Director, Sales & Marketing, Fairmont New Orleans

Fairmont hotels is a renowned luxury hotel brand with a global presence and a commitment to creating lasting memories for our guests. With over 30,000 employees worldwide, we are dedicated to providing exceptional service, embracing innovation, and fostering a culture of excellence.

Hotel Overview:

Located in the heart of downtown New Orleans, the Fairmont New Orleans will be an impressive new addition to Fairmont’s luxury portfolio, offering 250 luxury guest rooms, three food & drink venues, a swimming pool with expansive views of the city, 14,000 square feet of function space, and a 10,000 square-foot spa.

This property is destined to become an illustrious destination in the Central Business District, nearby the city’s renowned and historic French Quarter.

As Director of Sales & Marketing, you will be hired in the pre-opening stages of the brand-new Fairmont New Orleans.  You will be responsible for assembling a team of Sales, Marketing and Events professionals from the initial setup through to the ramp-up of hotel sales.

Responsibilities include the oversight of Sales, Marketing and Events Budget/P&L, expense and revenue forecasting, advertising, marketing, developing, and writing business plans, and ownership relationships.

• You will be responsible for overseeing commercial strategies for the new hotel. Your goal is to manage the asset by connecting strategy and business processes. Business processes should be designed to impact all revenue streams, including focus on Rooms, Catering, Food & Beverage and Spa.
• Lead the development and implementation of both short-term and long-term strategies in all sales, events, and marketing channels to achieve hotel’s revenue goals and increase target market share performance.
• Produce your hotel's Annual Multi-Year Commercial Strategy Plan, in partnership with on-property leaders and regional support.
• Connect the performance needs for the hotel with the solutions designed by the Fairmont brand enterprise, in each key segment the hotel serves.
• Work with Commercial Leadership to ensure that pre-opening and Group Pricing & Rate Quotation Strategies are in place to maximize all pricing components of sales and catering opportunities and achieve positive market share.
• Work in conjunction with Brand e-Commerce teams to build & establish hotel B2B marketing, digital marketing, social media, public relations and communications channels. Guide these teams to ensure online hotel content is accurate and effective.
• Work with Commercial Leaders to establish optimal business mix, review and validate revenue forecasts to improve accuracy while developing strategies for different demand periods, and review and approve retail and group pricing strategies.
• Develop and execute departmental expense budget and forecasts.
• Must be able to train and monitor the group, transient and events contractual, legal and risk agreement practices, establish booking guidelines and pricing expectations, full knowledge of sales and events booking platforms and uphold all company policies and procedures associated with managing these systems.
• Develop and maintain detailed and real time knowledge of all competitor and market activity.
• Responsible for the execution of the Fairmont Sales Incentive Program.
• Responsible for recruiting and retention of all sales and marketing roles.
• Lead, engage, and develop team members, including ongoing performance development and Career Development Plans.
• Liaise with Fairmont Global Sales, regional support and brand teams.
• Build strong relationships with CVB, community groups/influencers and 3rd party travel partners.
• High level of engagement with customers from all sales segments.
• Support of sales managers’ sales travel into feeder markets.

To fulfil this role successfully, you should demonstrate the following minimum qualifications:

• Minimum of five (5) Years of Hotel Sales, Catering or Marketing Experience.
• Management Experience (type): Director.
• Four-year college degree preferred.
• Minimum Years of Leadership Experience in a Full-Service Hotel: 4 star plus.
• Pre-Opening/Rebranding Experience required.
• Additional Requirements (i.e., % of travel time, etc.): Ability to travel on short notice and adaptable to schedule changes.
• Highly professional presentations and communication (oral and written) skills.
• Proficiency with standard Microsoft Office.
• Ability to perform critical analysis.

It would be helpful in this position for you to demonstrate the following capabilities and distinctions:

• Additional/advanced degree coursework in business administration, marketing and communications.
• Adaptable experience with business strategy, business planning, and business plan development.
• Experience in large matrix organizations.
• Knowledge of Opera Sales & Catering Software or comparable products.

Your team and working environment:

This experience begins with a new kind of workplace, one where the energy is contagious, the stories are invigorating, and the challenges present inspiring opportunities to make your mark. We provide an environment of trust, respect, and integrity.  A home away from home.  Where diversity and inclusion are celebrated. Privacy and personal information are protected. Through Accor’s Employee Value Proposition, we ensure fair treatment and a workplace free from discrimination & harassment.

Visa Requirements:  Must provide proof of eligibility to be employed in the United States of America.

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/

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