Director of Sales

About the hotel

Inside York’s city walls, The Grand is a landmark five-star hotel with Minster views and the kind of architectural presence you feel as soon as you walk in. The building began life as the former Headquarters of the North Eastern Railway Company — a “Palace of Business” — and it still carries that sense of scale and ceremony, balanced with modern luxury. With 207 bedrooms, destination dining (from afternoon tea to fine dining), a cookery school, spa, and serious events space, it’s a property where leisure, corporate and celebrations all overlap. The standard is high, the brand is well known, and the team’s Yorkshire welcome is expected to be genuine, not rehearsed.

The work

• • Set the commercial direction for Sales and Meetings & Events, turning a property-specific sales plan into clear priorities, targets, and weekly actions.
• • Work your network across luxury leisure consortia, incentives, MICE and corporate markets (UK and international) to win high-value business and protect rate.
• • Lead and coach the on-property sales teams, keeping focus on new business while growing share within existing accounts — with accountability that’s fair and consistent.
• • Build a competitive approach: track the York market, watch what competitors are doing, and adjust strategy quickly when demand shifts.
• • Own the pipeline in Salesforce, driving full adoption so forecasting, activity and performance are visible (and decisions are made on data, not gut feel).
• • Represent The Grand and the wider Splendid Hospitality Group at trade shows, sales missions and industry events — and bring back leads that convert, not just contacts.

This role is for you if…

• • You’re a strategic, commercially minded leader who can zoom out to shape a plan — and zoom in to move deals forward.
• • You’ve got proven proactive sales wins in luxury leisure and MICE, and you know how to build long-term accounts without discounting your way there.
• • You understand York as a market (and its buyers), and you’re comfortable being the face of the hotel with senior decision-makers.
• • You communicate with warmth and confidence — whether you’re presenting, negotiating, or aligning stakeholders who don’t naturally agree.
• • You’re happy being on the move: domestic/international travel is part of the job, and you hold a full, clean UK driving licence.

This role might not be for you if…

• • You prefer a purely reactive sales role — this job is about proactive hunting, strategy, and staying ahead of competitors.
• • You don’t enjoy working through systems and reporting — Salesforce discipline is non-negotiable here.
• • You shy away from tough conversations or performance management; you’ll need to set standards and hold people to them.
• • You’re looking for a role with minimal travel or a predictable 9–5 rhythm — commercial leadership comes with peaks, events, and time on the road.