Product Development Director jobs in New Orleans, LA

The Holiday Inn Express New Orleans is looking for an experienced DOS to join its team!

334 O'Keefe Ave
New Orleans, LA

Job Title: Director of Sales                                                                                                   

Supervision Received: General Manager with a dotted line to Corporate Director of Sales

Supervision Exercised: Small Office of 2

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Sales will implement, monitor, and control sales strategies.   The Director of Sales is also responsible for meeting assigned monthly sales goals.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience as a Senior Sales Manager or Associate Director of Sales in a similar-sized property 
• Delphi.fdc, and Opera knowledge are a plus

Skills and Knowledge  

The individual must possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities and be able to explain and demonstrate that he or she may perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including leading and participating in formal presentations 
• Strong sales and negotiation skills as well as the ability to cultivate leads, build relationships and achieve financial expectations   
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment 
• Experience with hotel PMS and sales systems
• Strong computer skills. Microsoft Office, Delphi, or other hotel sales system, and other programs as it pertains to this position

• Strong knowledge of reading and understanding STR reports   
• Excellent working knowledge of all department operations
• Skilled at both monthly group forecasting and the annual budget process 
• Skilled at preparing and presenting annual marketing plans and quarterly ownership presentations
• Understanding of Group and Catering pace reports and sales productivity reporting
• Understanding of budgetary and fiscal responsibility to the sales department 
• Ability to provide strong leadership, mentorship, training, and coaching & counseling skills to his or her direct reports
• Strong desire to deliver high quality of customer service 
• Detail-oriented and organized as it pertains to accuracy and efficiency

JOB DUTIES 

• Manage the sales team to achieve/exceed budgeted revenues for the current year, along with future year pre-booking goals.
• Initiate and maintain a direct and aggressive sales effort to meet/exceed budgeted goals and achieve RevPAR and penetration growth.
• Hands-on sales responsibility with supervisory accountability for the daily activities of sales team members, providing them with the leadership, mentorship, and training necessary to implement effective sales strategies that maximize all revenue streams for the hotel.
• Management of each member of the sales team to direct the effort and execution of exceeding monthly sales activities and productivity goals.
• Ensure each member of the team adheres to professional and timely correspondences, proposals, contracts, and follow-ups.
• Establish sales team policies and procedures relating to Sales, Revenue Management, and Reservations.
• Demonstrate the ability to attract and retain high-performing sales associates.
• With guidance from the assigned Corporate Director of Sales, assist in the development and implementation of quarterly and annual booking goals for the Sales Department.
• Assist the General Manager with the Sales and Marketing portion of the Annual Marketing Plan and Quarterly Ownership Review presentations.
• Support all direct sales efforts to include sales trips, off-property functions, and customer entertainment.
• Knowledgeable about each hotel’s top accounts.
• Accompanies sellers on outside sales appointments and “shadows” sellers during telephone prospecting and solicitation calls as needed
• Monitor quality and accuracy of final group sales and wholesale contracts to ensure proper application of hotel deposit, space allocation, yield, and SOP policies.
• Prepare and train the sales team in relation to performance benchmarks and budgets.
• Develop strategies for Group forecasting and analyzing hotel revenue needs.
• Responsible for monthly group forecasts and revisions.
• Collaborate and produce rate strategies with Revenue Management to ensure the hotel has effective pricing and selling strategies in place to achieve the optimal mix of business, a minimum 12-month period of time.
• Plan, manage, and evaluate all financial aspects of the sales efforts throughout the properties to ensure cost-effectiveness and optimal utilization of resources.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate short and long-term tactics and programs focused on customer and market needs/ conditions to ensure the achievement of all sales associate and team revenue goals.
• Attend and actively participate in weekly yield and group pick-up management meetings 
• Plan, manage, and evaluate all financial aspects of the sales effort to ensure cost-effectiveness and optimal utilization of resources.
• Work with the Corporate Marketing Manager in taking an active role in developing Marketing and PR strategies to support the revenue goals.
• Ensure accurate and current Marketing data is readily available to support and document the decision-making process.
• Manage the HRIL Sales and Marketing Incentive Plan process for the Sales Department.
• Create, manage, and expense budget/forecast.
• Responsible for producing and distributing accurate month-end sales reports to HRIL Senior Leadership.
• Conduct sales department meetings with written minutes.
• Receive department-related guest complaints and ensure necessary corrective action is administered.
• Maintain open door communication policy for all associates.
• Complete and maintain accurate, objective, and timely performance reviews for the department.
• Conduct frequent sales calls to existing and new accounts, as well as uncover new business in the assigned market segment(s).
• Build and strengthen relationships with existing and new accounts to enable future bookings.  Activities include sales calls, entertainment, trade shows, etc.
• Arrange site inspections of the hotel for new accounts that the Sales Leader is assigned to.
• Maintain accurate sales records in the hotel sales system to provide complete history, ensure future and current quality of service, and enhance future prospects.
• Respond to all sales inquiries within 24 business hours.
• Partner with the operations team to coordinate customer specifications, and effectively respond to customer issues and comments to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Adjust work schedule as needed to meet the business demands, which may include hours in early morning, evening, and/or weekend hours.
• Other duties as assigned.
• US work authorization is required.