Director of Sales - Verdura Resort

Job description

DIRECTOR OF SALES – VERDURA RESORT 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. An alluring Sicilian escape, Verdura Resort occupies nearly two kilometres of private Mediterranean coastline. Home to three Kyle Phillips golf courses, a 60-metre infinity pool, six clay tennis courts, a world-class spa, four restaurants and five bars, Verdura Resort is an irresistible destination. It’s a place where rooms seem woven subtly into the Sicilian landscape, with a true sense of space and uninterrupted views of the azure waters. Above all, it’s an unforgettable resort in Sicily where our team delivers an outstanding level of service. The Role The Director of Sales – Verdura Resort will lead the sales strategy for the property, driving revenue growth through key account management, business development, strategic partnerships, and long-term market positioning. Working closely with the General Manager and functionally reporting to the Area Director of Sales, Southern Italy, the role will lead and develop the sales team while partnering with Revenue Management, Marketing, and Operations to maximize commercial performance and profitability. The Director of Sales will also oversee the Golf segment and the Golf Sales Manager, ensuring the development of this strategic business segment and its alignment with the overall sales strategy of Verdura Resort. Main Duties & Responsibilities • Define and execute the sales strategy for Verdura Resort, driving revenue growth through key account management, account development, and new business opportunities. • Develop and strengthen relationships across key luxury leisure, corporate, groups and strategic markets, with particular focus on the North American market and luxury consortia. • Contribute to annual business planning, budgeting and forecasting, including the development of the Sales & Marketing Plan for Verdura Resort. • Partner closely with Revenue Management, Marketing and Operations to optimize pricing, segmentation, channel mix and overall commercial performance. • Work closely with Global Sales Offices to increase awareness, develop key accounts and maximize business opportunities across strategic international markets. • Monitor market trends, competitive activity and hotel performance, identifying new opportunities and implementing corrective actions where required. • Lead and develop the Sales team, driving performance against agreed targets and fostering collaboration across commercial functions. • Oversee the Golf segment and Golf Sales Manager, driving business development, strategic partnerships and sales opportunities to maximize Golf-related revenue. • Collaborate with the Groups & Events Sales team to drive enquiry volumes, conversion and achievement of Groups & Events targets. • Represent Verdura Resort at key international trade shows, workshops, roadshows, sales missions and client events. What are we looking for? • Proven experience in a senior Sales leadership role within luxury hospitality. • Strong knowledge of the North American market, luxury consortia and international luxury travel trade. • Demonstrated experience in key account management, new business development and strategic sales planning. • Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams. • Commercial mindset with strong analytical, negotiation and relationship-building skills. • Fluent English and Italian. • Willingness to travel internationally as required. 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. Our Recruitment Process At Rocco Forte Hotels, we value transparency. Following an initial phone or email conversation, you will have individual interviews with HR and the relevant business stakeholders to further explore your profile and experience. If these stages are successful, you will then meet with senior leadership 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).