Sales Manager - MICE at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

• Reporting to the Director of Sales, the Sales Manager – MICE,  will be primarily responsible for developing new business opportunities whilst assisting in the management of the Hotel’s existing accounts to ensure growth in revenue for MICE segment. All duties that are carried out should be in accordance with Fairmont Standards and legal requirements.

Role will be based in Nairobi.

• Prospects and develops new business continuously through phone solicitation, outside sales calls, customer visits to the hotel, trade shows, sales blitzes, direct mail, newspaper/journal research and other customer interaction or research.
• Drives and manages group production through improved customer loyalty by excellent account management.
• Determines the accounts' needs, Hotel's objectives, and marketing activities of each assigned market/account.
• Negotiates transient and group rates for assigned accounts.
• Continuously communicates the benefits of the Hotel to clients and have excellent product knowledge.
• Understands and is familiar with the fundamentals of assigned accounts.
• Identifies new or existing markets/accounts that meet property sales strategy.
• Be accountable for all targets and goals set for area of responsibilities.
• Develops marketing intelligence, new products ideas, competition activities, new customer trends and performance
• Assist clients in planning, contracting, organizing, and executing various events.
• Act as the primary point of contact, providing personalized end-to-end solutions and ensuring the smooth operation of events and great quality of relationships with clients.
• Adherence to all the Fairmont sales guidelines and timescales for the  collaborating together with section heads to ensure details to all events are met properly priced
• Be the ambassador of the Hotel by ensuring that the image presented in the manner of dressing and grooming is consistent and at a standard that reflects the Fairmont
• Lead in developing as well as implementing the process of developing sales leads
• Closely working with section heads to ensure smooth coordination of events
• Blocking and booking of events and meeting space and management of the OPERA sales and Catering system
• Accurate and complete entry and configuration of all necessary data into the OPERA sales and catering system
• Full knowledge of the Hotels Conference packages, F&B offerings, Rate structures for accommodation, Presidents Club, among others
• Drawing up and sending out event proposals and contracts and ensure the adherence of the payment procedures and policy is followed fully.

Qualifications

• Bachelor Degree in Business, Marketing, Communications or equivalent
• At least 3 years of progressive hotel sales experience required for premium brands within the hospitality industry with successful track record in either hotel or resort sales
• Proven ability to build and maintain good relationships with all guests and Clients as well as work on multiple projects
• Communicate thoughts, actions and opportunities clearly with strong networking skills
• Ability to lead by example, believe in a strong team culture and set the scene for high performance
• Strong computer skills and knowledge of MS Office Suite Programs, Opera knowledge preferred
• Familiarity with virtual tools for the purpose of sales & customer engagement.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Strong interpersonal and problem solving abilities.
• Enthusiastic,  with good problem solving abilities and professional communicative skills
• Excellent command of English, other languages would be an added advantage