Karina Duffy Email & Phone Number

County Galway, Ireland

Galway, County Galway, Ireland

Responsible for maximising the sales potential of the hotel, achieving revenue budgets and developing relationships with key stakeholders.Duties & responsibilities:• To lead, motivate, inspire and empower a team of experienced sales professionals, and to be responsible for the development, implementation and execution of the overall sales and marketing strategy.• To plan and direct the day-to-day operation of the sales and marketing function to ensure maximum revenue and profitability and provide potential and existing clients with the highest level of sales service.• Perform day-to-day sales activity including lead generation, face to face meetings, contracting, rate negotiation, site inspections, attendance at trade shows, client entertainment and national/international sales trips.• Undertake monthly corporate tracking of corporate accounts to monitor production and more importantly to identify any decreases and taking necessary action to remedy same.• Identification and management of all corporate and consortia RFP’s with volume for city, ensuring maximum inclusion for the hotel. Analysis of GDS production reports and intelligence information.• Focus on driving bedroom, meeting, conference, F&B, wedding & event business into the hotel. • To utilise CRM system for recording client database building.• Input to hotel pricing strategy and forecasting with general manager and revenue manager.• Management of annual marketing budget, also to input and present the overall annual sales budget to the central team. • Executive quarterly activity plans to create focus for the team and adapt activity to support business needs. • Devise and execute hotel sales and marketing promotional campaigns through local and national media, evaluating and reporting on marketing outcomes.• Attend group consumer and trade promotions as required and schedule relevant individual promotions for the hotel.

The Clayton Hotel Galway, a luxury four star hotel located only minutes from Galway city, contemporary & stylish with a warm and friendly welcome.Awarded RSVP "Best Wedding Venue in Connaught 2017”Awarded Weddingsonline "Best Wedding Venue Hotel in Connaught 2015 & 2016”Awarded RSVP "Ballroom of the Year 2015”On a personal level,Finalist in the Event Industry Awards 2017 in the category of "In-house Event Person of the Year"Awarded Clayton Hotel Galway “Manager of the Year 2015”Awarded Mrs2Be “Wedding Venue Co-Ordinator 2015”Awarded RSVP “Wedding Venue Co-Ordinator 2014”• Managing all large event and wedding bookings from the moment an event organiser or wedding couple enter the hotel right the way through until the event takes place. Also the complete administration, execution and management of all planned wedding or events from 100 – 1000 guests. Administration of bookings are done through OPERA and Alkimii. • To be proactive in sales and to respond to event, wedding, meeting or conference enquiries by telephone, email or directly in a timely and agreed manner.• Seek opportunities to increase sales and conversions within the team and also to work with the entire sales team in order to ensure maximum sales. The training and supporting of staff either within the hotel or externally within the hotel group.• Managing a conference, wedding and events calendar to maximise yield.• Participate in hotel promotional and marketing activities, also idea generation for these marketing activities. • Brand awareness and constantly upholding group brand standards. • Attendance in weekly function sheet, HOD`s and sales meetings. Provide reports on such sales meetings.• Continuous C&B reporting, budget preparation and presentation as part of the management team reporting to Dalata central office. Senior strategy and idea generation as part of the key management team.

• Arrange and carry out event, conference and wedding showarounds in a personable yet professional manner.• To hand over concise and precise information to the operations and catering teams for all wedding, event and conference bookings and to act as a liaison in introducing clients to the point of contact in operations. Attention to detail is key to ensure the smooth running of weddings, conferences, events and meetings.• Communicating excellent knowledge of the hotel products, facilities, services, highlighting unique selling points and advantages to secure sales. Selling and working with a variety of clients both nationally and internationally.• CRM and networking to build and maintain relations with existing and new clients.• Analysing trends, recognising guest requirements and tailoring packages to meet guest’s requirements and budgets.• Designing, organising and participation at all scheduled wedding showcases and trade shows to include both internal and external opportunities.• Review billing and issue invoices to clients.