Group MICE Sales Director

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Job description

We're looking for a dynamic Director of Sales with experience of the 4/5-star market to lead the MICE sales team across the company to develop and retain new business and grow profitability through their individual sales performance. The full management and delivery of the groups MICE preferred partnership programme's will sit under the stewardship of this position.

This is a proactive sales role with a large percentage of time being spent managing the existing client base whilst seeking out new MICE partnerships and cultivating new business opportunities.

Role Purpose:

As Director of Sales you will:

• Strengthen relationships with all key MICE customers and uncovers additional opportunities within those accounts to increase penetration and maximise profit i.e. F&B and negotiated corporate opportunities
• Understand the geographical competitive MICE landscape and Apex's position within that spectrum for our accounts, and then implements tactics to shift share
• Generate MICE revenue growth using a consultative selling approach to maintain and expand relationships throughout this market and sub-markets
• Lead effective team selling efforts to translate our MICE agreements and relationships into actualized business at local levels
• Direct the strategic relationship of the group's MICE preferred partners with specific focus on maximizing market share and ancillary revenues
• Research, identify and establish new business sales contacts, develop relationships and distribution opportunities from existing MICE programs and partners
• Manage a team of regional MICE sales managers and executives, to ensure that their individual and the overall department goals are achieved
• Maintain an in-depth knowledge of agent and end user booker accounts, and work with the Group Director of Sales and Group Operations Director to create bespoke MICE offerings
• Have the ability to drive customer and agency negotiations on business dimensions other than price
• Create and deliver strong presentations to demonstrate the Apex value proposition and benefits it provides to our MICE customers and partners
• Develop strong relationship with MICE agencies/partners and conference teams
• Maintain in depth knowledge of MICE accounts, and works with the operational teams to personalise these interactions
• Lead the annual negotiation of preferred partnerships and targets all MICE accounts
• Update the Event & Group Managers and respective teams with correct information regarding agency partnerships, commission and offers
• Create and fulfil Account Development plans for key accounts
• Own the sales lead generation, research and conversion for the MICE market segment
• Plan and execute sales activity including research, telesales, site/hotel show rounds, entertaining and client road shows
• Analysis of monthly MICE pick up production ensuring action is taken where necessary
• Contribute to monthly and annual business review reports
• Take ownership of the company MICE Sales Budget and fulfilment of sales activity plan
• Attend relevant and appropriate networking and trade show events and ensure follow up is done post event
• Efficient use of property management system to manage accounts and activities
• Assist and support with ad hoc projects as required by the Group Director of Sales

Key Skills / Entry Requirement:

A natural communicator with a passion for customer service and satisfaction, you will be proactive, show initiative and also have a proven track-record in motivating and developing a sales and events team to deliver creative solutions to maximise revenue.

You will be friendly and approachable; you will go the extra mile for our guests and will support our culture of delivering a warmer welcome' through leading by example.

You will have skills and knowledge in the following areas:

• Validated multi property experience in the specific MICE sales areas
• Highly experienced in all administrative skills with excellent attention to detail and organisation skills
• Proactive at meeting deadlines and targets
• Manages all resources within budgeted guidelines
• Highly numerate and able to work comprehensively with spreadsheets & budgeting processes
• Motivational team manager who can communicate well at all levels
• Flexibility to regularly facilitate the entertainment of MICE agents/client and familiarisation trips
• Annual international travel to both key MICE trade shows, client offices and emerging business markets
• Regular regional travel across all geographical areas of the portfolio will be required

Why join Apex Hotels?

We genuinely care about our guests and each other and we show this through our family values of Trust, Passion, Friendliness and Teamwork. It's these family values that help us take our guest experiences to the next level, where we provide a personalised service to all our guests that they'll want to share.

With 10 four-star hotels throughout the UK, we like to think of our hotels as members of the family, each with their own personality and style. Although each of our hotels has its own character, whatever one our guests choose to stay at, they'll get a great night's sleep and a warm welcome. The key to it all is you, our employees.

We also offer great benefits which include:

• Contributions to a pension scheme
• Critical illness cover
• 29 days holiday
• Access to our state-of-the-art gym and pools
• Healthy meals to enjoy while you're working
• 50% discount in our restaurants
• Guest experience overnight stay and dinner for 2 after 3 months
• Spa discount
• Referral bonus when your friends or family join the team
• Discounted room rates
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Discounts with external companies only available to Apex team members
• Ongoing training and development

If you are interested, click apply. We look forward to hearing from you!

IND