Global Luxury Account Director in Paris La Defense, France

Job Number 24060912

Job Category Sales & Marketing

Location Paris Cluster, 1-7 Cours Valmy, Paris La Defense, Paris, France

Schedule Full-Time

Located Remotely? N

Relocation? N

Position Type Management

The Global Luxury Account Director – will be a luxury specialist and responsible for developing and maintaining strategic relationships with key luxury accounts and segments within the respective geographical region. The position will be focused on the luxury travel and MICE industry segments working with travel agencies, tour operators and MICE accounts. The Global Luxury Account Director is expected to meet established room night and revenue goals as set by the Senior Director, Luxury Sales while professionally representing Marriott Internationals luxury portfolio, managing responsibilities that ensure a strong relationship as a liaison with customers and each property.

Position will be located in Paris, France and will report to Senior Director, Global Luxury Sales EMEA.

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES

• Manage and lead as necessary, travel opportunities including Road shows, Tradeshows, Industry events, sales appointments and familiarization trips.

• Proactively research and update GSO, Corporate Office and Hotel colleagues on industry, market and account trends.

• Represents Marriott’s luxury brands where applicable in vertical market segments.

• Develop and maintain respectful working relationship at all levels of the organization, while working within the Marriott GSO to ensure results and goals are achieved.

• Proactively identify opportunities to lead and take part in special projects that drive efficiencies for the broader team.

• Lead and participate in client sales meetings.

• Collaborate effectively with peers, managers, and customers in a global and culturally diverse environment.

• Ensure Strategic Account Plans focus on improving market share, leveraging efficiencies, generating revenue

• Increase penetration of high potential accounts to optimize demand across all luxury brands and satisfy important property needs.

• Provide informal mentorship to less experienced members of the GSO team.

• Build Relationships with the following

• Internal: Marriott GSO, On-property sales, All Inclusive Hotels / Teams and marketing teams, Global Sales Offices and administrative support staff.

• External: Customer/Client Base in responsible markets

• Facilitate and lead customer presentations to accounts based upon customer needs.

• Provide support for non-managed accounts with potential for luxury business.

• Entertain customers as appropriate to establish and/or deepen the customer relationship to identify additional sales opportunities.

• Develop communications templates/framework that can be leveraged by other team members to drive effective conversations with existing or prospective customers.

• Proactively facilitate communication with the customer base.

• Communicate with clients to gain full understanding of decision making process including history, key decision factors, time line, and decision hierarchy.

• Build and maintain good relations with relevant Marriott’s luxury properties to better understand property-specific needs and identify relevant business opportunities.

• Maintain strong and collaborative working relationships with all members of Global Sales Organization.

• Promote positive relations and teamwork with all members of the GSO.

• Promote the financial success of Marriott International by ensuring all bookings and interactions support long-term financial reasoning.

• Maintain complete knowledge of Marriott’s luxury portfolio; develop a complete and thorough knowledge of basic hotel capabilities related to numbers of rooms and Unique Selling Points.

• Leverage customer knowledge to proactively anticipate sales opportunities and solutions on behalf of the customer.

• Anticipate and respond to all customer needs within a timely manner.

• Maintain high level of knowledge of the competition’s product.

• Comply with all Global Sales Offices policies and procedures.

• Proactively facilitate communication with the customer base

• Evaluate leads and offer comparable alternative Marriott luxury locations where applicable

• Ensure all assigned accounts are aware of new-openings and up-coming locations

• Facilitate, present and manage multi-year and multi-hotel opportunities

• Develop library of Standardized Agreements and Addendums. Understand these agreements to effectively communicate with customers and colleagues when applicable and in collaboration with GSO Director

• Organize familiarization trips, in conjunction with Agencies, Tourist Boards and Airlines.

• Research and implement creative/effective methods to stimulate business.

• Develop comprehensive understanding of all electronic RFP programs (where applicable), while assisting properties in executing these programs

• Address incoming phone calls, emails and requests in a timely manner.

• Develop and maintain computerized file databases of all customer and account history.

• Maintain the reporting mechanism to continuously educate property Group Sales Manages on the updated status of account.

• Maintain a working knowledge of the computer systems as well as database systems ie Empower, STARs platform.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education and Experience Preferred

Strong preference for candidate with Starwood experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required.

• Able to demonstrate strong selling skills/experience

• Extensive experience ( hotel, sales, leisure experience)

• Experience in training delivery or development preferred

• Proficient computer skills

• Strong administrative skills

• Strong project management and organizational skills

• Good written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to influence at all levels of the organization both at corporate and in the field while maintaining positive relationships with customers (both internal and external).

• Solid sales skills with strong and ethical sales principles and processes

• Ability to perform job function with minimal supervision, even under pressure and as a cohesive team member

• Ability to be a clear thinker, analyze and resolve problems while exercising good judgment

• Ability to remain calm and courteous with difficult and demanding situations

• Ability to be able to maintain extensive travel requirements

• Ability to prioritize, organize work assignments and follow-up

• Ability to ensure security and confidentiality of guest and hotel data.

• Ability to enforce the company’s quality procedures

• Maintain high level of knowledge in reference to Marriott’s product

• Maintain complete knowledge of and comply with all GSO policies and procedures

• Ensure that processes meet Marriott’s standards in terms of consistency and standardization

• Ability to manage electronic real time communication channels

• Work effectively in a team environment

• Strong preference for candidate who speaks English.

Marriott International is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive, people-first culture. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, such as disability and veteran status, or any other basis covered under applicable law.

Marriott International is the world’s largest hotel company, with more brands, more hotels and more opportunities for associates to grow and succeed. Be where you can do your best work,​ begin your purpose, belong to an amazing global​ team, and become the best version of you.