The Leela Palaces
Website:
theleela.com
Job details:
About The Leela
The story of The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts began when its founder Late Capt. CP Krishnan Nair opened The Leela Mumbai in 1986. For over three decades, The Leela has been on a journey to delight guests by providing unparalleled luxury in captivating environs ensconced in the lap of nature, wrapped in the graciousness of Indian hospitality.
Headquartered in Mumbai, The Leela Palaces,Hotels and Resortsis owned by a Brookfield Asset Management- sponsored private real estate fund and operates thirteen award-winning properties in major cities and leisure destinations across India. These include the flagship hotel in the capital city of New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Udaipur, Jaipur, Gurugram, East Delhi, Mumbai, Gandhinagar, Kovalam, and Ashtamudi. The brand is also delighted to announcethe upcoming openingof its latest property in Hyderabad. The Leela has a strongpipeline of future projects. The brand celebrates each hotel through its unique location, art, culture, and cuisine with thoughtful services, celebratory rituals, and immersive experiences. The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts was voted the World’s Best Hotel Brand twice in a row by Travel + Leisure, USA, World’s Best Awards Survey, 2020 and 2021. In 2024, the brand has once again featured in the top 3 World’s Best Hotel Brands, after the recognition in 2023. An epitomeof true Indianluxury hospitality, The Leela is committed to providing guestswith unforgettable stays in settings that capture the essence of India. The brand has a marketing alliance with US- based Preferred Hotels & Resorts and is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance.
Why join The Leela?
- Award-Winning Brand: Join a brand that has been recognized as one of the World’sBest Hotel Brands for two consecutive years.
- Commitment to Excellence: Be part of a team that is dedicated to providing the highest standards of service and hospitality.
- Innovative Environment: Be part of a team that encourages creativity and innovation, ensuringthat we stay at the forefront of luxury hospitality.
- Career Growth: Benefitfrom our strongpipeline of future projects and opportunities for career advancement within The Leela and our global alliances.
- Cultural Experiences: Engage with the rich cultural tapestry of India, bringing unique and authentic experiences to our discerning guests.
Position Overview
Reporting to: Director of Sales
Location: The Leela Regional Sales Office Mumbai
The Assistant Sales Manager – Corporate Sales will be responsible for driving corporate business across The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts portfolio by developing and managing relationships with corporate accounts, travel management companies (TMCs), business travel partners, and key decision-makers. The role will focus on identifying new business opportunities, growing existing corporate accounts, negotiating preferred rate agreements, and maximizing room revenue, meetings, conferences, and corporate events across The Leela portfolio. Working closely with hotel-based sales teams, the incumbent will support revenue generation through strategic account management and proactive business development. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of the corporate travel segment, exceptional relationship management skills, and experience working within luxury hospitality or premium travel sectors.
Responsibilities:
Business Development
- Identify, acquire, and develop new corporate accounts to drive room night production and revenue across The Leela portfolio.
- Develop strategic sales plans to penetrate key industry segments including Banking, Financial Services, Consulting, Pharmaceuticals, IT/ITES, Manufacturing, FMCG, Media, Aviation, and Multinational Corporations.
- Build relationships with procurement teams, travel managers, executive assistants, and key decision-makers.
- Generate new business through direct sales, networking, referrals, and industry events.
- Maintaining a healthy pipeline of qualified opportunities and proactively convert leads into confirmed business.
Key Account Management
- Manage a portfolio of key corporate accounts and ensure consistent revenue growth.
- Develop account plans for strategic clients to maximize market share.
- Conduct regular client reviews and business performance meetings.
- Identify opportunities to increase room nights, meetings, conferences, long-stay business, and cross-property bookings.
- Maintain strong relationships with Travel Management Companies (TMCs), corporate travel agencies, and business travel partners.
Revenue Generation
- Achieve monthly, quarterly, and annual sales targets for room revenue, room nights, and corporate production.
- Negotiate preferred corporate agreements and commercial terms while maximizing profitability.
- Identify opportunities for cross-selling across The Leela portfolio.
- Promote meetings, incentives, conferences, and corporate events in collaboration with hotel sales teams.
- Support hotels in converting high-value corporate opportunities. Evaluate project feasibility and investment returns.
Sales Planning & Market Intelligence
- Develop territory plans and account development strategies.
- Monitor competitor activity, pricing, market trends, and corporate travel patterns.
- Identify emerging business opportunities and recommend sales initiatives.
- Maintain an updated understanding of industry developments and client requirements.
Client Engagement
- Conduct regular sales calls, client meetings, hotel presentations, and site inspections.
- Organize familiarization trips and networking events for key corporate clients.
- Represent The Leela at trade exhibitions, corporate forums, and industry events.
- Deliver exceptional customer service and ensure long-term client retention.
Sales Operations
- Maintain accurate client records and sales activities within Salesforce CRM.
- Update account information, sales calls, opportunities, and production reports on a timely basis.
- Prepare weekly sales activity reports, pipeline updates, and revenue forecasts.
- Ensure compliance with corporate sales processes and reporting standards.
Cross-functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Revenue Management, Reservations, Hotel Sales Teams, Marketing, Operations, and Commercial teams to maximize revenue opportunities.
- Coordinate with hotel-based Directors of Sales for seamless account servicing.
- Support corporate-wide sales initiatives and promotional campaigns.
Qualifications:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, Hotel Management, Business Administration, Marketing, Commerce, or a related discipline.
- MBA in Marketing, Sales, Hospitality Management, or Business Administration is preferred.
- Professional certifications in Sales Management, Key Account Management, Revenue Management, or Hospitality Sales will be an added advantage.
- 3-5 years of experience in Corporate Sales within luxury hospitality, premium hotels, airlines, travel, or business travel organizations.
- Proven experience managing corporate accounts and achieving revenue targets.
- Strong understanding of corporate contracting, account management, and business travel.
- Experience working with Salesforce CRM or similar sales management platforms is preferred.
Technical Skills
- Corporate Sales & Business Development
- Key Account Management
- Corporate Contract Negotiation
- Revenue Generation
- MICE Sales
- Business Travel Management
- Salesforce CRM
- Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
- Sales Forecasting & Pipeline Management
- Market Intelligence & Competitive Analysis
Key Competencies
- Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
- Excellent relationship-building and networking abilities.
- Outstanding communication and presentation skills.
- Customer-focused with a consultative selling approach.
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
- Strong planning, organization, and time management skills.
- Ability to manage multiple accounts in a fast-paced environment.
- Collaborative mindset with the ability to work across hotel and corporate teams.
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