Account Director Global Sales Europe (Maternity Cover)

<p><strong>Account Director, Global Sales - Europe (Maternity Cover)</strong></p> <p><strong>About Us</strong></p> <p>IHG Hotels &amp; Resorts is one of the world’s leading hotel companies with around 350,000 colleagues working across more than 100 countries to deliver true hospitality for good. Our diverse portfolio of differentiated brands is well known and loved by millions of consumers around the world.</p> <p>We genuinely care for our entire IHG Hotels &amp; Resorts family. All our colleagues are valued, and their wellbeing matters to us. We provide the support our colleagues need to succeed and recognise them for their hard work. Our diverse global community values different perspectives and cultures. </p> <p>In this role you will strategically manage a designated account portfolio of IHG managed clients and drive new business opportunities. Develop key relationships to maximise high revenue growth; to increase customer share for all brands across IHG in line with IHG’s commercial agenda.</p> <p><strong>This is a 6-month FTC. </strong></p> <p><strong>Your day to day</strong></p> <ul> <li>Identify, develop, and manage long term customer relationships with the largest growth opportunities by taking ownership of the delivery of customers’ expectations, developing a deep understanding of client hotel requirements.</li> <li>Strategically drive system delivery and utilisation through preferred distribution channels to determine rates and undertake client negotiations in line with IHG strategy.</li> <li>Showcase a proactive sales approach in identifying new business opportunities from existing accounts to increase the revenue streams for all IHG hotels.</li> <li>Deliver both incremental and quality revenue, including negotiating mutual beneficial contracts by having a portfolio of accounts that are built up to drive revenue through subsegments and industry verticals into IHG.</li> <li>Identifying the right fit for IHG hotels, work on cross-regional/industry opportunities and Groups and Events to support the inbound and outbound opportunities.</li> <li>Support strategic and tactical promotions and initiatives to maximise revenue in need periods, working closely with key need and particularly new properties to identify the right new business opportunities for the portfolio with the highest impact and revenue.</li> <li>Role model internally and externally that they are a trusted advisor capable of providing expert solutions and insight of industry and market trends. </li> <li>Support, participate and initiate internal and external events to maximise resource and drive broader and deeper relationships.</li> <li>Manage, delegate, and develop account resources and/or virtual teams to effectively drive sales results (e.g., Groups and New Business) working with the respective teams (e.g., RFP support, Travel Partner sellers, Sales Support, etc).</li> <li>Tap into the IHG Global Sales network to be an ambassador for the market(s), tailoring the approach and behaviours to leverage best practices accordingly.</li> <li>Demonstrate a best-in-class approach with compliance towards processes, tools and sales strategy and ways of working (IHG Europe Sales Playbook).</li> </ul> <p><strong>What we need from you</strong></p> <p>Whilst we love experience, mindset is of equal importance. We’re looking for someone who is committed with a natural ability to operate effectively in a fast moving, global environment. </p> <ul> <li>Experience in an account management role – managing a portfolio of accounts with growth opportunities basing decisions upon sound data and insight, linked to the long-term strategy of the organization.</li> <li>Knowledge of trends, industry insights and hotel experience.</li> <li>Experience of negotiating the needs of IHG and the needs of the customer. Includes the ability to define, manage and execute mutually beneficial contracts.</li> <li><strong>Fluent English and German communication skills.</strong></li> <li>Experience in initiating, developing, and managing mutually beneficial relationships with customers, hotel owners &amp; on-property sales teams.</li> <li>Experience of operating in culturally diverse teams.</li> <li>Ability to quickly identify new business opportunities, using key data points and analytics to make effective commercial decisions.</li> </ul> <p><strong>What we offer</strong></p> <p>At IHG we give our colleagues greater flexibility and balance – working in a hybrid way, blending remote and office working. Although we thrive on collaborating in person, we expect that you’re likely to spend time working remotely. Every role is different, and colleagues work with their team and their leader to determine how and when they collaborate in person. We like to believe we offer a unique culture where you have room to be yourself.</p> <p>We give our people everything they need to succeed. From a competitive salary that rewards all your hard work to a wide range of benefits designed to help you