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Hotel Sales Manager job description

A Hotel Sales Manager brings business into the hotel. They win corporate accounts, travel agents, event bookings and group business, and build the revenue that keeps rooms and banquets full. The role reports to the Hotel General Manager or Director of Sales. A good Hotel Sales Manager keeps a strong pipeline, converts leads into confirmed business, negotiates rates that protect the hotel and builds relationships that bring the same clients back season after season.

DetailFor this role
DepartmentHospitality
LevelManager
Reports toHotel General Manager
Direct reportsSales Executive
Experience6 to 10 years in hotel sales

Hotel Sales Manager job description template

Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.

Job title: Hotel Sales Manager

Department: Hospitality

Reports to: Hotel General Manager

Location: [City], [office, branch or site]

About the role

A Hotel Sales Manager brings business into the hotel. They win corporate accounts, travel agents, event bookings and group business, and build the revenue that keeps rooms and banquets full. The role reports to the Hotel General Manager or Director of Sales. A good Hotel Sales Manager keeps a strong pipeline, converts leads into confirmed business, negotiates rates that protect the hotel and builds relationships that bring the same clients back season after season.

Key responsibilities

  • Win corporate, travel agent, group and event business to meet the hotel's revenue targets.
  • Build and work a pipeline of leads through calls, visits and proposals every week.
  • Negotiate room and banquet rates that fill the hotel while protecting the average rate.
  • Sign and manage corporate rate contracts and travel agent tie ups for the year.
  • Coordinate with revenue and front office on availability, rates and group blocks.
  • Handle event and MICE enquiries from proposal through to confirmed booking.
  • Build lasting relationships with key accounts and win repeat and referral business.
  • Represent the hotel at trade shows, road shows and industry events in the region.
  • Track the sales pipeline, conversions and account performance and report them monthly.
  • Work with marketing on offers, packages and campaigns to drive demand.

Requirements

  • Degree in hotel management or business
  • Strong hotel or hospitality sales record
  • Local corporate and agent network
  • 6 to 10 years in hotel sales

KRAs and KPIs for a Hotel Sales Manager

Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.

Key result areaHow to measure it
Sales revenueRoom and banquet sales revenue meets or beats the monthly target
PipelineActive pipeline kept above the agreed value every month
ConversionLead to booking conversion held at or above the target rate
Account growthRevenue from key accounts grows against the previous year
Rate disciplineNegotiated rates held at or above the approved floor
Repeat businessRepeat and referral bookings held above the target share

Skills and tools

Hotel salesCorporate accountsRate negotiationPipeline managementMICE and eventsRelationship buildingProposal writingPersuasionMarket knowledge

Tools used day to day: Property management system, CRM, MS Excel, Proposal templates, Email and calling tools.

Reporting line and career path

Hotel General ManagerHotel Sales ManagerSales Executive
Moves up from: Sales Executive, Front Office Manager, Banquet Manager
Next roles: Director of Sales, Hotel General Manager, Cluster Sales Head

Interview questions for a Hotel Sales Manager

  1. How do you build a corporate account from a cold lead?
  2. How do you negotiate a rate that fills rooms but protects the average rate?
  3. How do you keep a healthy pipeline in a slow season?
  4. How do you win a group booking against a competing hotel?
  5. How do you grow revenue from an existing key account?
  6. How do you work with revenue and front office on group blocks?

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Frequently asked questions

What does a Hotel Sales Manager do?

A Hotel Sales Manager brings business into the hotel. They win corporate accounts, travel agents, group and event bookings, negotiate rates, build a pipeline and manage key relationships. They coordinate with revenue and front office and represent the hotel at industry events, reporting to the General Manager or Director of Sales.

What is MICE in hotel sales?

MICE stands for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions. It is the business events segment that hotels sell rooms, banquet space and services to. A hotel sales manager pursues MICE enquiries because these bookings fill many rooms and event spaces together, making them valuable for revenue.

What qualifications does a Hotel Sales Manager need?

Most Hotel Sales Manager roles ask for a degree in hotel management or business with a strong hospitality sales record and six or more years of experience. A local network of corporate accounts and travel agents helps a lot, along with rate negotiation and relationship building skills.