Area Sales Manager at Ascent Hospitality in Gulfport, MS

Ascent Hospitality has an extensive portfolio of hotels and a strong pipeline of new properties and acquisitions, but we’re not about numbers…we’re about people and that remains our foundation. Our culture expresses a memorable experience for all of our Team Members and guests alike. So we’re constantly looking for individuals who work well together for a unified purpose. For our leadership, we’re looking for accomplished individuals with a passion to serve others, strong communicators who clearly understand the needs of others and trendsetters who excel at challenges and change. If this is what you’re all about, consider joining our Team.

Ascent Hospitality is looking for a uniquely qualified hospitality leader to join our team as an Area Sales Manager!

The Area Sales Manager functions as the leader of the area cluster Sales team and manages the on property Sales team; achieves individual booking goals and has responsibility for achieving defined property revenue goals, guest and team member satisfaction and makes recommendations on direct reports booking goals (if applicable); leads on-property sales functions to build long-term, value-based customer relationships that enable achievement of hotel sales objectives; The Area Sales Leader implements agreed key sales initiatives and ensures execution of sales and marketing strategy and programs for multiple hotels within the portfolio as assigned by the Regional Director of Sales.

BENEFITS:

• Competitive Salary!
• Benefits - Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, and other supplemental options!
• 401k with employer MATCH!
• Paid PTO!
• Uniforms Provided for most positions!
• Team Member Hotel Discount Program!

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Execute the sales strategy and ensure individual booking goals are met.
• Conduct a successful, aggressive solicitation process involving outside sales calls, inside appointments, telephone calls, individual letter and direct mail per company guidelines for each property.
• Cultivating lead sources of sales, through direct sales calls, weekly visits to designated calendar targets within your territory and follow-up calls, some of which will be cold calls
• Ensure the development of a strategic account plan for the demand generators in the market.
• Ensure focus is on proactive selling and reactive selling with individual and group goals.
• Determine and develop marketing communication activities, in conjunction with Regional Marketing Communications.
• Provide customer intelligence in evaluating the market and economic trends that may lead to changes in sales strategy to meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Develop strong partnerships with local organizations to further increase brand/product awareness.
• Review the STAR report, competitive shopping reports and uses other resources to maintain an awareness of the hotel's market position.
• Research competitor's sales team strategies to identify ways to grow occupancy and RevPAR and increase market share.
• Attend sales strategy meetings to provide input on weekly and overall sales strategy.
• Suggest innovative marketing ideas and proactively develop deployment strategies to continue to grow market share.
• Serve as the sales contact for the General Manager, Regional Sales leaders and current and future guests.
• Serve as hotel authority on SafeServe as hotel authority on sales processes and sales contracts.
• Develop strong community and public relations by ensuring property participation in local, regional and national trade shows and client events.
• Participate in sales calls with members of the Sales and Marketing team to acquire new business and/or close on business.
• Identify public relations opportunities and coordinate activities to augment the overall marketing communication strategy.
• Support the General Manager by coordinating crisis communications.
• Execute and supports Customer Service Standards and hotel's Brand Standards.
• Execute and support the operational aspects of business booked (e.g., generating proposal, writing contract, customer correspondence).
• Execute exemplary customer service to drive customer satisfaction and loyalty by assisting the customer and ensuring their satisfaction before and during their program/event.
• Perform other duties, as assigned, to meet business needs.

SPECIFIC JOB KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Highly responsible, reliable, and ethical
• Well organized and detail-oriented
• Must have excellent communication, organizational and guest relations skills.
• Ability to multi-task
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
• Must have the ability to speak, understand, read and write the English language
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to operate a vehicle to meet with clients.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit, stand and walk for long periods of time; using hands and fingers repetitively; view computer screens for long periods of time; use office equipment, including a telephone; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel or crouch and frequently required to walk, climb stairs, talk and hear.
• May be required to regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Must be capable of effectively using close vision, distance vision, and color vision.
• Able to operate in mentally and physically stressful situations

QUALIFICATION STANDARDS:

• High school education is required. College education is preferred.
• Must have at least three (3) or more years of hotel sales experience responsible for selling a multi- hotel complex.
• Must be able to effectively lead and motivate a large team.

EEO Employer