Now Hiring - Travel Sales Manager in Milwaukee, WI

The Crowne Plaza Milwaukee Airport is looking for a Full-time Sales Manager to join the sales team. The Crowne Plaza- Milwaukee Airport located at 13th Street and College Avenue in Milwaukee. Our upscale, full-service hotel features 195 guest rooms, 24,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, a full-service restaurant Altitude along with a We Proudly Serve Starbucks café. Managed by Reliance Hospitality, our hotel is the only full-service/upscale hotel located near the General Mitchell International Airport. The hotel benefits from its proximity to the airport, 10-minute drive to downtown, along with access to businesses in nearby business parks, Oak Creek and the surrounding area. Our hotel features the most meeting space outside of downtown Milwaukee and our ballroom can accommodate up to 1,000 people.

The Sales Manager is responsible for effectively soliciting and becoming familiar with all accounts in his/her market segments. He/she is also responsible for prospecting and closing on assigned accounts/territory to positively impact hotel revenues.

Responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following:

• Exercise creativity, discretion and independent judgment in determining how to assemble an event to suit each customer's taste.
• Give full attention to what customers are saying, taking time to understand the points being made and asking questions as appropriate.
• Conduct site visits and prepare original, creative proposals tailored to address the needs of and to impress the customer.
• Develop solutions to any cost concerns and resolve any challenges or problems. Aggressively pursue all appropriate opportunities for customer solicitation and relationship building.
• Aggressively engage in creative networking, uncovering and cold calling prospective clients to generate activity for future business.
• Negotiate and Close Sales – Influence and convince customers to select the hotel for their hospitality needs. Negotiate terms and reconcile differences.
• Develop contingency plans and act promptly and effectively when closing problems arise.
• Recognize customers for loyalty and/or accept feedback.
• Identify and secure business to fit the yield strategy. Sell to fill need dates. Sell and upsell hotel services to meet/exceed sales and financial objectives. Capture all profitable businesses. Attain/exceed sales goals and profitability.
• Directly responsible for achieving production numbers established by booking goals and outside sales activities.
• Communicate sales activities with peers and superiors.
• Develop and maintain constructive and cooperative working relationships with customers and others in the course of their event planning.
• After securing business, deliver a high level of customer service with key decision-makers, solve customer problems, meet commitments, seek customer input and anticipate customer needs.
• As appropriate, meet the customer at the event, ensure proper event set-up and customer satisfaction. Take the initiative to solve any problems by liaison with other hotel managers.
• Responsible for compilation of required sales reports and reporting processes.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all sales and transactions. Complete all required and requested reporting in a timely and accurate manner.
• Provide management with accurate information and comply with corporate policies and procedures as well as government laws and regulations.
• Perform special projects and other responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 1 year of hotel sales experience. The corporate market experience is a plus!
• Maintain regular and consistent attendance and punctuality with or without reasonable accommodation
• Delphi and Opera experience is helpful, but not required
• Strong Microsoft Office skills (Word, Excel and Outlook)
• Ability to work varying hours based on business needs
• Strong professionalism, diplomacy, selling skills, and work habits

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• 401k
• Short/Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• Competitive Vacation Package
• Personal Day
• Sick Day(s)
• Paid Holidays
• Bonus Program
• Lunch provided in hotel daily associates
• Free employee parking
• Discounts at all branded hotels around the world