Job Ref: ELI3290
Branch: Elite Hotels
Location: Elite Hotels, Forest Row
Salary/Benefits: Competitive salary
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
Shift pattern: Based on Monday to Friday 9.00-5.30
Hours per week: 40
Posted date: 25/08/2026
Closing date: 25/09/2026
Description
Reporting directly to the CEO, the successful candidate will develop and lead execution of the
company’s sales strategy to deliver profitable revenue growth across all key market sectors with
a particular focus on MICE, corporate travel and group business. Effective account
management of key clients, agents and partners, will be essential in recognising and developing
revenue opportunities as will an ability to drive residential leisure, food beverage health
wellness revenue. Strong people management and communication skills will be required to
support the development of a high performance proactive sales culture across the company
that in turn will provide for a superlative guest experience. Experience of working in the hotel
sector will be essential.
Core Responsibilities:
- Lead, inspire, manage and mentor the Sales and Revenue teams for the group, ensuring a proactive sales culture with clear goals and targets.
- Support the Directors and property General Managers in delivering commercial success.
- Set and control the annual Sales Budget.
- Develop and oversee implementation of strategic Sales Revenue business plans for all areas of the business. Ensure that they are designed to deliver the company’s short-, medium- and long-term commercial objectives achieve budgeted revenue targets with the required commercial returns.
- Provide input insight into the annual Revenue Market Mix Budgets to ensure that they are designed to deliver achievable year on year growth.
- Drive strategic sales initiatives, business development and partnership management to grow revenue across market segments, enhance the guest experience and enhance profitability of the group. Identify new business opportunities through market intelligence and partnerships across key segments.
- Ensure effective training focused on negotiation and conversion strategies designed to maximise contracted business and develop client, agent and booker loyalty.
- Develop proactive relationships with key partnerships and clients, including but not limited to Key corporate accounts, MICE Agents, Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), MIA AIEA.
- Oversee the effective management of the company’s database.
- In conjunciton with the marketing team ensure that the company website, third party sites and collateral are designed to maximise revenue generation including taking advantage of technology advances.
- Determine appropriate Pricing, Yield and Rate strategies for all market segments to support the individual hotel‘s specific needs, exploit their strengths, maximise revenues and deliver required profit margins thus driving commercial success for the business.
- Analyse market trends, competitor activity and commercial insights to ensure a competitive and innovative approach. Drive direct bookings and effective distribution strategies.
- Investigate evaluate opportunities to expand and grow the existing business.
- Identify evaluate sales events, roadshows exhibitions both in the UK overseas that will deliver tangible returns by engaging key bookers agents.
- Represent the company by attending and supporting site visits, presentations, networking and industry events, to aid generation of new business support customer retention.
- Closely monitor market trends, competitors and market research, utilising findings to inform strategy, improve the company’s performance and react to market trends.
- Provide effective reporting of all Sales activity to ensure clear measurement of outcome and return on Investment.
- Oversee the recruitment of key Sales related personnel across the group.
- Identify training and development needs within the Sales team, providing requisite support, mentoring, direction, motivation and measuring of performance.
Place of Work:
Based at Ashdown Park Hotel, RH18 5JR, with regular visits to the two other group hotels, The Grand Hotel, Eastbourne Tylney Hall, Hampshire. UK travel for sales appointments events will also be required as will attendance at relevant overseas events.
Key Skills Experience
- Senior sales leadership role within the upmarket Hotel sector within properties with significant Meetings Events spaces, Food Beverage and Spa Wellness facilities
- A strong communicator, highly organised with a clear understanding of the hospitality industry including the luxury market
- Appreciation of working for an independently owned company
- Experience of working in a group position with an awareness of the competing demands involved
- Clear understanding of the customer journey and need to deliver a consistently positive experience
- Able to develop a deliverable and measurable Sales plan for all sectors of the business
Elite Hotels present three unique venues in the south of England, delivering distinctly memorable experiences. Surrounded by beautiful landscapes and with quintessentially English charm and traditional values of hospitality. At Elite Hotels we have a single minded and unwavering goal to make every visit to our hotels a positive experience that customers feel compelled to talk about.
