Walworth Castle Hotel
Salary: £34,000–£36,000 per annum
40 hours per week
33 days’ holiday per year
We’re looking for an ambitious, commercially focused Business Development Manager to join the team at Walworth Castle Hotel.
This is a proactive sales role with a clear objective: generate new business, grow existing accounts and drive revenue across both Events and Accommodation.
We are looking for someone who enjoys getting out into the market, building relationships, identifying opportunities and converting leads into profitable business.
The Role
As Business Development Manager, you will take ownership of developing new revenue opportunities for the hotel, with a particular focus on:
Events & Functions
- Proactively generate new enquiries and business for weddings, corporate events, meetings, conferences, private dining, celebrations and functions.
- Identify and target local and regional businesses, organisations, agencies and event bookers.
- Build relationships with new and existing corporate clients.
- Develop repeat business and maximise revenue from existing accounts.
- Conduct sales appointments, client meetings, showrounds and networking activity.
- Follow up leads and enquiries proactively to maximise conversion.
- Identify new markets and opportunities to increase utilisation of the hotel’s event spaces.
- Work closely with the Events and Operations teams to ensure business is successfully handed over and delivered.
Accommodation
- Drive new corporate accommodation business into the hotel.
- Develop relationships with companies requiring regular accommodation in the local area.
- Target project workers, contractors, training providers, travelling businesses and other potential high-volume accommodation users.
- Negotiate and manage appropriate corporate relationships and account opportunities.
- Grow midweek and need-period occupancy through proactive sales activity.
- Identify opportunities for group accommodation and residential events.
- Develop repeat business and maintain strong relationships with key accounts.
Business Development
This is not simply an enquiry-handling role. We are looking for someone who will actively go out and find business.
You will be expected to:
- Build and maintain a strong sales pipeline.
- Make proactive outbound calls and approaches.
- Arrange face-to-face meetings with prospective clients.
- Attend relevant networking events and business groups.
- Research potential clients and new markets.
- Conduct competitor and local market analysis.
- Develop partnerships with local businesses and organisations.
- Maintain regular contact with existing clients.
- Track leads, opportunities, conversion and revenue generated.
- Produce regular sales activity and revenue reports.
- Work to agreed revenue and new-business targets.
What We’re Looking For
You will be commercially minded, confident and comfortable developing relationships at all levels.
Ideally, you will have experience within:
- Hotel sales
- Hospitality
- Events
- Corporate sales
- Business development
- Account management
Hotel experience would be advantageous, but we are equally interested in strong business developers from other sectors who understand how to generate leads, build relationships and close business.
You should be:
- Proactive and self-motivated
- Target and revenue focused
- Confident approaching new businesses
- An excellent communicator
- Comfortable negotiating and closing business
- Highly organised
- Able to manage a sales pipeline effectively
- Comfortable working independently while being part of the wider hotel team
- Focused on measurable results rather than simply sales activity
Package
Salary: £34,000–£36,000 per annum
Hours: 40 hours per week
Holiday: 33 days per year
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to take ownership of business development within a distinctive hotel and play a significant role in growing both our Events and Accommodation revenue.
We want someone who will become well known within the local business community, build long-term commercial relationships and actively bring new customers through the doors.
If you are a driven salesperson who enjoys developing new business and seeing the direct impact of your work on revenue, we would love to hear from you.
Pay: £34,000.00-£36,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
