Park Plaza Hotels Europe is one of the most rapidly expanding groups in the hotel industry today. Offering 4-star deluxe, contemporary Park Plaza hotels in key locations throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa, the group has invested £300 million in expanding their UK portfolio of hotels since 2001 with several more due to open next year.

We have an exciting opportunity for an individual to be part of this rapidly expanding company.

The 4 star, modern Park Plaza Leeds is perfectly located opposite the mainline rail station and is close to the city’s major business and shopping areas.

Our stunning hotel offers 185 rooms including suites. All rooms have a luxurious modern décor and state of the art in room technology.

It is our aim to maintain a culture of learning and development, recruiting friendly and service minded team members, enabling us to produce a truly outstanding 5 star service for our customers, at 4 star prices.

For further information on the Park Plaza Leeds please see our company website at www.pphe.com

The Role
As Sales Executive you will be reporting to the Director of Sales and will be focused on maintaining and building relationships with a profile of key accounts as well as sourcing and developing new business. You will be expected to maximise hotel and group revenue and build customer loyalty. You will co-ordinate with hotel departments to provide the service levels agreed. The job incumbent should be results driven, proactive, and have previous sales experience. All work is carried out in line with sales targets, the hotel’s guidelines, sales business plan, and Park Plaza Hotels’ corporate guidelines and service concepts.

Your role is to:
• Maximise hotel revenue to achieve budgets
• Achieve budgeted goals by executing sales activities within assigned market segment
• Assist in the development of annual sales goals
• Develop new business by proactively targeting new accounts
• Maintain effective correspondence and records
• Develop data and recommends programmes to meet clients’ needs
• Contact in-house guests, new departments within existing accounts and existing account subsidiaries to foster additional business, repeat bookings or referrals to other Park Plaza hotels
• Ensure maximum occupancy on a daily basis by performing follow-ups on business booked via bedroom and meetings and events departments
• Develop, plan and execute client specific sales activities and promotions
• Support in the communication / distribution of company tactical promotions
• Monitors competitor activity to assist in client negotiations
• Support the Meeting and Events department to convert key business and develop repeat business for the group
• Act on the special requests of VIP accommodation accurately in line with the hotel policy
• Liaise with the Accounts Payable Department regarding credit issues
• Assist with the compilation of annual budgets and the S&M plan

We are looking for:
The ideal Sales Executive will be highly customer focused with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Your people skills will need to be exceptional along with the ability to converse and connect with clients at all levels.
You should be a graduate or have equivalent industry experience. You should be punctual, reliable and have excellent attention to detail. You will be confident, professional, outgoing, and cheerful and have a welcoming personality. You will be a team player that is enthusiastic and passionate about your work.

We offer: – Promotion and Transfer advancements within the hotel and across the group – Free meals on duty – Preferential Room Rates

Eligibility & Expiry:
In line with the requirements of the Asylum & Immigration Act 1996, all applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. Documented evidence of eligibility will be required from candidates as part of the recruitment process.

What’s next?
In order to be considered for this fantastic opportunity you should forward a covering letter, stating present salary, together with a current C.V. to Fiona Hemingway, HR Administrator at fhemingway@pphe.com

Due to the vast quantity of applications received, regretfully we are only able to contact those who have been successful in obtaining an interview. If you have not heard from us within a week your application has not been successful.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Closing Date for applications: 31st October 2008.