Belmond Hiring for Account Director, Groups – Corporate Events & Incentives, Western US & Canada at United States Full Time

The primary responsibility of this role is to manage, nurture and further develop group business for the entire Belmond portfolio from owned accounts including Corporations, Incentive Houses, Meeting Planners, Venue Searching companies, Associations and all 3rd party intermediaries specialized in planning and booking corporate meetings, events, and incentive programs.

The role is responsible for implementation of strategic account management for all owned accounts and increasing the number of new active accounts through business development activities.

The role is accountable for meeting established revenue targets for every Belmond property, or regional groups of properties, as defined in the personal KPIs.

The assigned geographic territories, market and industry segments, owned Accounts and main base location for the role might be subject to change with a 4-week notice, subject to the Company’s needs and/or variable market conditions.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop a detailed quarterly sales action plan and annual account management plan aimed at achieving and exceeding revenue generation goals in Groups sales for each Account, submit to the direct manager for approval
• Maintain a frequent personal contact with all property-based sales personnel to ensure product knowledge is always up to date and complete alignment of sales strategies
• Establish a close collaboration with all property sales, revenue management and reservations teams and lead all closing efforts from generated Groups leads
• Qualify all Groups leads generated by owned Accounts and conduct necessary follow through to secure new bookings that fit with the parameters of “desirable” business.
• Assisted by the Travel Trade Support teams, prepare quotes and detailed offers for all groups leads generated by Owned accounts
• Manage negotiations for groups leads on behalf of the Properties and be the Customers “single point of contact” through final conversion of leads into confirmed status
• Ensure timely, accurate and personalized responses to all customers enquiries
• Work very closely with Properties’ sales and revenue management teams to drive desirable groups business into the Belmond portfolio
• Analyse and evaluate accounts Groups productivity (past, current, and future) to ensure individual Customer targets are met
• Show initiative and resourcefulness in developing methods for increasing market share from the owned set of Accounts, ensuring a high level of Customer satisfaction
• Apply effective problem-solving methodologies to resolve issues and challenges
• Establish and nurture a partnership relationship with all key contacts, decision makers, bookers, and influencers within every owned Account
• Conduct product training to Customers on a regular basis to ensure Belmond always remains front-of-mind
• Host customer events with select key accounts throughout the year
• Communicate all seasonal promotions for the global Belmond portfolio to support all properties achieving their budgeted revenue, especially in shoulder seasons
• Make full use of all selling, negotiating, and closing tools to increase conversion ratio from the assigned territory and account platform
• Assist Divisional Director of Sales with the organization of annual roadshows, strategic partners’ sales events, and Belmond presence to relevant trade shows
• Plan regular Customers educational trips to key Belmond destinations as defined in the quarterly / annual sales action plan and escort these trips if necessary
• Attend relevant industry functions and meetings to ensure the Company’s brand is properly represented
• Establish and maintain relationships with industry colleagues including tourism boards, airlines, DMCs, etc
• Provide feedback and information about latest market conditions and newest trends to the direct manager
• Execute an ongoing prospecting plan, adding new active customers to the portfolio of managed Accounts
• Maintain a clean database of all owned accounts and contacts within, with all sales activities promptly logged into OSC
• Manage expenses through tight control, maintain annual costs within allocated resources
• Prepare all production, account management and other sales s as requested by the direct manager
• Maintain a proactive role in social media and support the Corporate Marketing communications plan
• Attend and actively contribute to regular sales meetings organized by the Divisional Director of Sales, or by the London Corporate team, or by the direct manager

Requirements

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in a business or related field
• Minimum 3 years of experience in luxury travel sales with a successful track record
• Experience in developing a sales action plan aimed at establishing positive, ongoing relationships with clients that will lead to long-term and increased business for Belmond products
• Established industry contacts in western US/Canada to include event planners, celebration specialists, tour operators, leisure group organizers, tourism boards, DMC’s, etc
• Able to develop, maintain and grow a set of key accounts in the Celebrations & Leisure Group market
• Exceptional customer service skills
• Ability to prospect and identify new customers and develop an appropriate business development plan
• Computer literacy with a strong emphasis on Microsoft office applications including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and sales-related skills, Exceptional organizational and time management skills
• Confident public speaker with an ability to professionally present and promote the brand and the organization
• PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO APPLICANTS RESIDING IN TEXAS OR ON THE WEST COAST**

Benefits

Belmond provides a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. Employees are eligible for the majority of these plans after 60 days of full-time employment. The Company also offers a 401(k) retirement savings plan, paid vacation and holidays.