Group Sales Executive

Position Overview

We are seeking a dynamic and results-driven Group Sales Executive to join our esteemed team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In this pivotal role, you will play a critical part in driving revenue growth and achieving the hotel’s topline objectives by actively pursuing new business opportunities across all segments. Your responsibilities will include identifying and securing new accounts, re-engaging past leads, and implementing strategic sales initiatives to maximize business potential. This position requires a proactive approach to sales, strong relationship-building skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with leadership and hotel management teams to ensure competitive positioning in the market.

Key Responsibilities

The Group Sales Executive will work closely with the Property Sales Leader (ASL or DOS/DOSM) to develop and execute sales strategies tailored to the unique needs of each assigned hotel. Your core responsibilities will include:

• Revenue Generation: Drive top-line growth by proactively soliciting business from small and corporate accounts, identifying new targets, and re-soliciting past leads to capitalize on untapped opportunities.
• Market Intelligence and Strategy: Partner with leadership to ensure competitive sales strategies are in place, aligning sales activities with market trends and real-time competitor insights. Focus on properties’ Best Available Rate (BAR) pricing strategies to maintain a competitive edge.
• Account Management: Collaborate with the Property Sales Leader to identify top accounts, determine optimal account deployment structures, and engage key decision-makers within each account to drive demand and business pull-through.
• Lead Generation and Follow-Up: Utilize internal tools such as the eProspecting Portal and third-party data sources to generate leads, solicit new business opportunities, and follow up on non-deployed accounts, including turndowns, lost opportunities, and realized business.
• Property Support and Internal Coordination: Provide hands-on support to assigned hotels by coordinating and executing internal mining efforts to uncover new business opportunities. Ensure effective funnel management through available systems and collaboration with multi-hotel sales teams.
• Customer Engagement and Site Inspections: Conduct customer-facing sales activities, including account calls, site inspections, lunch-and-learns, social hours, and participation in local industry events and Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) activities to foster relationships and drive bookings.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Local Sales, U.S. Account Sales, and Global Sales Offices (GSO) teams to drive production from high-priority accounts and maximize special corporate business within the represented marketplace.
• Reporting and Performance Tracking: Maintain accurate and up-to-date lead information in the Customer Information (CI) and TravelClick (TY) Sales Force Automation (SFA) systems to ensure seamless tracking and reporting of sales activities and performance metrics.

Candidate Profile

Education and Experience

To excel in this role, candidates must meet the following qualifications:

• Required:
  • A high school diploma or GED, along with a minimum of 2 years of experience in sales and marketing, guest services, front desk operations, or a related professional field.
  • OR
  • A 2-year degree from an accredited university in Business Administration, Marketing, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or a related major, with no prior work experience required.
• Preferred:
  • A 4-year college degree in a relevant field.
  • Previous experience in proactive lead generation within the hospitality industry, with a strong understanding of sales disciplines and property-specific business segments (e.g., group, catering, transient).
  • In-depth knowledge of the hospitality industry, including market trends, competitive landscape, and customer preferences.

Core Competencies

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and attributes:

• Sales Acumen: A proven track record in sales, with the ability to identify and pursue new business opportunities in a competitive market.
• Communication and Relationship-Building: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, and internal teams.
• Analytical and Strategic Thinking: Strong analytical skills to assess market trends, competitor activities, and customer needs, enabling the development of effective sales strategies.
• Organizational and Time Management: Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain a high level of productivity in a fast-paced environment.
• Customer-Centric Approach: A commitment to delivering exceptional customer service and ensuring customer satisfaction through proactive engagement and follow-up.
• Technological Proficiency: Familiarity with sales tools, CRM systems, and data analytics platforms to track performance and drive informed decision-making.

Work Environment and Schedule

This is a full-time, on-site position based in the AlHada Area, Mekkah Road, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Group Sales Executive will report directly to the Property Sales Leader and will work closely with hotel General Managers and other key stakeholders to achieve sales targets and drive business growth.