Business Development Executive | Holiday Inn Auckland Airport

We are on the lookout for a passionate and energetic Business Development Executive to take our Conferencing, Events & Groups portfolio to the next level. If you are looking to springboard your career and join a globally iconic company, then we want to hear from you.

This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in our growth journey, helping to shape the future of our business. If you are a strategic thinker with a knack for building relationships and identifying new business opportunities, we want to hear from you!

As the Business Development Executive, your primary focus will be on driving C&E sales conversion and attracting new sales opportunities. You will play a critical role in quoting and successfully converting new and repeat business while utilising effective yielding techniques. Building and maintaining strong relationships with non-sales manager contacts is essential in this role.

Your day to day

• Engage in proactive sales activities to drive new business and cultivate relationships with existing clients (70% new business, 30% relationship building with existing clients).
• Actively pursue opportunities to enlarge the MICE segment for the hotel, which includes group,  conference and event business, create an ongoing pipeline, and successfully shift business from the competition through active engagement with the customer via face to face or voice conversations. 
• Follow up and negotiate on sales leads and quoted business to secure bookings. Demonstrate a deep understanding of client needs, optimise Hotel revenue through yield management, and proactively upsell Hotel facilities or services.
• Monitor competitor practices and strategies in order to understand competitor trends and ensure each properties product and services are ahead of the competition. If necessary, refine sales strategies accordingly. 
• Maintain strong presence in the local community by participating in business / industry organisations, associations and developing a broad external network. 
• Support sales initiatives such as site inspections, client engagement, familiarisations, and other events outlines in the sales and marketing plan.
• Collaborate with Conference & Events team to ensure the client’s vision for Groups or Meetings is brought to life on property. 
• Contribute to the development of new products and services that enhance guest experience.
• Develop and maintain contact with key decision makers, influencers, meeting planners, professional conference and event organisers, and other stakeholders closely aligned with each business unit.

• Bachelor’s degree / higher education qualification / equivalent in Hotel Administration or Business/Marketing/Sales/Management 
• Minimum 2 years of demonstrated hotel sales experience within Australasia with a proven track record of success driving repeat business 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills 
• Good understanding of hotel systems and revenue management principles 
• Undertaken formal sales training program (internal or external) 
• Excellent time management sills and the ability to regulate own workload and prioritise varied tasks
• Strong problem-solving skills and accountability for own decisions and actions

We genuinely care about people and we show this through living out our promise of True Hospitality each and every day. It’s what connects every colleague in all IHG® hotels.