Regional Director of Group Sales

Job Title: Regional Director of Group Sales
Reports To:
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
General Overview:
Mayflower Cruises & Tours, a national tour company based in Lisle, IL, and a division of Scenic Group, is seeking to hire an experienced sales professional and a highly motivated Regional Director of Group Sales to manage its sales team in the Midwestern U.S. Region.

• *Please note that preference will be given to candidates in the Greater Chicago area.

We are looking for a seasoned sales professional who can lead the group's future growth of both our cruise and tour products, while managing a sales team to peak performance. This position is in sales management and reports directly to the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. This includes achieving monthly and annual sales goals, as well as the development and implementation of strategic sales plans. Developing and establishing strong key business relationships with established group travel producers, as well as identifying new business opportunities, is also a pivotal part of the role in achieving sales goals and team success.
You will be responsible for working with, managing, and growing the Group Sales Team in the Midwest Region, and for assisting them in proactively identifying and winning group business leads for the Mayflower brand. Always representing the company professionally while taking an aggressive approach to sales growth is essential. Adeptness at managing a team, public speaking, building presentations, and communicating through online platforms are all necessary skills to be successful in the job. As the director of a team of sales experts, leadership in weekly meetings, collaboration with peers, associates, other departments at Mayflower Cruises and Tours, and frequent communication to your BDMs are critical in this role.

Role & Responsibilities

Develop a strategy to generate new leads, sales, and account retention
Manage a team of Business Development Managers and track goals and successes
Motivate Business Development Managers with the intention to generate sales through consistent interaction, engagement, and support
Plan and attend educational sessions, trade shows, and events in support of Mayflower Cruises and Tours
Respond and follow up on calls, emails, questions, and issues within 24 hours or less
Manage the team’s performance based on goals established by senior management through ongoing programs and by encouraging ongoing product knowledge and expertise
Analyze regional trends to identify sales growth opportunities.

Actively collaborate with the VP of Sales and Marketing to develop new approaches to growing the business and increasing engagement
Develop and continue to find successful promotional practices, and share these successes with the sales team and the other departments as needed
Manage travel and entertainment expenses to stay within company policy
Provide competitive sales, marketing, policy, and product intelligence and share with the VP of Sales regularly
Review and stay current on all company communications, policy changes, product developments, and itinerary changes
Other duties and attendance at special events as assigned by the VP of Sales
Qualifications
5+ years of group travel industry experience
5+ years in sales
Demonstrated successful selling, developing group business, and lead generation
Experience managing a team of 5 or more
Excellent industry and group market knowledge
Able to travel 50% or more of the time
Tour, river cruise, or ocean cruise experience desired
Ability to grasp new topics quickly and communicate professionally
Strong presentation, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills
Ability to manage time and prioritize work autonomously
Self-starter approach to work, with an eagerness to take responsibility and consistently exceed objectives
Positive attitude, professional demeanor, and adaptability to a changing environment
Ability to provide and execute creative solutions to challenges
Ability to multitask and pitch in where needed
Passion for sales achievement
Eager to be part of a fast-growing company
Familiarity with CRM systems, such as Salesforce