Director of Sales

Marriott Bristol Royal; West of England; On-site; GBP 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hotel discounts

Training programs

Life assurance

Gym membership

Recognition program

Employee assistance

Meal on duty

Free parking

Discounts & benefits

Job summary

The Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel is seeking a commercially driven Director of Sales to lead the Sales and Events department as part of the Executive Committee. You will work closely with Revenue to reposition the guest mix, secure premium corporate meetings, and craft bespoke, experience-led offerings that tell the hotel's unique story.

Ideal candidates have 3+ years in luxury/lifestyle hotel sales, a proven ability to win business, and a track record of leading teams through openings or

Qualifications

• 3+ years in hotel sales with new business development track record.

Responsibilities

• Leading the sales workstream of the relaunch plan and owning sales milestones for Spring 2027.

Skills

New business development

Revenue goals

Negotiation

Presentation skills

Relationship building

Storytelling sales

Sales systems knowledge

Team leadership

Education

Hospitality Management/Business/Admin/Marketing degree

Equivalent experience

Tools

Marriott sales systems

Job description

For over 150years, the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel has been a landmark of luxury in theheart of Bristol, earning an international reputation for exceptionalhospitality and timeless elegance. Now, the hotel is entering an exciting newera with a complete refurbishment and transformation into The Bristol RoyalHotel, Autograph Collection.

This is aunique opportunity to be part of a landmark transition, helping to shape andlaunch an exciting new product ahead of its grand unveiling in Spring 2027.Autograph Collection hotels are independent and full of character, each withits own story, and the brand promise is "Exactly Like Nothing Else".

We have anexciting opportunity to join us as our Director of Sales. We're looking for acommercially driven, creative sales leader to join our leadership team andbecome part of TeamAutograph. You'll lead our Sales and Events department as a memberof the General Manager's Executive Committee, working closely with the Revenueteam to reposition the hotel's customer base, rate and business mix towards adiscerning, mid-to-upper market audience. You'll sell an experience, a settingand a story rather than a specification.

The Role:

• Leading the sales workstream of the hotel'srelaunch plan, owning the sales milestones on the launch timeline ahead ofthe Spring 2027 unveiling.
• Protecting existing business through the phasedrefurbishment by communicating early and clearly with clients and managinggroups, rebooking or relocating business where needed.
• Building a pre-launch pipeline and planning launchmoments such as client previews, hosted FAM trips, agency showcases andpartner events.
• Driving revenue and rate growth by selling value,experience and the hotel's story, rather than competing on price.
• Winning premium corporate meetings, leadership andboard offsites, incentives, private and exclusive-use events, weddings andcelebrations, private dining, the leisure travel trade, and film, TV andsport.
• Leading business travel sales and the RFP season,positioning the hotel for premium corporate programmes.
• Designing bespoke, experience-led packages usingour signature food and beverage, including The Tea Room and Afternoon Teaand the Miller & Carter partnership, together with local Bristolexperiences.
• Building partnerships with Bristol's cultural,creative and independent scene, making the hotel a hub for the city.
• Delivering the sales-led revenue goals in the hotelbudget, with accurate forecasting, pipeline and monthly reporting to theGeneral Manager.
• Recruiting, coaching and developing ahigh-performing sales team, setting clear goals and celebrating success.
• Ensuring Autograph Collection brand standards,customer service standards, and data protection and compliancerequirements are met consistently.
• Working alongside the General Manager, the Revenueteam and Kingfisher Hospitality Group's commercial team so that the saleseffort is coordinated across the hotel and the wider portfolio.

What kind ofleader are we looking for?

We're lookingfor someone who understands how to sell a hotel with real character, and knowshow to lead the team that does it. You'll be anexperienced hotel sales professional, preferably within a lifestyle, boutique orluxury brand, with the confidence to open doors, win business and takeownership when the pressure is on.

You’ll bring:

• A minimum of 3 years' hotel sales experience with aproven track record in new business development and achieving revenuegoals.
• Experience in a lifestyle, boutique, collection orupper-upscale hotel, ideally including a hotel opening, rebrand orrepositioning.
• Knowledge of the Bristol and South West market andits business, cultural and social networks.
• Strong negotiation, influencing and presentationskills, with the ability to bring a sale to closure.
• Sound commercial and financial awareness, with anunderstanding of revenue management, displacement and accountprofitability.
• Experience leading and developing a sales team.
• Excellent communication and relationship-buildingskills, with clients and partners as well as colleagues.
• A proactive, adaptable and creative approach, witha genuine passion for telling a hotel's story.
• Experience of Marriott sales systems and standards(preferred).
• A degree or diploma in Hospitality Management,Business Administration, Marketing or a related field (preferred), orequivalent experience.

Why Join Us?

At the BristolMarriott Royal Hotel, you will have the opportunity to make a real impact whiledeveloping your career with one of the world's leading hospitality brands. You'llhave the visibility and influence to shape how the hotel is sold at launch,setting the standard for the new Autograph Collection positioning, developingour sales team and contributing directly to the hotel's commercial performance.You'll join a passionate team, work in a historic hotel undergoing significantinvestment, and have the support of Kingfisher Hospitality Group's widercommercial team.

BenefitsInclude

• Global Marriott hotel discounts
• Training programmes and career developmentopportunities
• Life assurance
• Complimentary gym membership
• Associate recognition programme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Meal on duty
• Free parking
• Additional discounts and benefits

Marriott isan equal opportunity employer. We believe in hiring a diverse workforce andsustaining an inclusive, people-first culture. We are committed tonon-discrimination on any protected basis, such as disability and veteranstatus, or any other basis covered under applicable law.