National Account Manager Leisure & Golf Jobs – Apply Now Internship

National Account Manager – Leisure & Golf Jobs | Malmaison & Hotel du Vin

Hotel sales careers have always fascinated me as it is quite unlike the desk-bound traditional sales jobs. The top performers in this domain do not wait for people to come knocking on their doors but are out there meeting their customers, forging relationships and partnerships, identifying trends in travel and finding innovative means of bringing in business to their hotels.

The latest National Account Manager – Leisure & Golf position available with Malmaison and Hotel du Vin perfectly embodies that description.

It is a field sales job that involves a lot of national travel. In addition, the candidate selected for this position would manage vital leisure and golf accounts for the two hotel brands. It is an amalgamation of account management, business development, relationship building, market analysis, hotel sales strategy and networking within the industry.

For a hotel sales professional, a person with experience in tourism, leisure, golf, travel or strategic account management, it might make for an interesting career option.

National Account Manager – Leisure & Golf Job Details

Description of National Account Manager Position

The National Account Manager – Leisure & Golf will be responsible for increasing revenue growth in the portfolios of Malmaison and Hotel du Vin.

This is the position that goes beyond one single hotel but rather focuses on account management of multiple accounts of both hotel brands.

The candidate will work with existing clients and agents and will identify new business opportunities in the leisure and golf sectors.

A significant part of the position is working with the Head of National Sales on developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy for leisure and golf sales.

It is simple – the objective is to increase revenue, develop relationships, penetrate the market and find new opportunities for the hotel portfolio.

Description of National Account Manager Role

Initially, the title of “National Account Manager” may suggest that this is the purely administrative position. But actually, this is the position that includes sales, relationship management, traveling, meetings, strategy, and analysis.

The person hired will be responsible for managing the portfolio of existing key accounts and agents in the sectors of leisure and golf.

It means not just maintaining a list of contacts but understanding the requirements of each customer, identifying opportunities and creating a strategy for developing the relationship.

Identifying New Market Opportunities

Another key aspect of the position is identification and targeting of new markets.

The job description emphasizes several key sectors such as:

• Golf Tour Operators
• Leisure Tour Operators
• FIT Agents
• New leisure accounts
• Developing golf accounts

The acronym FIT stands for Free Independent Travelers, which can be very important sector within the travel industry.

The National Account Manager will need to identify where new revenue opportunities exist and will develop the relationships that will result in actual bookings and business.

Working with Hotel Teams

Any national sales strategy works only when the hotel teams understand what is going on in the market.

The National Account Manager will work with hotel teams to ensure that they have a clear understanding of leisure and golf sectors.

It will allow the hotels to increase:

• Conversion
• Market penetration
• Customer engagement
• Revenue opportunities

It also means that the successful candidate should be comfortable talking to different levels of the organization.

Building Relationships with Clients

Building relationship is one of the key aspects of this position.

The National Account Manager will be responsible for developing and maintaining good relationships with leisure and golf clients, agents and partners.

Based on my experience, this is one of the areas where sales professionals can really make a big difference.

The client may have several options – different hotels or travel providers available to him/her. But when you have a strong professional relationship with a client and understand his/her business, it becomes much easier to identify opportunities and offer the best solutions.

It is exactly why communication, reliability and follow-up are so important in a role like this.

Working with UK Travel Industry Organizations

The job also includes working with industry bodies and associations to drive leisure business to the UK.

The job description mentions several industry bodies such as:

• VisitBritain
• UK Inbound

It means that the successful candidate will have to have knowledge of the UK tourism industry and not just of individual hotel accounts.

This aspect of the job also can include networking, market development, participating in various industry events, identifying opportunities from different travel markets.

Travel Is a Key Element of the Position

It is the field-based position, which means that candidates should be comfortable traveling.

The job requires national traveling and sometimes international traveling as well.

The successful candidate may participate in:

• Site visits
• Networking events
• Trade shows
• Client meetings
• Industry events

It is an important aspect because personal relationship remains valuable in hospitality sales.

If you prefer the job that doesn’t require leaving your office, this may not be the perfect position for you.

But if you like meeting people, visiting hotels, attending industry events and developing business relationships, then the traveling aspect can become one of the most appealing things about the job.

Educating Hotels in Leisure and Golf Sales

One more aspect of the position is holding education sessions for hotel teams.

The National Account Manager will educate hotels in the issues related to leisure and golf business.

This means that the position is not just about making personal sales.

It also includes educating other team members about:

• Leisure customers
• Golf customers
• Market opportunities
• Sales approaches
• Industry trends
• Account development

The candidate who feels comfortable making presentations and educating the colleagues will have an advantage.

Analyzing Sales Performance

Another aspect of the position is analyzing and reporting on account performance and pipeline management.

This is where the analytical aspect of the job comes in.

The National Account Manager will need to analyze data on performance and answer the following questions:

• Which accounts grow?
• Which accounts decline?
• Where are the new opportunities?
• How does the sales pipeline look like?
• Which markets perform well?
• Where is the additional attention needed?

The job also includes analyzing market trends, competitor activity and performance data to refine sales strategies.

Qualifications and Experience

The employer is looking for the candidate with proven record of achievement of sales objectives and development of accounts.

Experience in the leisure and/or golf industry is the plus.

It means that the position is more appropriate for experienced sales professional than for a beginner.

The ideal candidate should be comfortable with:

• Strategic account management
• Sales objectives
• Business development
• Client relationships
• Negotiations
• Presentations
• Data analysis
• Multiple accounts
• Cross-functional teamwork

Communication and Negotiation Skills

Good communication skills are necessary for this position.

The National Account Manager will have to communicate with:

• Clients
• Travel agents
• Tour operators
• Hotel teams
• Industry organizations
• Internal sales teams
• Senior stakeholders

The ability to communicate effectively and to negotiate can greatly influence success of this position.

The ability to make presentations is also important because the employee will represent the entire portfolio of Malmaison and Hotel du Vin properties.

Management of Multiple Hotels and Accounts

It is another important thing that applicants should keep in mind.

The person hired will not be responsible for a single account or a single hotel.

The position will require management of multiple accounts and inquiries in multiple hotels at once.

It means that organization is crucial.

The person who keeps good records, makes timely follow-ups, manages priorities and knows which opportunities require immediate attention can become much more effective in such position.

Skills Needed by the Employer

Several key skills are mentioned in the job description.

The ideal candidate should have:

• Proven sales performance
• Skills in strategic account management
• Excellent communication
• Strong negotiation abilities
• Relationship-building skills
• Experience in business development
• Ability to analyze data
• Presentation skills
• Attention to details
• Integrity and discretion
• Proactive approach
• Problem-solving skills
• Teamwork skills
• Proficiency in MS Office
• Interest in exploration of new business opportunities

The employer is also looking for the candidate with strong commitment to business objectives.

What Kind of Person Will Be Suitable for This Job?

From my personal point of view, this position is suitable for the person who enjoys sales, people, travel and strategy.

There are several things you probably will not enjoy if you choose this position:

• Meeting clients
• Traveling
• Networking
• Sales targets
• Presentations
• Managing multiple projects

On the other hand, if you enjoy finding business opportunities and turning professional relationships into long-term partnerships, then the job can be very suitable for you.

Experiences in hotels, tourism, golf, travel agencies, tour operators or leisure sales can also be especially helpful.

Salary and Benefits

The job ad mentions the following compensation package:

Competitive Salary

The precise salary figure is not specified.

Also, the employer offers:

• Generous company benefits
• Training opportunities
• Development opportunities

Since the precise salary figure is not given, it is important not to rely on unofficial sources or estimates to evaluate the compensation.

The compensation can be discussed during the recruitment process.

How to Prepare Your Application

When applying for National Account Manager position, you should emphasize achievements in your resume rather than responsibilities.

You should not write something like:

“Managed national accounts”.

Instead, you should explain the results you achieved.

For example:

• Increased revenue
• Won new accounts
• Met sales targets
• Developed major partnerships
• Retained the clients
• Conducted successful campaign
• Expanded market
• Negotiated large contract

If you have any experience in golf, leisure, hospitality, tourism or travel, it is good to put it in resume.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using Generic CV

The generic sales CV may not show your suitability for leisure and golf positions.

You should tailor your experience to the position.

Hiding Your Achievements

If you regularly exceed your targets, you should mention it.

The numbers can greatly emphasize your achievements.

Ignoring Travel Requirements

This is the field-based position with national travel and possible international travel.

It is important to be aware of it before you apply.

Focusing Only on Sales

This position is not just about closing the deals.

Relationship management, strategy, market analysis, training and cross-functional teamwork are also important.

Overlooking Microsoft Office

The employer specifically emphasizes the proficiency in MS Office, so you should not forget it.

Why This Role Can Become Good Career Opportunity

This position allows to get the experience in two established hotel brands and in a wide range of leisure and golf customers.

Instead of working with one single hotel, the National Account Manager will represent a wide hotel portfolio.

This can provide you with a great experience in:

• National account management
• Hospitality sales
• Tourism
• Golf travel
• Leisure markets
• Business development
• Strategic partnerships
• Revenue growth

All these skills will be very useful even after this employer.

Conclusion

The National Account Manager – Leisure & Golf position with Malmaison & Hotel du Vin is intended for the experienced sales professional who can combine relationship management and commercial strategy.

The position will include account management, identification of new business opportunities, working with hotel teams, attending industry events, working with tourism organizations, conducting training, analyzing performance and increasing revenue across the hotel portfolio.

The position is field-based with national travel required and some international travel may also be included.

The employer is offering competitive salary, company benefits and training and development opportunities.

If your background includes hotel sales, leisure, golf, tourism, travel, business development or strategic account management, this opportunity is worth consideration. You should ensure that your CV emphasizes your sales achievements, account management experience, communication skills and ability to build business relationships.