Director of Sales - Saij Mountain Retreat by Mantis

Mantis is a leading, conservation-focused hotel group with eco-lodges, waterways and eco-escapes located all over the world. Sustainable travellers have been enjoying eco-tourism, safaris and adventure travel with Mantis since 2000. Rooted in conservation, Mantis pursues sustainable business practices and develops tourism products that are respectful of the environment and communities in which they operate.

Whether small and intimate or vast and complex, on a sweeping African plain, beach-side escape or bustling city, each is an exceptional place for guests to find themselves. While uniquely different in the experiences they offer, all are linked through a collective obsession to be extraordinary, to be rare in a world that mass-produces sameness.

Director of Sales

Director of Sales will lead the sales team to drive business growth and maximise revenue across all market segments. This role involves strategic planning, market analysis, and fostering key relationships to optimise the hotel’s brand presence and market share. Will oversee sales initiatives, contribute to budgeting and forecasting, and manage luxury partnerships. Additionally, the role includes team leadership and development, client relations, and ensuring service delivery standards.

What is in it for you

• Engage in conservation efforts and help preserve wildlife.
• Enjoy sustainable adventures with exclusive rewards.
• Celebrate locality and heritage in a vibrant community.
• Advance your career with global development opportunities.
• Drive change through impactful social initiatives.
• Collaborate with a passionate, innovative team.
• Achieve success with a forward-thinking, excellence-driven company.

Key Responsibilities

Sales and Revenue Management:

• Plan and attend trade exhibitions, collection reviews, roadshows, and sales trips to maximise the hotel's brand coverage and optimise ROI for short-, medium-, and long-term business.
• Lead the sales team to build an extensive network of contacts and relationships, driving high-yield business across all market segments and switching key accounts from competitors.
• Analyse sales and marketing data from sources such as Hoteligence, STR, Rate360, CVENT, and consortia partners, modifying strategies to ensure the hotel secures fair market share.
• Manage relationships across all market segments, developing brand sentiment with key stakeholders.
• Serve as GCC Regional Account Manager for luxury partnership agreements (e.g., AMEX FHR, Virtuoso, Traveler Made, etc.).
• Set up systems to monitor the achievement of departmental goals and objectives.

Strategic Planning and Development:

• Support leadership in the development of the sales and marketing plan and budget presentation.
• Assist in the planning and development of sales and marketing strategies.
• Monitor and evaluate sales and marketing trends within the market, sharing intelligence with the commercial team to develop strategic plans across business segments.
• Support strategic department planning and development.
• Work in partnership with the DOR to drive distribution through local partners, reacting to market trends and consumer demand.
• Contribute to the formation of the annual department budget, monitor performance, report variances, and recommend appropriate actions.

Pre-Opening and Administration:

• Oversee the preparation of pre-opening administrative duties, including:
• Competitor information on GCC, Ministry, Corporate, and Wholesale rate positioning.
• Creating comprehensive induction plans for onboarding new team members.
• Maintain accurate departmental records related to associate training and development.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Oversee team onboarding, orientation, and induction plans.
• Manage associate performance and personal development, conducting probation reviews, annual appraisals, and ongoing performance evaluations.
• Ensure sales team activities are logged accurately.
• Attend all compulsory training courses as directed by the T&C division.

Client Relations and Brand Representation:

• Act as a brand ambassador, maintaining constant contact with stakeholders, including clients, guests, GSOs, and partners.
• ‘Meet and Greet’ arriving SAG guests, ensuring accounts, contacts, and activities are logged accurately.
• Act with guests in mind, establishing and maintaining effective relationships, gaining their trust and respect.
• Obtain first-hand guest information and use it to improve products and services.
• Address guest comments brought to attention either directly or through Front Office Manager, Managing Director, or other Executive Committee Members, ensuring they are managed courteously and effectively.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Collaborate with operations to ensure service delivery meets required standards across partnership agreements.
• Work with other departments to ensure strong cross-department communication.
• Maintain effective communication within the department, ensuring the MD is well informed of business activity, issues, or queries.

Product and Service Development:

• Assist in the development of new products and services, such as packages and offers, to drive sales.
• Attend weekly sales and revenue meetings, contributing to the commercial sales strategy.

• Work Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience in a senior sales leadership role in the UAE, preferably in remote, resort, or leisure locations.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Sales, or a related field.
• Skills: Exceptional communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, combined with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, using a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Leadership: Proven ability to inspire, mentor, and lead high-performing sales teams while fostering a collaborative and results-oriented sales culture.
• Business Acumen:  Solid understanding of market dynamics, industry trends, and customer needs, along with strong financial acumen, including experience managing budgets, forecasting, and ROI analysis.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: We are an inclusive company and our ambition is to attract, recruit and promote diverse talent.

Why work for Accor? We are far more than a worldwide leader. We welcome you as you are and you can find a job and brand that matches your personality. We support you to grow and learn every day, making sure that work brings purpose to your life, so that during your journey with us, you can continue to explore Accor’s limitless possibilities.

By joining Accor, every chapter of your story is yours to write and together we can imagine tomorrow's hospitality. Discover the life that awaits you at Accor, visit https://careers.accor.com/

About Mantis Collection: Mantis is a boutique hospitality group that was founded by conservationist Adrian Gardiner in 2000, with its main focus predominantly in Africa and the Middle East. Mantis grew from Adrian’s vision to restore and rewild degraded farmland which he developed into a widely-acclaimed Private Game Reserve. This was the first private game reserve in the Eastern Cape and the beginning of eco-tourism in a poverty-stricken province that had few opportunities outside of commercial farming. Adrian and the Mantis team successfully created a place where man and nature could co-exist sustainably. From this initial success, the Mantis model was then developed worldwide, understanding that consumers could use the Mantis portfolio as a mark of quality, consistency and character. Today the diverse portfolio of handpicked properties links up to create travel journeys, which offer guests the opportunity to experience the essence of the location in a setting of tailored luxury. Rooted in conservation, Mantis pursues sustainable business practices and develops tourism products that are respectful of the environment and communities in which they operate.

Do what you love, care for the world, dare to challenge the status quo! #BELIMITLESS