Director of Sales

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