Director of MICE (W/M/X) / Orient Express Sailing Yachts

About Orient Express

Artisan of travel since 1883, Orient Express sublimates the art of travel with its luxury trains, hotels, and sailing yachts. The brand has just launched its first hotel, Orient Express La Minerva, in Rome – which will be followed by Orient Express Venezia at Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in 2026. The experience continues with the recent launch of La Dolce Vita Orient Express train, followed by Orient Express Corinthian in 2026, the first of two Orient Express Sailing Yachts, and finally, the return of L’Orient Express train to railways. Since 2022, Orient Express is part of Accor Group’s leading collection of luxury brands with a century-old legacy in the hotels and fine- dining sectors. In 2024, Accor and LVMH entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of Orient Express. Follow the journey at @orientexpress on Instagram or visit the website at www.orient-express.com. 

About Orient Express Sailing Yachts

140 years after the launch of its first luxury trains, the Orient Express legend continues with the launch of the world's largest sailing ships, the Orient Express Corinthian. A revolution in maritime history, and a fabulous project that pushes back the limits of what is possible. The result of a unique French partnership between Accor, the world leader in hospitality, and Chantiers de l'Atlantique, the world's leading cruise ship builder. This extraordinary sailing ship of the future, with its spectacular interiors, will set sail in 2026.

Reporting directly to the Commercial Director, the Director of MICE will handle several responsibilities worldwide:   

Define and Implement Action Plans

• Develop comprehensive action plans in alignment with defined objectives and sales strategies.
• Ensure the execution of plans to achieve long-term objectives while adapting to evolving market conditions.

Sales Strategy & Business Development

• Develop a pipeline of sales opportunities for the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events) distribution channel.
• Work closely with ACCOR Global Sales and Orient Express Management Company to achieve MICE sales objectives.
• Develop/direct initiatives to broaden customer base and market penetration.
• Meet or exceed annual sales goals for the MICE segment

Client Acquisition & Relationship Management

• Schedule and conduct sales calls, presentations, and manage proposals/contracts for incentive groups or full yacht charters.
• Develop and nurture relationships with the yacht charter market, including yacht brokers companies, family offices, event planners and other relevant stakeholders.
• Manage day-to-day client relations including pricing, contracts, win/loss tracking, and overall client satisfaction.
• Travel as needed to develop new business and attend industry trade shows.

Sales Operations & Performance Management

• Develop proposals, reporting, and KPIs to support and guide sales efforts.
• Oversee administrative functions like budgeting, invoicing, and CRM management.
• Manage assigned personnel, including training, development, and performance evaluations.

Collaboration & Execution

• Define with the operation department and the sales manager the characteristics of the yacht charter, including definition of activities, partners and itineraries
• Liaise with charter clients, shoreside, and shipboard staff to ensure smooth execution and high guest satisfaction.
• Work in close collaboration with ACCOR Global Sales team and Orient Express Management Company sales team to achieve the MICE sales objectives

Marketing Support & Collateral

• Assist in developing sales messaging and collateral to support the Orient Express brand in the MICE space.
• Collaborate with Sales & Marketing on campaigns, email marketing, webinars, and other targeted initiatives.

Experience:

· Minimum of 5 years management experience in travel/ultra-luxury hospitality industry Meetings and Incentives role(s)

· Having developed a strong network in the MICE market, including corporate and family offices

· Good knowledge of the yacht brokerage market

· Fluent proficiency in both French and English

Soft skills:

Good organization and time management skills, leadership and people management experience, ability to work well in fast-paced team environment.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.