Director of Sales

Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
Job Type: Full-Time

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and results-driven Director of Sales to lead the sales efforts for our branded hotel located adjacent to St. Petersburg's airport. This hotel serves a diverse mix of business segments, including corporate travelers, meetings and events, sports teams, tournaments, and group business generated by nearby sports complexes and regional attractions.

The Director of Sales will provide strategic leadership for the hotel's sales operation, including contracting and production of group resumes & BEO's, while driving revenue growth across all market segments. This role is ideal for a hospitality sales professional who thrives on relationship building, business development, and exceeding revenue goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive sales strategies to achieve and exceed hotel revenue goals.
• Identify, solicit, and maintain relationships with key accounts, organizations, associations, corporate clients, sports organizations, travel partners, and event planners.
• Lead proactive sales efforts across group, corporate, leisure, government, sports, and local business segments.
• Manage the sales team by providing coaching, mentorship, performance management, and professional development.
• Oversee all aspects of the sales process, including prospecting, negotiations, contracts, account management, and customer retention.
• Collaborate with Revenue Management and Operations teams to optimize business mix and maximize profitability.
• Develop annual sales plans, budgets, forecasts, and action plans aligned with ownership and brand objectives.
• Ensure all client commitments and contractual agreements are effectively communicated to hotel departments to deliver exceptional guest experiences.
• Maintain accurate account, activity, and production records within company systems and brand platforms.
• Represent the hotel at industry events, networking functions, trade shows, and community organizations.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and local demand generators to identify new revenue opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with brand sales standards, company policies, and reporting requirements.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3-5 years of hotel sales experience with demonstrated success in revenue generation.
• Previous leadership experience as a Director of Sales, Assistant Director of Sales, Senior Sales Manager, or similar role preferred.
• Experience working with branded hotels, preferably IHG, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, or similar major hotel brands.
• Strong understanding of group sales, corporate sales, meetings and events, and sports-related business segments.
• Experience managing and developing sales teams.
• Proficiency with Opera PMS and hotel sales systems; experience with Delphi or similar CRM platforms is a plus.
• Strong negotiation, presentation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to analyze market data, develop strategic sales plans, and drive measurable results.
• Self-motivated, organized, and capable of working in a fast-paced hospitality environment.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary plus commission and bonus opportunities
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Paid time off and holiday pay
• Hotel discounts through brand programs
• Professional development and advancement opportunities
• Supportive ownership and leadership team

If you are passionate about hospitality sales, developing high-performing teams, and driving revenue growth, we encourage you to apply and join our leadership team.