Conference Group Sales Manager

Who We Are

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.

Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 88 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.

Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.

About the Position

The Colonial Williamsburg Hotels are seeking a driven and results-oriented Group Sales Manager to join our team. Solicit future conference business for Colonial Williamsburg Hotels in assigned market areas using 31+ rooms per night arriving outside 91 days + or as assigned by Director of Sales (and/or VP of Sales).  Maintain and exceed definite monthly room night and room’s revenue booking goals as assigned by Director of Sales (and/or VP of Sales).

Main Duties

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Contact meeting planners/decision makers by mail, telephone, fax, in person, customer fams and site inspections. 
  • Maintain a comprehensive account management plan to include a list of target accounts and key accounts 
  • Develop sales action plans to achieve revenue goals 
  • Build positive and lasting client relationships 
  • Secure annual and multi-year contracts 
  • Secure new and repeat business 
  • Maintain accurate and legible files in accordance with established policies and procedures. 
• Generate and secure new, referred, and repeat group business, focusing on accounts within the DC region and the Northeast. 
• Prepare and execute creative sales proposals and contracts that ensure financial success and profitability to the hotel while managing and minimizing risk to the hotel. 
• Maintain regular communication with clients to ensure seamless execution of all events resulting in high customer satisfaction 
   
• Negotiate space, dates and rates to obtain room night booking goals (focusing on placement of business in shoulder and off-season and other need periods with emphasis on promoting Sunday-Thursday patterns) while maximizing profitability in all areas of operation. 
   
• Assist in developing individual marketing strategies in assigned market areas in concert with annual marketing strategies 
   
  • Responsible for keeping spending in-line with individual Sales plan and with approval of Director of Sales 
     
  • Strong knowledge of various market segments to include corporate, association, incentive, SMERF and other vertical markets or combination thereof. 
     
• Market room, food and beverage (banquet and restaurant covers), golf, spa services, tennis and other forms of recreation, admission tickets, entertainment, products and when possible, solicit donations for the foundation development efforts. 
  • Maximize any cross-s