DIRECTOR OF SALES (M/F) – Paris, France
Paris, France | Large-Scale Premium Hotel | Executive Leadership Position
The Opportunity
On behalf of our client, a major premium hotel located in Paris, we are seeking an accomplished Director of Sales to lead its commercial operations and drive sustainable revenue growth across multiple market segments.
Operating within a large-scale, high-volume hospitality environment, this property offers a particularly stimulating commercial challenge, combining significant accommodation capacity, extensive meetings and events activity, and a diverse international clientele.
This is an exceptional opportunity for a commercially driven leader who combines international hospitality experience, strong strategic vision and, above all, a proven ability to lead, inspire and develop a sizeable, multidisciplinary sales team.
Reporting directly to the General Manager, the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping the hotel’s commercial performance and strengthening its competitive position.
Your Mission
As Director of Sales, you will assume overall responsibility for the hotel’s sales strategy, business development and commercial team performance.
Your remit will extend across Corporate, MICE, Leisure, Groups, FIT and other relevant business segments, requiring both a sophisticated understanding of international markets and the operational agility needed to succeed in a high-volume hotel environment.
Working closely with the General Manager and Director of Revenue Management, you will translate commercial ambitions into measurable results while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and excellence.
Key Responsibilities
Commercial Strategy & Business Development
- Define and implement a comprehensive sales strategy aligned with the hotel’s positioning, financial objectives and market opportunities.
- Develop and execute ambitious annual sales action plans, supported by clearly defined performance indicators.
- Drive revenue growth across Corporate, MICE, Events, Leisure, Groups and FIT segments.
- Identify and develop new business opportunities, strategic accounts and international source markets.
- Lead negotiations and contracting with key corporate clients, leisure partners, intermediaries and airline accounts.
- Strengthen relationships with existing major accounts while actively developing new commercial partnerships.
- Work closely with Revenue Management to optimise business mix, market segmentation, forecasting and overall commercial performance.
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity and evolving customer expectations.
- Contribute to annual budgeting, business reviews and commercial performance presentations to ownership and senior management.
- Maximise meetings and events revenue through proactive business development, cross‑selling and upselling initiatives.
Leadership & Team Management — A Critical Dimension of the Role
People leadership is central to this appointment.
We are looking for more than an outstanding salesperson or business developer. We need an experienced commercial executive who knows how to manage managers, build high‑performing teams and create a strong, results‑oriented sales culture.
You will:
- Lead, structure and motivate a large, multidisciplinary commercial team covering several business segments.
- Provide clear direction, establish priorities and translate strategic objectives into individual and collective performance targets.
- Coach, mentor and develop sales managers and their teams, encouraging professional growth and internal progression.
- Establish robust performance management practices, including regular reviews, pipeline monitoring and commercial reporting.
- Foster a collaborative, positive and demanding working environment where accountability and employee engagement go hand in hand.
- Identify talent, strengthen succession planning and contribute to recruitment and organisational development.
- Ensure effective communication and coordination across the commercial department and with other operational teams.
- Lead by example, combining commercial ambition with integrity, emotional intelligence and a hands‑on management approach.
Your ability to unite a substantial team around a shared commercial vision will be one of the decisive factors in your success.
Cross‑Functional Leadership
- Work in close partnership with Revenue Management, Operations, Rooms Division, Food & Beverage and Events teams.
- Ensure that commercial commitments are fully aligned with operational capabilities and service standards.
- Promote seamless communication between sales and operational departments.
- Contribute actively to the hotel’s executive leadership team and overall business strategy.
- Support a premium guest experience through commercially sound decisions and effective interdepartmental collaboration.
The Profile We Are Looking For
We are particularly interested in candidates who have built part of their careers in international hospitality environments, gaining exposure to different markets, commercial practices and management cultures.
Professional Background
- A minimum of five years’ relevant experience in hotel sales management, ideally including substantial senior leadership responsibilities.
- A successful track record in a Director of Sales, Director of Sales & Marketing or comparable senior commercial position.
- Demonstrated experience managing large sales teams, ideally through several levels of management.
- Previous experience in an international hotel group, multinational hospitality organisation or similarly complex international environment.
- Strong knowledge of Corporate, MICE, Groups and Leisure distribution channels.
- Experience within a large-scale hotel, preferably with more than 500 rooms, would be a significant advantage.
- Proven ability to deliver commercial growth, improve sales productivity and manage complex client portfolios.
- Strong understanding of revenue management principles, budgeting, forecasting and commercial performance indicators.
Leadership & Personal Attributes
Beyond technical expertise, your leadership personality will make the difference.
You are:
- A genuine people leader, capable of inspiring and managing a sizeable team with confidence, fairness and authority.
- A strategic thinker who remains closely connected to operational realities.
- Commercially ambitious, analytical and strongly results‑oriented.
- Comfortable operating in a demanding, multicultural and fast‑moving environment.
- An effective communicator and negotiator, equally at ease with major clients, senior executives and operational teams.
- Able to make decisions, establish priorities and maintain momentum under pressure.
- Collaborative by nature, with the credibility and maturity required to contribute at executive committee level.
- Passionate about developing talent and building a sustainable culture of commercial excellence.
Education, Languages & Systems
- Degree in Business Administration, Hospitality Management, Sales or a related discipline.
- Fluent French and English are essential, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- An additional language would be an advantage.
- Proficiency in hotel sales and reporting systems, CRM tools and Microsoft Office.
- Familiarity with Opera PMS would be appreciated.
What Makes This Opportunity Different?
This is not simply a sales management appointment.
It is an opportunity to take ownership of a substantial commercial operation within a major Parisian hospitality asset, where business volume, market diversity and organisational complexity demand genuine executive leadership.
The successful candidate will benefit from:
- A highly visible leadership role reporting directly to the General Manager.
- Significant responsibility for commercial strategy and revenue development.
- The opportunity to lead and develop a sizeable team of sales professionals.
- Exposure to a diverse portfolio of French and international clients.
- Close involvement in strategic decision‑making and business performance reviews.
- A dynamic, premium hospitality environment offering stimulating professional challenges.
- A competitive remuneration package, including performance‑related incentives and benefits commensurate with the responsibilities of the position.
Interested in Taking on This Challenge?
If you have successfully combined international commercial experience with the leadership of substantial sales teams, and are ready to make a measurable impact on a major hotel operation, we would be pleased to hear from you.
All applications will be handled with the strictest confidentiality.
Location: Paris, France
Position: Full-time | Executive / Senior Management
Industry: Hospitality | Premium Hotels | MICE & Corporate Business
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