is to create impressions that will stay with you for a lifetime. It comes from our belief that life is richer when we truly connect to the people and the world around us.
About the location:
A lone star welcome in the country's capital of southern cool. We can’t wait to welcome you to Houston, the country’s capital of southern cool, where urban sophistication meets bold Texas hospitality. Gather where business deals get done, friends and family reconnect and celebrities and athletes make their home. After a day exploring our city, unwind at our rooftop pool oasis, enjoy the ultimate in entertainment at our Topgolf Swing Suites, indulge and pamper at The Spa and our Krigler perfumery boutique and savour flavourful dishes from Chef Partner Richard Sandoval at Toro Toro and Bayou & Bottle.
About the role
The Associate Director of Sales promotes and sells to individual business travel, leisure markets and long-term residential leases. Generates hotel awareness through direct phone sales, direct sales calls, tradeshows and networking groups. Works closely with sales, catering and marketing teams to solicit, sell and confirm business required to meet budgeted sales goals. Candidate should possess the ability to solicit individual business and leisure travel and create business development plans independently. This position requires a high degree of independent judgement and discretion on decision making and managing confidential information of the property.
What you will do
Identify and target customers that will generate transient business and long-stay residential bookings on behalf of the hotel.
Liaise and strengthen relationship with accounts in order to drive business and increase fare market share
Develop and maintain strong relationships across the assigned markets, leveraging industry knowledge and market intelligence.
Collaborate with hotel leadership and support the Director of Sales in managing team initiatives and market insights.
Prepare and present analysis and reporting on business trends, market conditions and customer base as needed to Director of Sales and Commercial Director for assigned market and business
Follow up on all business inquiries and leads and qualify business to generate room nights and ancillary revenue to impact RevPar performance, to include Villa & Residential Rentals inventory
Create and execute customized account plans for assigned market territory to ensure maximum revenue and budgeted targets are achieved.
Achieve monthly, quarterly and annual revenue and direct sales goals by implementing a territory business development strategy including outside sales calls, prospecting calls, site inspections, and entertainment
Serve as the Hotel’s lead for Partner Programs to include, but not limited to, Preferred Partner, CHASE and American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) programs.
Educate and engage travel advisors through tailored communications, training, and hosted events.
Monitor and report on market trends, booking patterns, account performance, and forecasting.
Solicit, confirm and service travel agent and transient accounts including negotiating rates and confirming contracts that ensure targeted budget achievement
Create and execute account plans for to accounts and make recommendations re: pricing, yield management, room night production, sales activities, etc. and manage annual RFP process for each individual targeted account including account and market intelligence and pricing recommendations to maximize hotel profitability and secure travel program inclusion
Contribute segment strategy recommendations to the Hotel’s annual business and marketing plan to maximize revenue and optimize the mix of business based on market conditions and forecasts
Organize and implement all elements of assigned FAM events, client entertainment and assigned business development projects with adequate timelines to ensure maximum client engagement
Plan and execute sales strategies including prospecting, sales trips, sales blitzes, familiarization tours, and virtual/in-person client meetings.
Plan activities in advance. Ability to coordinate special events, promotions and other required management duties as assigned
Participate in local group/meetings organizations as needed for job
Maintain thorough and complete product knowledge of property and in-depth understanding of comp set’s Features/Advantages/Benefits
Maintain a good understanding of the Hotel’s Revenue Management strategy and seasonality/citywide pressures that impact business conditions
Independently perform customer site inspections to uncover needs and present solutions that will maximize booking opportunity and create strong customer relationships
Create VIP resumes identifying and communicating traveler’s needs and acting as liaison to ensure all operational and marketing aspects of their stay are met
Demonstrate curiosity and continuous learning related to the market, competitive landscape and selling skills
Communicate industry trends or market data as needed to better understand our marketplace and business.
Understand and maximize the utilization of all automated sales and reservations systems (Opera) involved with corporate negotiated and travel industry business.
Participate in sales meetings and strategy meetings as required.
Leadership Responsibilities of the job include but are not limited to:
The ability to direct the reporting and appraising of results against planned objectives; coordinates sales staff activities; takes appropriate action to maximize sales and affect need periods.
The ability to support Sales Managers by participating in solving problems of guest room and function space conflicts, salvaging of accounts which have threatened cancellation.
The ability to ensure communication of Sales Managers between other Department Heads is maintained to maximize the guest experience and hotel profitability.
The ability to keep Director of Sales promptly and fully informed of all problems or unusual matters of significance coming to his/her attention so prompt corrective action can be taken where appropriate.
The ability to coordinate and implement all sales department action plans.
What you bring
Viable candidates must have a minimum of three years' experience in a high-end/upscale luxury sales role
Candidates with experience across Corporate and Travel Industry segments preferred
Excellent negotiation skills and strong decision-making abilities
Creative and innovative approach to sales activities
Reading, writing and oral proficiency in English
Knowledge of sales and/or customer management systems required
Working computer skills and knowledge including but not limited to Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Opera
Above average communication skills - both written and oral - are required.
Ability to handle multiple tasks and make decisions in a fast-paced client driven environment.
Schedule & Hours:
This is a full-time position
Open availability expected, with scheduled shifts including late nights, holidays and weekends
Four Seasons is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. Minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. To access the 'EEOC is The Law' Information poster please visit this website - https://eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf