Director Of Sales

The Director of Sales Leisure is responsible for leading the strategic development, implementation, and performance of all leisure-related sales activities for the hotel or resort. This position plays a critical role in positioning the resort within the global leisure travel market, ensuring year-round occupancy through targeted sales plans and cultivating long-term partnerships with high-value clients including travel agencies, luxury tour operators, and online travel agents (OTAs).

This role requires a dynamic leader with deep industry knowledge, strong international connections, and a proactive approach to navigating the competitive luxury travel market specific to island destinations.

• Design and execute the annual leisure sales strategy aligned with the overall business goals of the resort.

• Conduct SWOT analyses and market segmentation to identify revenue opportunities in key source markets (e.g., GCC, Europe, CIS, China, USA).

• Develop tactical promotions to address low-demand periods and stimulate bookings during shoulder and off-peak seasons.

• Collaborate with the Revenue Management team to align rate structures, inventory control, and sales strategy to optimize RevPAR and GOP.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key leisure travel partners, including international tour operators, travel consortia, luxury travel advisors, and inbound DMCs.

• Proactively manage existing accounts and target new high-potential partnerships across various global markets.

• Host familiarization (FAM) trips, site inspections, and destination experiences to secure buy-in from top-producing agents.

• Represent the resort at domestic and international trade shows (e.g., ILTM, ATM, WTM, ITB), roadshows, and events to promote the hotel s leisure offerings.

• Act as a brand ambassador, conveying the unique selling points of the property and destination to the travel trade.

• Set and monitor sales targets and KPIs for the leisure segment.

• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual leisure segment forecasts, revenue reports, and productivity analyses.

  

• Drive productivity through performance reviews, pipeline management, and coaching of the leisure sales team.

• Partner with the Marketing and E-commerce teams to design online campaigns, digital offers, and leisure promotions that align with global travel trends.

• Coordinate closely with the Reservations and Front Office teams to ensure seamless booking-to-arrival processes for leisure guests.

• Liaise with the PR and Communications team to promote the property through travel media, influencers, and social media platforms.

• Lead, inspire, and mentor the Leisure Sales Team to deliver exceptional performance and professional development.

• Provide ongoing training to sales colleagues on market trends, negotiation techniques, and guest personalization strategies.

• Create a strong team culture centered around accountability, results, and customer service excellence.

• Bachelors Degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Sales or a related field. Master s degree is an advantage.

• Minimum of 7 10 years of experience in hotel sales, with a proven track record in the leisure segment, including 3 5 years in a senior or director-level role.

• Demonstrated success working in luxury island resorts or remote destination properties.

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  Extensive knowledge of international leisure travel markets, including distribution channels, market behavior, and buyer personas.

• Strong experience in contracting with B2B partners, negotiating consortia agreements, and managing global accounts.

• Technically proficient in hotel systems: PMS (Opera/Protel), CRS, CRM, and Microsoft Office Suite. Knowledge of Salesforce or Delphi is a plus.

• Strategic and Commercial Mindset

• Strong Negotiation and Influencing Skills

• High Emotional Intelligence and Cultural Sensitivity

• Excellent Communication and Presentation Skills

• Results-Oriented and Metrics-Driven

• Resilient, Flexible, and Able to Thrive in Remote Environments

• Passionate about Travel, Luxury Experiences, and Guest Engagement

• Travel Requirements: Frequent international travel required for sales trips, exhibitions, and client visits.

• Working Conditions: Based on-site in an island resort; must be comfortable with remote and tropical living.

• Languages: English fluency required; additional languages (Arabic & Russian) preferred.