Cluster Proactive Sales Manager – Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch needed at Marriott International

JOB SUMMARY

• The position is accountable for proactively soliciting and handling sales opportunities for a sales cluster.  Responsible for account management and acquisition on special corporate segment. Handles numerous accounts and the distribution channels for those accounts.  Ensures business is turned over properly and in a timely fashion for proper service delivery.  Assists in leading all day-to-day activities related to sales with a focus on building long-term, value-based customer relationships that enable achievement of sales objectives.  Achieves personal sales goals.

CANDIDATE PROFILE 

Education and Experience

• 2-year degree from an accredited university in Business Administration, Marketing, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or related major; 3 years’ experience in the sales and marketing or related professional area.
• 4-year bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or related major; 1 year experience in the sales and marketing or related professional area.

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES

Building Successful Relationships that Generate Sales Opportunities

• Develops and leads the special corporate segment to achieve financial goals.
• Works collaboratively with off-property sales channels to ensure sales efforts are coordinated, complementary and not duplicative.
• Builds and strengthens relationships with existing and new customers to enable future bookings. Activities include sales calls, sales trips, trade shows, etc.
• Develops relationships within community to strengthen and expand customer base for sales opportunities.
• Manages and develops relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.

Managing Sales Activities

• Assists in the development of marketing/sales strategy for sales cluster.
• Participates in sales calls with members of sales team to acquire new business and/or close on business.
• Executes and supports the operational aspects of business booked (e.g., generating proposal, writing contract, customer correspondence).
• Follows up sales leads.
• Works on the different distribution channels of all contracted accounts.

Using Knowledge of Market Trends and Target Customer Information to Maximize Revenue

• Identifies new business to achieve revenue goals.
• Understands the overall market – competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, economic trends, supply and demand etc. and knows how to sell against them.
• Closes the best opportunities based on market conditions and location needs.
• Gains understanding of the locations’ primary target customers and service expectations; serves the customer by understanding their business, business issues and concerns, to offer better business solution.

Providing Exceptional Customer Service 

• Supports the company’s service and relationship strategy, driving customer loyalty by delivering service excellence throughout each customer experience.
• Services our customers in order to grow share of the account.
• Executes and supports the company’s customer service standards. 
• Provides excellent customer service consistent with the daily service basics of the company.
• Sets a positive example for guest relations.
• Interacts with customers to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels.