Director of Sales

Job Title: Director of Sales 

Location: Aloft Atlanta at the Battery Atlanta

Reports to: General Manager 

Employment Type: Full-time

Job Overview:

The Director of Sales at Aloft Atlanta at the Battery Atlanta is responsible for leading the hotel's sales strategy to drive revenue growth and maximize occupancy. This role involves overseeing the sales team, developing strategic plans to target corporate clients, event planners, and other market segments, and fostering strong relationships with key clients. The ideal candidate is a dynamic leader with a proven track record in hotel sales, exceptional networking skills, and the ability to build strategies that align with the hotel’s goals.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Sales Strategy & Planning:
   • Develop and execute a comprehensive sales strategy to increase hotel revenue and market share.
   • Analyze market trends, competitor performance, and guest demographics to identify new opportunities for business.
   • Create annual sales forecasts and ensure alignment with the hotel’s overall financial goals.
   • Develop strategic partnerships and build long-term relationships with corporate clients, travel agencies, and event planners.
2. Business Development:
   • Identify and pursue new business opportunities within key market segments, including corporate, leisure, group, and events.
   • Generate leads and convert them into confirmed bookings through proactive outreach, networking, and attending industry events.
   • Cultivate relationships with repeat clients to encourage loyalty and increase repeat business.
   • Collaborate with the events and catering teams to secure large-scale meetings, conferences, and banquets.
3. Team Leadership & Management:
   • Lead, motivate, and support the sales team to achieve individual and collective sales goals.
   • Develop and maintain training programs to enhance the team’s sales skills, product knowledge, and customer service capabilities.
   • Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide feedback to encourage growth and improvement.
   • Ensure collaboration between the sales team and other departments, such as marketing, revenue management, and operations.
4. Client Relations & Networking:
   • Maintain strong relationships with key accounts and ensure exceptional service to maximize client retention.
   • Attend industry trade shows, conferences, and networking events to promote the hotel and expand its client base.
   • Conduct site inspections, presentations, and client meetings to showcase the hotel’s offerings.
   • Develop a client relationship management (CRM) approach to maintain contact with past and prospective clients.
5. Revenue Optimization:
   • Collaborate with the revenue management team to implement dynamic pricing strategies that maximize occupancy and profitability.
   • Monitor and analyze booking patterns and revenue performance to adjust sales tactics as needed.
   • Participate in regular revenue meetings, contributing insights on sales trends and providing feedback on pricing strategies.
   • Ensure that the sales team meets or exceeds monthly, quarterly, and annual revenue targets.
6. Sales Reporting & Analysis:
   • Prepare regular sales reports for senior management, detailing the performance of key accounts, revenue generation, and overall sales activity.
   • Utilize data and analytics to refine sales strategies and adjust goals as necessary.
   • Track and measure the success of sales initiatives and promotions, reporting on their ROI.
7. Marketing & Promotions:
   • Collaborate with the marketing team to create promotional materials, campaigns, and packages that attract target clients.
   • Oversee the development of marketing and sales collateral that highlights the hotel’s unique features, services, and amenities.
   • Develop and promote special offers, seasonal promotions, and group packages to drive bookings during low-demand periods.

Qualifications and Skills:

1. Education:
   • Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field preferred.
2. Experience:
   • Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in hotel sales, with at least 3 years in a leadership or director-level role.
   • Proven track record of driving revenue and achieving sales goals in a hospitality environment.
   • Experience in business development, lead generation, and client relationship management.
   • In-depth understanding of the hotel market, including corporate, group, and leisure segments.
3. Skills:
   • Strong leadership and team management skills.
   • Excellent negotiation, networking, and relationship-building abilities.
   • Financial acumen, with the ability to forecast sales, manage budgets, and analyze revenue reports.
   • Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.
   • Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and make decisions in a fast-paced environment.
   • Proficiency in hotel CRM systems, sales software, and Microsoft Office Suite.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to travel for meetings, client presentations, and networking events.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends when required for client meetings or events.
• Ability to stand and move around the hotel property during client site visits or tours.

Work Environment:

• Primarily office-based with frequent interaction with clients and other hotel departments.
• Dynamic, fast-paced environment with the need for strong multitasking and time-management skills.
• Collaborative workplace that requires coordination between sales, marketing, and operations teams.