Director of Sales West Coast Leisure and 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 to (TBC), the Director of Sales Leisure and MICE will lead the development and execution of commercial strategies across both the Leisure and MICE segments (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions). This role is responsible for driving revenue growth through strong relationships with tour operators, travel agents, corporate clients, and event planners, while positioning the property as a preferred destination for group, conference, and leisure travel. The Director will collaborate closely with marketing and operations to maximize market share, optimize pricing strategies, and ensure seamless delivery of guest and client experiences.

Define and Implement Action Plans

• Develop and execute a clear sales strategy for the MICE and Leisure segments, aligned with the overall business objectives
• Ensure the execution of plans to achieve long-term objectives while adapting to evolving market conditions.

Tactical Activities

• Advise and implement tactical activities to achieve short-term sales objectives.
• Collaborate closely with global sales teams and internal resources to drive effective and targeted sales campaigns.
• Identify, target, and secure high-value accounts while maintaining and expanding relationships with existing clients

Revenue Monitoring

• Monitor sales revenue, analyse performance data, and collaborate with revenue management to optimize pricing and revenue strategies.
• Implement corrective actions based on data insights to enhance revenue performance.

Professional Events Representation

• Coordinate and represent the portfolio at professional events to strengthen relationships with key industry stakeholders.
• Leverage events to identify new business opportunities and enhance brand visibility.
• Maintain the highest standards of client relationship management, ensuring loyalty and repeat business.

Account Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of key accounts, nurturing relationships and maximizing revenue opportunities.

• Collaborate with global sales teams to identify and pursue new account acquisition opportunities.

Guidance and Training

• Provide guidance and training to Accor global sales teams, ensuring a consistent approach and understanding of the leisure segment.

Reporting and Business Intelligence

• Establish periodic reports and business intelligence to track performance against objectives.
• Utilize data-driven insights to inform decision-making and optimize sales strategies.

Budget Management

• Take responsibility for the budget allocated to the leisure segment, ensuring effective allocation of resources to achieve strategic goals.

Team Leadership

• Lead and inspire the sales team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
• Provide direction, mentorship, and support to achieve individual and team targets.

Preferable Bakground: 

• Master’s degree in business, Marketing, Hospitality, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in sales, with experience in a leadership role.
• Proven track record of success in leisure sales within the travel and tourism industry. Train or cruising industry is a plus.

Competencies:

• In-depth understanding of the travel agencies and tour operating world. Familiarity with luxury travel, trains, and cruise segments.
• Strong leadership and team management skills. Ability to inspire and motivate a sales team toward common goals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Ability to use data-driven insights to inform decision-making.
• Proven ability to drive sales growth and meet revenue targets.
• Excellent networking and relationship-building skills within the leisure travel industry in the US.
• Strong negotiation skills, particularly in contract negotiations with travel agencies and tour operators.
• Ability to adapt to changing market conditions and implement effective strategies accordingly.
• Familiarity with sales and CRM tools. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

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?

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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/

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