DIRECTOR OF SALES Reports to: General Manager Our Story Janko Hospitality is a Chicago-based operator of upscale full-service, boutique lifestyle, extended-stay, and select-service hotels throughout the Midwest. The firm’s award-winning properties within the Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG brand families have made Janko Hospitality a 2023 Hotel Business Magazine Top 100 Hospitality Management Company. Janko Hospitality is a growth company focused on expansion through strategic acquisition, development, and third-party management. With a passion for people, a proven track record of solid financial performance, honorable community involvement, and an unwavering commitment to quality, Janko Hospitality is a management company that will provide an exceptional hospitality experience to guests, owners, and associates. Job Description Janko Hospitality is seeking a dynamic Director of Sales (DOS) to lead the repositioning of an existing hotel into a full-service boutique hotel experience in downtown Evanston, IL. This opportunity is ideal for a hospitality professional with luxury or soft-brand experience and a proven track record in rebranding and/or new hotel openings. The Director of Sales will serve as a strategic revenue leader, driving performance through innovative sales, marketing, and catering initiatives while delivering an elevated, personalized guest experience. This role will build and lead a high-performing sales team, cultivate strong client partnerships, and grow business across all segments—including group, transient, and catering. Success in this position requires polished professionalism, a proactive sales mindset, and a steadfast commitment to excellence in a luxury hospitality environment. What You’ll Do • Achieve or exceed annual revenue targets across rooms and catering segments, as defined in the business plan. • Interview, hire, train, schedule, and mentor the Sales and Catering team to ensure performance standards align with luxury brand expectations and company culture. • Develop strategic sales plans using internal analytics and market intelligence to proactively target all business segments and channels. • Understand complex business needs and craft tailored proposals and contractual agreements that align with guest expectations and brand policies. • Monitor individual and team performance against annual business goals, making timely adjustments to optimize sales results. • Cultivate strong relationships with key corporate accounts, industry partners, and event clients to drive repeat business and long-term loyalty. • Represent the hotel with distinction at networking functions, industry/local events, and client meetings to build brand visibility and client trust. • Lead by example with advanced sales presentations, thoughtful client proposals, and professional correspondence. • Conduct regular outside sales calls and site visits to promote the hotel, assess the competition, and generate new business opportunities. • Partner with the Marketing team to develop creative promotions, seasonal packages, and advertising strategies designed to enhance RevPAR and brand awareness. • Collaborate with Revenue Management to provide market insights and trend forecasting to inform strategic decisions and maintain competitive advantage for both high and low demand periods. • Maintain accurate forecasts across all group segments; identify value dates and build strategic campaigns to drive demand. • Ensure flawless execution of all events through oversight of Banquet Event Orders (BEOs), group resumes, and post-event follow-up and billing. • Ensure seamless communication between Sales and Operations teams to deliver elevated guest experiences. • Lead the development of innovative sales materials and digital marketing assets in collaboration with the PR and marketing teams. What You’ll Bring • Polished professionalism and an unwavering commitment to excellence in guest and client experience. • Proven sales leadership experience with a track record of revenue growth and exceeding targets. • Strong sales, communication, leadership and customer service skills. • Consultative selling techniques and detailed knowledge to negotiate terms that fulfill both client needs and hotel profitability goals. • Ability to work independently with excellent organization, time management, and follow-through. • A bachelor's degree in Sales, Marketing, Hospitality Management, or a related field is highly desirable. • Public relations, branding, and community engagement experience is an asset. • Previous experience with a luxury hotel brand or soft-branded property is highly desirable. • Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills with a hands-on, service-oriented approach. • Proficiency in hotel systems and Microsoft Office Suite; experience with brand property management and revenue systems preferred. What You Can Look Forward To • Competitive compensation package • Robust benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off and 401k with matching • Cell Phone Reimbursement • Paid maternity leave • Growth company focused on expansion through strategic acquisition and development • Hotel discounts at locations worldwide