Sales Manager - Group Bookings

About the role

21c Museum Hotels, which combines a contemporary art museum, a boutique hotel and a chef-driven restaurant, is hiring a Sales Manager in Durham, NC. The Sales Manager is responsible for the group room markets of the Corporate, SMERF and Association segments, selling to individual accounts and groups according to the marketing plan and ensuring sales and group bookings deliver maximum revenue per available guest room. The position reports to the Director of Sales & Marketing.

Key responsibilities

• Build the client base through outside sales calls, sales blitzes, cold calling, prospecting, direct mail, networking and referrals.
• Conduct site tours, represent the hotel at trade shows and business events, covering local and national markets.
• Identify gap periods (30/60/90 days and beyond), recommend targeted sales and marketing plans and follow them through.
• Generate maximum revenue in rooms and catering by achieving revenue booking goals.
• Analyze demand segments and sources of business, study competitors and leverage the hotel's strengths.
• Finalize group booking contracts, coordinate function details with guests and department heads, and manage cut-off dates.
• Sell within established pricing models to maximize profit and optimize space.
• Prepare monthly reports such as pace reports, sales inquiries, site visits and action plans, and attend weekly revenue, BEO and one-on-one meetings.

Required profile

• Prior hotel sales and management experience required.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Ability to work largely independently with minimal direct supervision.
• Must pass a background check.
• Some local travel to client sites and networking events, infrequent long-range travel.

Required skills

• Extensive knowledge of selling strategies and the group sales process, including negotiation.
• Complete knowledge of hotel, catering and event space.
• Use of the property's booking, tracking and forecasting tools.
• Analysis of financial statements and market data.
• Computer skills including accounting programs, Delphi, Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.