Job Description
The Senior Manager, Business Development (Hotel) is a strategic and results-driven leader responsible for identifying right inventory suppliers, developing, and securing new business opportunities and partnerships that drive significant revenue growth and market share for the hotel/hotel group. This role requires an in-depth understanding of the hospitality and tourism industry, strong commercial acumen, and exceptional negotiation and relationship-building skills. The Senior Manager will lead key sales initiatives and work closely with cross-functional teams, including Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Management, to achieve ambitious business targets.
Key Responsibilities
I. Strategic Planning & Execution
Develop and implement comprehensive, multi-year business development strategies aligned with the hotel’s long-term revenue and growth objectives.
Conduct in-depth market research and analysis of industry trends, competitor activities, and economic forecasts to identify new business verticals, geographical expansion, and emerging customer segments (e.g., corporate, MICE, leisure groups, government).
Formulate strategic sales plans and targets for the business development team and actively lead the execution to ensure consistent achievement or over-achievement of revenue goals.
Collaborate with the Revenue Management team to optimize pricing strategies and contract terms for large-scale deals and partnerships to maximize profitability.
II. New Business & Partnership Acquisition
Identify, prospect, and secure high-value new clients and strategic partnerships, including global and regional corporate accounts, travel management companies, online travel agencies (OTAs), and specialized tour operators.
Lead the entire sales cycle, from initial contact and pitch presentation to complex contract negotiation and final closing of major deals.
Develop compelling business proposals and presentations tailored to the specific needs of prospective partners and executive-level decision-makers.
Act as the key relationship owner for high-profile accounts post-signing to ensure successful onboarding, sustained business, and long-term partnership health.
III. Leadership & Team Management
Provide strong leadership, coaching, and mentorship to a team of Business Development Executives or Managers.
Monitor individual and team performance against KPIs, sales forecasts, and operational metrics, implementing corrective actions as necessary.
Foster a high-performance, collaborative team culture focused on accountability, continuous improvement, and customer-centric service.
IV. Financial & Reporting
Manage the departmental budget and provide accurate and timely sales forecasts and pipeline reports to senior leadership.
Track, analyze, and report on the ROI of all business development initiatives and strategic partnerships.
Maintain meticulous records of all sales activities, client data, and opportunities within the CRM system (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot).
Education & Experience
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Hospitality Management, or a related field. An MBA is a plus.
Minimum of 8+ years of progressive experience in Business Development, Corporate Sales, or Key Account Management, with at least 3 years in a senior/leadership role within the hotel or wider hospitality/tourism industry.
Proven track record of independently sourcing, negotiating, and closing significant, multi-year contracts that drive substantial revenue growth.
Core Competencies
Exceptional Negotiation Skills: Ability to negotiate favorable terms and conditions for complex commercial agreements.
Strategic Thinking: Capacity to analyze market data, identify opportunities, and develop long-term growth strategies.
Leadership and Team Management: Proven ability to lead, motivate, and manage a high-performing sales team.
Commercial Acumen: Deep understanding of hotel revenue management, distribution channels (GDS, OTA, Direct), and financial metrics (P&L, RevPAR, ADR).
Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication, with the ability to effectively pitch to and influence C-suite executives.
Networking: An established network of contacts within the target market segments is highly desirable.
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