Director of Sales

What if your next leadership role included relocation assistance and a lakefront office?

The Lodge at Lake Guntersville State Park is seeking a Director of Sales & Marketing to lead revenue growth across lodging, events, and group business at one of Alabama’s most breathtaking destinations!

Job Summary:

The Director of Sales and Marketing is responsible for driving lodging, group, and event revenue for The Lodge at Lake Guntersville State Park. This position leads all sales initiatives including corporate retreats, conferences, weddings, and group travel while overseeing marketing efforts, community outreach, and partnerships that promote the lodge as a premier destination. The Director supervises the sales team, manages room block bookings and banquet sales, and develops strategies to maximize occupancy and revenue.

Job Description:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Establish and manage business development strategies to increase lodging occupancy, group bookings, and banquet/event revenue. Identify new market opportunities including corporate retreats, conferences, weddings, tour groups, and regional events.
• Develop and implement the facility’s Marketing and Sales strategies and annual budget; monitor and adjust as required to stay within approved guidelines. Utilize marketing support from the Corporate Office when appropriate.
• Manage group sales efforts including negotiating contracts, creating and managing lodging room blocks, responding to RFPs, and coordinating group bookings with front desk and operations teams.
• Oversee banquet and event sales including meetings, weddings, conferences, and special events. Work closely with operations, culinary, and banquet staff to ensure successful planning and execution of events.
• Lead and supervise the lodge sales team. Provide guidance, training, goal setting, and performance management to ensure achievement of sales targets and excellent customer service.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with corporate clients, wedding planners, meeting organizers, tour operators, and repeat guests to encourage long-term partnerships and repeat business.
• Represent the lodge at community events, tourism meetings, Chamber of Commerce functions, and industry networking events to promote the property and strengthen community partnerships.
• Develop and coordinate marketing initiatives including digital marketing, social media promotion, tourism partnerships, regional advertising, and promotional campaigns that increase awareness of the lodge and drive bookings.
• Work with operations management to evaluate business opportunities, seasonal promotions, and occupancy strategies that maximize revenue and guest experience.
• Maintain a full working knowledge of the company brand, lodge facilities, lodging accommodations, banquet capabilities, and recreational offerings.
• Track, analyze, and report sales performance metrics including occupancy levels, group bookings, banquet revenue, and sales forecasts.
• Maintain awareness of safety issues and report them immediately to your manager.

SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE

• Work requires general knowledge of sales and marketing principles and practices generally obtained through completion of a Bachelor's degree program in a business-related field.
• 3-5 years related experience and/or formal training. 
• Strong customer orientation and grasp of marketing fundamentals.
• Computer proficiency with the ability to utilize MS Office Suite and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite.
• Demonstrated talent for interacting with a wide variety of people.
• Ability to effectively organize and coordinate multiple priorities; ability to work well as a team leader; ability to problem-solve.
• Strong customer service abilities; actively looks for ways to assist customers and coworkers.
• Ability to travel and work weekends when required.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to sit at a desk in front of a computer for the entire work day. 
• Ability to stand and/or walk for an entire work day.
• Reading and writing work-related documents in English.
• Speech recognition and clarity, including the ability to understand the speech of customers and co-workers and the ability to speak clearly so that you can be understood by customers and co-workers in English.
• Constantly communicates and receives verbal communication with other employees.
• Lifting, carrying, and pushing up to 15 lbs. occasionally, up to 30 lbs. seldom.
• Occasionally stoop, kneel, or crouch. 
• Use hands and arms to reach for, grasp, and manipulate objects. 

EQUIPMENT USED

• Typical office equipment (computer, phone system, fax, copiers, scanners, among others).

Founded in 1917, Guest Services has worked tirelessly to earn the reputation as the premier hospitality management company and National Park Service concessionaire in the United States. Guest Services takes great care and pride in providing best-in-class services across a wide variety of client sites including luxury communities, hotels, resorts, government and business dining facilities, full-service restaurants, state and national parks, outdoor recreation, boathouses, marinas, museums, conference centers, senior living communities, health care systems, school and university dining facilities, and specialty retail stores.

Guest Services, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and promotion without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION: We embrace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and the richness it brings to our company. Our commitment is to provide an inclusive workplace where individuals can bring their whole selves to work, enabling them to provide the best level of service to our diverse customer base.