Sales Associate, EMEAA

Role Purpose

The EMEAA Sales Associate provides support to the dynamic EMEAA Regional sales team to execute IHG's Elevate goals on revenue, roomnight and loyalty performance. This may include working with a team of Key Account Directors (KAD), Sales Associates, hotels, as well as other internal and external stakeholders. Account portfolios cover all sectors and segments which goal is to maintain total account management, from Groups & Meetings to Corporate focusing on communication with KNRs, New Business, hotels, annual RFPs contracting, reporting, researching and monitoring. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Key Liaison with Hotels and stakeholders for information and support on KAD accounts.
  • First point of contact for hotels, travel agents and other key stakeholders globally when seeking information and advice relating to managed accounts.
  • Assist in the compilation of reports and presentations for the team and the client.
  • Find optimum ways to communicate, escalate and resolve issues, complaints and opportunities with KAD.
  • Compose clear and concise correspondence.
  • Respond to enquiries from clients, hotels and other sales regions to promote growth of the business.
  • Create and maintain databases such as the UK&I Microsite or similar.

• KAD Account RFP Accountability
  • Work with KADs to handle all administrative aspects of RFPs.
  • Communicate with hotels, ensuring that timely responses and feedback is given.
  • Work with hotels and Partner teams to provide guidance and resolve questions and issues with RFPs.

• Dedicated support to KAD and their Accounts
  • Research, compile and analyze a variety of moderately complex data for reporting.
  • Generate and analyze statistical data and sales reports to help KAD strategically plan IHG’s hotels key position with the Key accounts programs in order to increase share of wallet.
  • Prepare and distribute a variety of reports, presentations, newsletters, studies and/or other support documentation which may involve gathering and summarizing information from various sources

• Process support
  • Analyze and identify trends in systems, data and processes. Suggest action plans to maximize processes and efficiencies for teams.
  • Provide feedback to drive account production and identify best practices.
  • Provide ad hoc deep dive analysis for specific business problems.

• Other duties and responsibilities as required

2.   REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Skills
  • Clear, concise and succinct communication skills, including adapting both verbal and written communication to the need and level of user. 
  • Time management skills, attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks/clients required. 
  • Ability to network and build and manage stakeholder relationships. Ability to interact on a professional level with management and clients.
  • Ability to maintain a consistent, high quality customer-focused orientation, including providing clear and accurate information; explaining procedures or materials or providing supplemental information
  • Strategic thinking – ability to systemically solve problems and anticipate issues and questions.
  • Excellent Word, Excel and PowerPoint Skills
• Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a strong academic track record.
• Experience
  • 1-3 years of work experience (in any industry).
  • Experience in an important support or sales role such as Personal Assistant, Sales Coordinator or Sales Executive is a plus.