The Role
Our client, one of Ireland's premier racing and events venues, is seeking a Sales & Hospitality Manager to lead its commercial sales and hospitality activity. The role drives revenue growth across racedays, hospitality packages, memberships and associated commercial opportunities.
As a member of the venue's Leadership Team, you will contribute to the delivery of its strategic business objectives, commercial targets, customer experience ambitions and financial performance. You'll lead a high-performing sales team, build strong relationships with existing and prospective clients, and identify innovative ways to grow revenue while ensuring exceptional service and stakeholder engagement.
Responsibilities
Commercial & Sales
- Develop and deliver the annual sales and hospitality plan in conjunction with the CEO and the group commercial team
- Achieve revenue targets across hospitality, memberships, ticket packages and other raceday commercial opportunities
- Drive new business while managing and growing existing client relationships
- Identify and develop new revenue-generating opportunities
- Maximise sales through effective upselling and cross-selling initiatives
- Support attendance growth and customer retention across all racedays and events
Hospitality & Customer Experience
- Oversee hospitality sales and membership programmes, ensuring a premium customer experience
- Build strong relationships with Annual Members, hospitality clients, sponsors and catering partners
- Ensure customer service excellence across all customer touchpoints
- Respond effectively to customer enquiries and feedback
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, motivate and develop the Sales Team, including Sales Executives, Office Coordinator and casual staff as required
- Set clear objectives, KPIs and performance standards
- Foster a high-performance, customer-focused culture
Stakeholder Management & Reporting
- Work collaboratively with Operations, Marketing, Catering and other departments to deliver successful racedays and events
- Maintain accurate CRM records and provide regular sales forecasts and performance reports
- Manage departmental budgets and ensure compliance with company policies and procedures
- Support wider group racecourse division initiatives as required
- Undertake other duties as may reasonably be assigned by the CEO
Skills & Experience
- Minimum 4 years' management experience in sales, hospitality, events, sport, leisure or a related sector
- Proven track record in achieving and exceeding revenue targets
- Strong business development and relationship management skills
- Experience leading and developing teams
- Excellent communication, customer service and stakeholder management skills
- Strong commercial awareness and experience using CRM systems
- Excellent organisational skills with attention to detail
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with flexibility to support racedays and events
Key Capabilities
Customer Focus - Creates an environment where the team is empowered to put the customer first; supports the team in managing workload to meet customer needs; role models customer focus and develops customer-focused initiatives; makes customer satisfaction a priority.
Developing Self - Is self-aware and proactively seeks feedback for personal and professional development; role models development in self and others; reflects on behaviour and adapts approach to different situations; is open to new ideas and drives continuous improvement.
Energy & Pace - Sets and delivers against SMART objectives; is accountable and delivers sustainable results, using resources effectively; understands the wider business and communicates it onward; empowers others to deliver with energy and pace; is flexible and adaptable to business needs.
Innovation & Change - Reviews processes and ways of working, striving for best practice and improved industry standards; is creative and supports creative thinking in others; finds innovative ways to serve stakeholders better; implements change in a supportive, reassuring way.
Leadership - Motivates and empowers others through a 'can do' approach; understands strategic intent and aligns objectives and messages accordingly; role models leadership and core values; develops, motivates and inspires others.
Team - Creates team environments where everyone contributes and is stretched accordingly; ensures productive, positive communication across all teams; harnesses team capability to ensure high standards of performance.
