Hotel Sales Administrator Job Description
Upper management positions at a hotel, such as general manager, food service manager or sales manager, generally require considerable formal training and job experience. Some department managers, executive housekeepers and executive chefs, generally require some specialized training and extensive on-the-job experience. To advance to positions with more responsibilities, lodging managers frequently change employers or relocate within a chain to a property in another area.
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Main Duties
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A sales administrator, or manager, carries out and oversees all sales activities for the hotels. The sales administrator develops and maintains a customer database where the administrator stores client information for future business and event deals. The sales administrator's main goal is to generate and develop client leads. This includes developing client referrals, preparing client events and sales meetings, developing promotional materials to help convince a client that the hotel is the ideal place for its next business meeting or a reunion's event hall.
The sales administrator also presents the hotel's products and services--such as new hotel building plans, new guestroom features and modern meeting room spaces--to current and potential clients.
Communications
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Sales adminstrators present promotional and sales initiative ideas to fellow hotel managers and associates. A sales manager oversees sales associates and assists making sales calls to new and existing clients. Salespeople have to have strong and clear communication skills in person and on the telephone and the manager handles any client disputes or issues sales associates cannot manage.
Apart from calling and meeting with clients, the sales administrator also presents ideas to fellow hotel managers--such as the general manager, marketing manager and promotional manager--on how to increase revenue and leads to grow the customer count. Ideas may include group package deals, a complimentary first drink upon a guest's arrival or weekend-stay incentives that include a discounted massage at the hotel spa. Because the sales administrator meets and talk with customers, the hotel company depends on the administrator to convey honesty and friendliness when presenting the hotel's rooms and services.
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Managing Databases
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Sales administrators have strong experience or knowledge of relevant database computer programs to keep up extensive client database information. Sales managers or administrators may also maintain a financial budget database with the help of sales associates.
Coordinating
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Sales managers promote hotel venues and spaces for large group meetings and wedding receptions. Hotel sales, marketing directors and public relations managers coordinate the hotel advertising and promotions. Sales managers, with the other managerial departments, assist in developing hotel and dining specials and coordinate special events with the general manager, events coordinator and banquet directors. Sales administrators may direct their staff to purchase advertising and to market their property to specific organizations or large groups seeking conference space, convention halls or wedding events.
Training and Directing
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Along with the human resources department personnel, sales administrators direct, coordinate, train and supervise new sales associates and assistant managers. While the administrator may hire or lay off employees, the sales manager can hand that duty off to human resources.
Job Outlook
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010-11 report, wage and salary employment in hotels and other accommodations was expected to increase 5 percent between 2008 and 2018.
Job Prospects & Salary
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According to Indeed.com Salary Search, sales administrators or managers receive, as of April 2010, around $54,000 per year in New York; $45,000 per year in California; and $42,000 per year in Oklahoma.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit sales manager checking the sales image by Peter Baxter from Fotolia.com beautiful customers image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com Banquet Table With Grass Centerpieces on Plates image by NorthEnder from Fotolia.com
