Director of Sales, Middle East

Job description

DIRECTOR OF SALES, MIDDLE EAST At Rocco Forte Hotels, we are guided by strong values that reflect the culture and heritage of the Forte family. We celebrate the uniqueness of each destination through the passion and personality of our people. We continually strive for excellence and are committed to creating unforgettable experiences for our guests. If you are looking to grow in an environment that values quality, collaboration, and continuous development, this could be the perfect opportunity for you. Our Company Rocco Forte Hotels is a luxury hotel company, founded by Sir Rocco Forte and his sister Olga Polizzi in 1996. Its mission is to offer unique and personalized experiences in iconic European destinations such as Rome, Florence, Sicily, Puglia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium. The role The Director of Middle East Sales lead the development of business across the GCC market. This role is responsible for strengthening Rocco Forte Hotels' position as the preferred Italian luxury hospitality brand among royal families, government entities, family offices, high-net-worth individuals, corporate clients, and key travel trade partners throughout the region. The main duties and responsibilities will be: • Develop and execute the Middle East sales strategy to maximize revenue, market share, and brand awareness across the GCC region for the Italian RFH portfolio • Identify and pursue new business opportunities while strengthening relationships within existing key producing partners. • Build annual business plans, sales objectives, and account strategies aligned with company goals. • Contribute to Annual Sales and Marketing Plan for Italian Hotels • Analyse market trends, customer behaviour, and competitive activity to identify growth opportunities and emerging demand segments. • Evaluate sales initiatives and partnerships to ensure strong return on investment and sustainable revenue growth. • Manage a portfolio of strategic accounts in cooperation with GSO - develop new business opportunities across leisure, corporate, government, and luxury travel segments. • Develop and expand relationships with leading luxury travel agencies, tour operators, consortia, and travel advisors. • Organize and lead sales missions, educational visits, client events, and familiarization trips. What do we offer? • Unique growth opportunities: We offer career paths tailored to your ambitions, with opportunities to specialize or grow. • Ongoing training and development (hard and soft skills) specific to your role and department. • Inclusive and flexible environment: We foster an inclusive work environment that values diversity and ensures a work-life balance. • Discounted hotel rates (€35 per night) for 6 months. You will also receive a 50% discount at Company bars and restaurants and a 20% discount on wellness treatments at our spas and on "Irene Forte" products. • Initiatives for your well-being: BenefitHub portal with discounts on all products, flexible hours, and time management. • A competitive salary enhanced by Discretional Service Appreciation structured fairly for all employees. • Permanent Contract, CCNL Turismo. What are we looking for? • A minimum 5–7 years' experience in luxury hospitality sales, preferably within luxury hotels, resorts, or travel brands. • Fluent in English; Italian and Arabic language skills are highly desirable. • Willingness to travel extensively throughout the GCC and internationally as required. • Strong understanding of outbound travel trends from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. • Established relationships with key stakeholders across luxury travel, corporate, government, and high-net-worth segments. Our recruitment process At Rocco Forte Hotels, we value transparency. Following an initial phone or email conversation, you will have individual interviews with the HR Director and the Area Sales Directors to further explore your profile and experience. If these stages are successful, you will then meet with the Managing Directors for a final interview. Regardless of the outcome, we will provide you with clear and constructive feedback throughout the process. Rocco Forte Hotels is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants. By submitting their application, candidates consent to the processing of their personal data for recruitment purposes, in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).