Cluster Assistant Director of Sales- Groups

The First Group Hospitality is a leading hospitality management company pioneering a new era of excellence. With a rapidly expanding portfolio of award-winning upscale hotels, signature restaurants, and distinctive leisure destinations, we are committed to creating unforgettable experiences at every touchpoint.

Our team of seasoned professionals brings decades of experience from renowned hotel brands, combined with a deep understanding of the Dubai and GCC markets. With a comprehensive infrastructure spanning all key areas of hotel management, we offer tailored solutions to maximise efficiency, drive revenue growth, and enhance guest satisfaction.

At The First Group Hospitality, we are dedicated to building long-term partnerships with our clients. By leveraging our global insights, regional expertise, and strong operational foundation, we ensure that every aspect of your hotel is managed with precision and care. Our goal is to optimise performance, boost profitability, and deliver sustainable growth for your property.

• Main duties include: designing plans to meet sales targets, developing and cultivating relationships with clients and evaluating costs to determine their products’ pricing when selling to customers.
• Create, plan, implement and monitor execution of the annual sales plan and the strategies, tactics, and resources necessary to achieve the overall organizational business objectives.
• Monitor the competitive landscape and market conditions to identify opportunities, issues, and risks to form tactical strategies.
• Research, analyse and monitor various marketing, financial and demographic factors so business opportunities may be captured/optimized, and the effects of competitive activity may be minimized.
• Enable Clusters sales team with effective selling tools and initiatives that generate qualified leads.
• Work closely with the Senior Management Team to identify and drive focused activities on elements of the business that require additional support.
• Develop the group team through leadership and by example to include sales development; participate in the hiring of team members, and their future success.
• Actively participate and complete the preparation of the annual Sales and Market Plan, quarterly updates, and the complexed hotels' annual Budgets.
• Contribute to relevant management meetings to develop and implement sales and marketing initiatives.
• Organise comprehensive information describing the range of products and services offered by the hotel and deliver this information through relevant sales resources and sales channels to existing and potential Guests.
• Execute initiatives as outlined; swiftly implement strategies/tactics to offset changes in markets, economy or driven by the competitive set. Organize and/or attend scheduled group and related meetings.
• Direct and manage the forecasting process in conjunction with the Revenue Department to ensure accurate, timely and complete information. Compile and/or direct the preparation of reports pertaining to the operation of the Sales Department to include, but not limited to the annual and monthly Forecast, Lead Management System, and Booking Reports.
• Cooperate with other departments in the hotel to create an exceptional Guest experience and build strong, comprehensive sales programs.
• Ability to manage and oversee the Group segment sales operations.

Additional Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct daily sales calls to DMCs on behalf of the JVC and JVT properties, maintaining strong visibility in the market.
• Actively convert group leads by engaging potential clients and tailoring proposals that align with brand values and client expectations.
• Coordinate and host site inspections for prospective clients across all segments
• Entertain potential accounts to build rapport and create memorable experiences that support conversion.
• Meet with in-house guests (e.g., new corporate accounts) to uncover future business potential; share insights with the corporate team to support strategic negotiations.
• Host FAM trips that showcase the hotel’s personality, spaces, and neighbourhood ties
• Welcome groups and event organizers on-site, cultivating strong working relationships that lead to repeat and future business.

• 3 years minimum experience dealing with local DMC, MICE agencies, TA’s as well as knowledge of international accounts.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Organizational skills and time management.
• Proven ability to drive the sales process from start to finish (Block creation on Opera, Activity reporting, full knowledge of Opera system).
• Excellent listening, negotiation and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to articulate the distinct aspects of services and products.
• Knowledge of how to develop client-focused, differentiated and achievable solutions.
• Understanding of how to position products against competitors.
• Work under pressure.
• Prior Cluster role experience is a plus.
• Proven track record of managing a sales team.