Read House Sales Manager Full Time

The Read House Sales and Catering Department is seeking an experienced on-site Sales Manager to join its team!

Chattanooga’s award-winning historic hotel, The Read House, has been hosting guests and visitors since 1872! Start a new career journey with classic elegance at The Read House Hotel!

What We Have To Offer

Location: 107 West MLK Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37402

Salary: Salary / Based Upon Experience

Benefits

• A Culture that Values Passion, Individuality, and Fun!
• Opportunities for Internal Growth and Development
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Earned Wage Access through PayActiv- access to your earned wages before payday!
• Affordable Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance Plans
• Company Provided & Voluntary Life Insurance
• Short & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Accident & Critical Illness Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Traditional 401(k) & Roth 401(k) with Employer Match up to 3.5%
• Referral Bonus Program
• Access to Earned Wages
• Hotel & Restaurant Discounts at Avocet Hospitality Properties
• Employee Meal Option
• Starbucks Discount
• Garage Parking Discount

Who We Are Looking For

As a Sales Manager, your focus will be on attracting new business and maintaining existing client relationships. Your experience and proactive approach will assist in generating revenue, developing strategic action plans for the group market segment, and increasing the hotel’s visibility with relative clientele.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Understands the overall market, competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, market and economic trends, supply and demand, etc. and knows how to sell within these parameters.
• Gains understanding of the hotel’s primary target customer and service expectations; serves the customer by understanding their business, business issues and concerns, to offer better solutions both prior to, and during the event.
• Identifies and closes the best opportunities for the hotel based on market conditions and hotel needs.
• Uses negotiating skills and creative selling abilities to close business and negotiate contracts.
• Builds and strengthens relationships with existing and new customers to enable future bookings.
• Develops relationships within the community to strengthen and expand the customer base for group sales opportunities.
• Conducts pre-planned and/or walk-in site visits for clients
• Executes exemplary customer service to drive customer satisfaction and loyalty by assisting the customer and ensuring their satisfaction before and during their program.
• Works collaboratively and partners with team members to ensure sales efforts are coordinated in order to exceed the customer’s expectations.
• Provides accurate, complete and effective information for smooth turnover to Event Manager for efficiency of detailing groups.
• In conjunction with the Event Manager, schedules and attends pre and post meetings to understand group needs, obtain feedback on quality of product (rooms, meeting facilities and equipment, food and beverage), service levels and overall satisfaction.
• Executes and supports the operational aspects of business booked (generating proposal, preparing contract, customer correspondence).
• Keeps the Director of Sales fully informed of all problems and matters requiring attention.
• Maintain regular and punctual on-site attendance with the ability to work a flexible schedule which may include days, evenings, weekends, and holidays when business requires.

Job Requirements

Education/ Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Post Graduate or Degree in relevant field preferred
• Two to four years of relevant work experience in similar scope required
• Experience within luxury, lifestyle or independent hotels preferred
• Previous hotel sales manager experience required

Skills

• Ability to prioritize and remain highly organized at work assignments
• Excellent computer skills, such as typing and use of various computer software
• Excellent communication skills with guests, team members, and management
• Proficiency in restaurant POS, reservation, and/or inventory applications
• Ability to access and accurately input information into the Property Management System (PMS)
• Excellent organization, prioritization, and time management skills
• Ability to work well in stressful, high-pressure situations.
• Knowledge of Delphi, including merging menus, blocking function space and creating BEO’s
• Knowledge of staffing guidelines/ requirements to set-up, turn, and break-down function spaces
• Knowledgeable of top accounts and important clients of the hotel
• Knowledgeable with legal and contractual agreements
• Knowledge of basic hotel procedures including accounting, reservations, front office and food and beverage to act as liaison between departments and customers

Physical & Mental Requirements

• Ability to frequently lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move up to 30 pounds with or without assistance
• See clearly both near and far to detect cleanliness and discrepancies in event space
• Hear at a basic level
• Excellent verbal communication skills for interaction with guests required for verbal interaction with guests and associates.
• Traverse work areas including the complex, guest rooms, and public areas
• Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
• Ability to multitask and work effectively in a high-demand, fast-paced environment with changing variables
• Ability to apply patience and understanding to all persons and situations
• Ability to perform well under pressure to meet the needs of guests, team members and/ or management

Work Environment

• The work environment includes high guest contact; may involve varying conditions and circumstances with guests, staff, visitors, etc.
• Inside work in an office environment
• Ability to occasionally work varied shifts including weekends and late night events

Who We Are

The Roaring ’20s are alive and prosperous in Chattanooga at the Historic Read House Hotel. We embrace the “Great Gatsby” era of grandeur and opulence and project the right balance of luxury and rebellious spirit in everything we do. At the Read House, service reigns supreme. We empower our team through support, growth and camaraderie which is instrumental in our culture of genuine hospitality and taking care of guests at every turn. Take the plunge, and be a part of this fun and exciting journey.

• 2025 WINNER (and 2022, 2023, 2024 Finalist) for Chattanooga’s Best of the Best Hospitality Employer!*

Step back in time and visit The Read House Hotel! (www.thereadhousehotel.com)

EOE / DFWP