
Sales Manager - Leisure | Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Proactively source and secure new leisure business through travel agencies, tour operators, wholesalers, online luxury travel platforms, and consortia networks.
- Develop, manage, and grow long-term relationships with leisure travel partners to drive repeat and referral business.
- Conduct sales calls, virtual and in-person meetings, site inspections, and hotel presentations tailored to the luxury leisure market.
- Represent the hotel at international and regional trade shows, roadshows, networking functions, and travel fairs, acting as a brand ambassador.
- Collaborate with marketing and PR teams to create tailored promotions, packages, and seasonal campaigns that appeal to high-end leisure travelers.
- Prepare and negotiate rate proposals and contracts while ensuring profitability and consistency with hotel revenue strategies.
- Track market trends, competitive activity, and travel behaviors to continuously refine and improve the leisure sales approach.
- Work closely with Revenue Management to optimize rate structures and availability for leisure channels.
- Provide personalized service and seamless communication to leisure guests and travel partners to exceed expectations and enhance brand loyalty.
- Coordinate with Front Office, Reservations, and Operations to ensure smooth guest experiences from pre-arrival to post-departure.
- Meet and exceed personal and team sales targets through proactive pipeline management and strategic account development.
- Maintain accurate and timely sales reports, account plans, and business forecasts to support data-driven decisions.
- Minimum 3–5 years of experience in leisure sales within a high-end or luxury hotel, resort, or destination management company.
- Proven track record of achieving and exceeding leisure sales targets, with a focus on building and nurturing relationships with premium travel agents, luxury tour operators, and global travel consortia.
- In-depth knowledge of the international and local Leisure travel market, including industry trends, consumer behavior, and major players in the luxury travel sector.
- Familiarity with key luxury travel networks such as Virtuoso, Traveller Made, Signature Travel Network, and similar.
- Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking, with the ability to identify opportunities, analyze competition, and develop innovative sales approaches tailored to the luxury segment.
- Exceptional relationship management and client engagement skills, with a refined understanding of high-net-worth travelers' expectations and preferences.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, both verbal and written, to represent the hotel brand with elegance and confidence.
- Highly organized, with strong project management skills and the ability to handle multiple leisure accounts and partner activations simultaneously.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate across departments, especially with Revenue, Marketing, and Front Office teams, to ensure seamless guest experiences.
- Proficiency in CRM tools, sales reporting systems, and Microsoft Office Suite.
- A keen eye for detail and a commitment to delivering exceptional quality in all client interactions.
- Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to perform under pressure in a fast-paced, performance-driven environment.
- Formal training or certifications in Sales, Hospitality, or Business Administration are preferred.