Sales Director

We are seeking an accomplished, highly motivated, and strategic Director of Sales to lead all revenue-generating sales initiatives for a premier full-service hotel in Portland, Maine. This executive-level leader will be responsible for driving top-line revenue growth through the development and execution of innovative sales strategies targeting corporate, group, association, government, SMERF, and leisure market segments. As a key member of the hotel's leadership team, the Director of Sales will play a critical role in positioning the property as a preferred destination within the region while maximizing occupancy, average daily rate (ADR), market share, and overall profitability. The ideal candidate is a dynamic hospitality sales professional with a proven history of exceeding revenue goals, cultivating long-term client partnerships, and leading high-performing sales teams. This individual will possess exceptional business development skills, strong market awareness, and the ability to identify emerging opportunities within an evolving marketplace. Working collaboratively with Revenue Management, Marketing, Catering, and Operations leaders, the Director of Sales will develop and implement comprehensive sales plans that drive both short-term performance and long-term growth. Success in this role requires a proactive, relationship-driven leader who thrives on creating new business opportunities, inspiring teams, and delivering measurable results in a competitive full-service hotel environment. Key Responsibilities Develop and execute annual sales and marketing plans aligned with hotel revenue goals. Identify and pursue new business opportunities across corporate, group, association, government, and leisure market segments. Establish and maintain a robust sales pipeline to achieve occupancy, ADR, and revenue objectives. Analyze market trends, competitive activity, and customer demand to create effective sales strategies. Revenue Generation Collaborate closely with Revenue Management and Operations teams to maximize overall hotel profitability. Lead the solicitation, negotiation, and closing of group and corporate business opportunities. Conduct sales calls, site inspections, networking events, and client presentations to secure new accounts. Drive meeting, conference, banquet, and catering revenue through strategic prospecting and relationship development. Client & Account Management Build and maintain strong relationships with key accounts, local businesses, travel partners, event planners, and industry organizations. Ensure exceptional service delivery throughout the sales cycle to promote repeat business and client loyalty. Participate in industry trade shows, community events, and professional associations to increase hotel visibility. Recruit, mentor, train, and develop the Sales and Catering team. Establish performance goals, monitor productivity, and provide ongoing coaching. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence. Conduct regular sales meetings, pipeline reviews, and strategy sessions. Reporting & Analysis Prepare accurate sales forecasts, pace reports, and business development plans. Monitor key performance indicators and adjust strategies to meet changing market conditions. Maintain CRM and sales systems with accurate account activity and prospect information. Present sales performance updates and strategic recommendations to executive leadership. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, Business Administration, Marketing, or related field preferred. Minimum 5 years of hotel sales leadership experience, preferably within an independent full-service hotel environment. Proven success generating group, corporate, and catering revenue. Strong knowledge of hotel sales processes, revenue management principles, and market segmentation. Experience with Delphi, CI/TY, Salesforce, or similar CRM and sales management systems preferred. Excellent negotiation, presentation, and communication skills. Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing sales teams. Strong analytical and financial acumen. Ability to travel as needed for client meetings, industry events, and trade shows. Experience selling a hotel with significant meeting and event space. Established relationships within the New England corporate, association, and hospitality markets. Knowledge of Portland, Maine tourism and business landscape. Competitive base salary plus 30% performance-based bonus program Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits – 75% employer-paid #J-18808-Ljbffr