Director of Sales - Callaway Gardens

Connecting man and nature in a way that benefits both. Callaway Resort & Gardens is not just a fun place to visit, it's a fun place to work!

Immersed in nature and surrounded by beauty, it's easy to share the wonders of Callaway with prospective corporate and social groups. With newly renovated meeting space, in-progress renovations in both the Lodge & Cottages, our acclaimed service and a myriad of outdoor activities, the 4-diamond Callaway Resort & Gardens is the perfect destination. Teambuilding opportunities are endless with a zip-line, beach, golf and a custom list of activities.

Your job, as Director of Sales and Catering, is to help your team of professional Sales Managers and Conference Service Managers get the word out about the treasure we call Callaway.

This position requires active participation in the drive-market, networking and making presentations to promote Callaway Gardens. You will oversee site inspections, FAM trips and property tours of Callaway Gardens for existing and potential clients. You will work cohesively with the Conference Services and Banquets department to ensure seamless facilitation of events. Additional duties include:

• The Director of Sales will be responsible for selling and maintaining "Key Accounts".
• The Director of Sales works with sales team and the conference service team to achieve these goals and helps to work efficiently and successfully to develop and continually enhance relationships with key corporate, business and travel industry accounts, community organizations and professional associations to maintain high visibility and increase our market share.
• Director of Sales will catch all leads, approve contracts and assign all files to conference services.
• Recommend, assist in developing, implementing, monitoring, and controlling the group sales annual budget and marketing plan; analyze competition, market trends and customer needs and comments; prepare and review forecasts, period and reports and various sales and rate reports to continually assess the group's productivity against the budget, plan and marketplace.
• Asist in any needs of the conference service team related to group business, attend resume meetings, and when needed attend BEO. Problem solves any guest concerns and/or needs from team.
• Ensure team is prospecting for daily outreach, entertainment, special promotions, e-marketing, outside appointments, sales missions, trade shows combined with target messaging.
• Attending industry events are some of the necessary activities of this position.
• Acquisition of new profitable target business is key in a repositioning resort while maintaining existing profitable business.
• Conduct regular business review meetings when needed with regional revenue manager for incoming business.
• Work with the revenue analyst and regional revenue manager to yield management across rooms, producing premium room type strategies and maximizing event space occupancies.
• Focus on development and execution of the resort's tactical digital group and rooms marketing strategy, need period strategy collaboration with the property marketing team.

Education & Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of strong leadership skills, managing a variety of sales and support team
• Minimum of 3 years as a luxury Resort Director of Sales leading a team
• Possess top sales skills in multiple markets
• Minimum of 5 years of experience and provable successful track record in hotel/resort sales
• Strong selling, negotiating & closing skills
• Excellent ability to conduct presentations, written and oral
• Demonstrated ability to be creative to develop strategies that will drive revenue
• Strong business planning, account planning and budget management skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and reprioritize to ensure weekly prospecting & outside sales calls goals are met or exceeded
• Knowledge of Hotel Computer Systems, including Delphi DMP Sales Management Systems. Property management systems and accounting systems.
• Reporting skills required therefore knowledge of Excel important
• Strong presentation skills required via PowerPoint and online presentation platforms important
  • (i.e. Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Teams)
• Knowledge of prospecting and acquisition channels like LinkedIn, Knowland, ZoomInfo, CompTek and others

Involvement in Hotel Sales Organizations and Associations helpful.