DescriptionThe Global Luxury Account Director Leisure UK and Nordics will be a luxury specialist and responsible for developing and maintaining strategic relationships with key luxury accounts and segments within the respective geographical region. The position will be focused on the luxury travel industry segment working with travel agencies including STARS agencies tour operators and wholesale accounts. The Global Luxury Account Director is expected to meet established room night and revenue goals as set by the Senior Director Luxury Sales and the Director Global Luxury Sales while professionally representing The Luxury Group Marriott International including Brand Extension responsibilities that ensure a strong relationship as a liaison with customers and each property Brand Extension.
Position will be located in London England and will report to Director Global Luxury Sales UK & EE.
CORE WORK ACTIVITIE
- Manage a portfolio of Luxury Group GSO managed accounts as well as manage potential prospecting accounts.
- Manage and lead as necessary travel opportunities including Road shows Tradeshows Industry events sales appointments familiarization trips forums and account related activations.
- Proactively research and update GSO Corporate Office and Hotel colleagues on industry market and account trends.
- Represents Marriotts luxury brands where applicable in vertical market segments.
- Represent Marriotts Luxury Brand Extensions.
- Develop and maintain respectful working relationship at all levels of the organization while working within the Marriott GSO to ensure results and goals are achieved.
- Proactively identify opportunities to lead and take part in special projects that drive efficiencies for the broader team including all projects allocated to you by your manager.
- Lead and participate in client sales meetings.
- Collaborate effectively with peers managers and customers in a global and culturally diverse environment.
- Ensure Strategic Account Plans focus on improving market share leveraging efficiencies generating revenue.
- Use the systems provided such as Empower as the main account management tool.
- Increase penetration of high potential accounts to optimize demand across all luxury brandsand satisfy important property needs.
- Provide informal mentorship to less experienced members of the GSO team.
- Build Relationships with the following
- Internal: Marriott GSO Onproperty sales All Inclusive Hotels / Teams and marketing teams Global Sales Offices and administrative support staff.
- External: Customer/Client Base in responsible markets.
- Facilitate and lead customer presentations to accounts based upon customer needs.
- Provide support for nonmanaged accounts with potential for luxury business.
- Entertain customers as appropriate to establish and/or deepen the customer relationship to identify additional sales opportunities.
- Develop communications templates/framework that can be leveraged by other team members to drive effective conversations with existing or prospective customers.
- Proactively facilitate communication with the customer base.
- Communicate with clients to gain full understanding of decisionmaking process including history key decision factors time line and decision hierarchy.
- Build and maintain good relations with relevant Marriotts luxury properties to better understand propertyspecific needs and identify relevant business opportunities.
- Maintain strong and collaborative working relationships with all members of Global Sales Organization.
- Promote positive relations and teamwork with all members of the GSO.
- Promote the financial success of Marriott International by ensuring all bookings and interactions support longterm financial reasoning.
- Maintain complete knowledge of Marriotts luxury portfolio; develop a complete and thorough knowledge of basic hotel capabilities related to numbers of rooms and Unique Selling Points.
- Destination knowledge.
- Leverage customer knowledge to proactively anticipate sales opportunities and solutions on behalf of the customer.
- Anticipate and respond to all customer needs within a timely manner.
- Maintain high level of knowledge of the competitions product.
- Comply with all Global Sales Offices policies and procedures.
- Proactively facilitate communication with the customer base
- Evaluate leads and offer comparable alternative Marriott luxurylocations where applicable
- Ensure all assigned accounts are aware of newopenings and upcoming locations
- Facilitate present and manage multiyear and multihotel opportunities
- Develop library of Standardized Agreements and Addendums. Understand these agreements to effectively communicate with customers and colleagues when applicable and in collaboration with GSO Director
- Organize familiarization trips in conjunction with Agencies Tourist Boards and Airlines.
- Research and implement creative/effective methods to stimulate business.
- Address incoming phone calls emails and requests in a timely manner.
- Update and maintain Empower with all customer and account history including strategic account plans and all activities.
- Maintain the reporting mechanism to continuously educate property Sales Manages on the updated status of account.
- Maintain a working knowledge of the computer systems as well as database systems ie Empower STARs platform tableau
- Full knowledge of all Marriott programs including STARS Bonvoy.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Education and Experience Preferred
- Bachelors degree or equivalent required.
- Able to demonstrate strong selling skills/experience
- Extensive experience (hotel sales leisure experience)
- Experience in training delivery or development preferred
- Proficient computer skills
- Strong administrative skills
- Strong project management and organizational skills
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to influence at all levels of the organization both at corporate and in the field while maintaining positive relationships with customers (both internal and external).
- Solid sales skills with strong and ethical sales principles and processes
- Ability to perform job function with minimal supervision even under pressure and as a cohesive team member
- Ability to be a clear thinker analyze and resolve problems while exercising good judgment
- Ability to remain calm and courteous with difficult and demanding situations
- Ability to be able to maintain extensive travel requirements
- Ability to prioritize organize work assignments and followup
- Ability to ensure security and confidentiality of guest and hotel data.
- Ability to enforce the companys quality procedures
- Maintain high level of knowledge in reference to Marriotts product
- Maintain complete knowledge of and comply with all GSO policies and procedures
- Ensure that processes meet Marriotts standards in terms of consistency and standardization
- Ability to manage electronic real time communication channels
- Work effectively in a team environment
- Strong preference for candidate who speaks English.
Marriott International is an equal opportunity believe in hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive peoplefirst are committed to nondiscrimination onanyprotectedbasis such as disability and veteran status or any other basis covered under applicable law.
Required Experience:
Exec