Director of Sales - Pre-Open Hotel & Events

carmensgroup; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid vacation and emergency days

RRSP matching program

Professional development opportunities

Employee dining and venue discounts

Collaborative and entrepreneurial team

Opportunity to help establish the sale

Job summary

Carmens Group is hiring a hands-on Director of Sales for a newly renovated hotel in Hamilton, ON. The role focuses on wedding and event inquiries, private events, and group sales, with a strong pre-opening emphasis and pipeline development.

You will lead a commercial sales effort, collaborate with hotel operations and marketing, and help establish the sales function during pre-opening, with expected start in January 2027.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive sales experience in hotels or hospitality.
• Post-secondary education in hospitality, business, sales, marketing or related field.
• Experience generating and closing business, managing a sales pipeline and developing client relationships.
• Experience leading or developing a team.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation and negotiation skills.
• Excellent organization and attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively with hotel operations, food & beverage, finance and marketing.
• Proficiency with PMS, CRM or event management systems.
• Flexibility to support client meetings, evening programming, occasional weekends and industry events.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver sales plans to support revenue goals across rooms, private events, restaurant buyouts and group business.
• Personally manage incoming wedding and event inquiries and the sales inbox during the renovation and pre-opening period.
• Build a pipeline of future bookings, respond promptly to prospects, prepare proposals, conduct client meetings and follow up through booking.
• Present the hotel to prospective clients using approved plans, renderings and other information while spaces are under renovation.
• Coordinate site visits when access is available and authorized, and keep clients informed about project updates.
• Lead group room sales, including room blocks, rates, booking timelines and pickup monitoring, in coordination with hotel operations.
• Develop private event and restaurant buyout opportunities with the food and beverage and operations teams.
• Create and grow special programming for the speak easy, such as comedy nights and other events.
• Work with hotel leaders to confirm event capacity, dates, service requirements, pricing and profitability before commitments are made.
• Develop relationships with local businesses, event planners, tourism organizations, associations and community partners.
• Collaborate with Carmens Group Marketing on packages, sales materials, campaigns and event promotion.
• Maintain accurate sales records, forecasts and reports, and monitor pipeline activity, conversion and business pace.
• Establish sales processes and help determine the team structure, recruitment priorities and onboarding needs as the hotel grows.
• Recruit, coach and develop sales and event coordination team members.
• Stay actively involved in prospecting, proposals, appointments and closing as the team develops and business needs require.

Skills

Sales experience

Client relationships

Team leadership

Organization

Negotiation

CRM experience

Education

Post-secondary education in hospitality, business, sales, or marketing

Tools

PMS knowledge

CRM systems

Event management systems

STR tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Carmens Group is hiring a hands-on Director of Sales for a newly renovated hotel in Hamilton, ON. The role focuses on wedding and event inquiries, private events, and group sales, with a strong pre-opening emphasis and pipeline development.

You will lead a commercial sales effort, collaborate with hotel operations and marketing, and help establish the sales function during pre-opening, with expected start in January 2027.