Director of Sales - The Grand

Sales - The Grand, York

Contract: Full Time
Salary: Competitive

Located within York’s city walls and with views of York Minster, the hotel holds an enviable and proud position in the city and local community. Once the famed Headquarters of the North-eastern Railway Company, our magnificent building is bursting with original features and all the grandeur of its former life as the “Palace of Business” - making it a truly beautiful and inspiring place to work and grow.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership across the Sales and M&E functions, aligning goals and priorities to maximise performance and revenue.
• Leverage an extensive network of industry contacts across Luxury Leisure Consortia, Incentive, M&E, and Corporate segments in both the UK and international markets.
• Lead and inspire on-property sales teams to maintain a razor-sharp focus on driving new business and growing market share within existing accounts.
• Develop and execute competitive sales strategies to proactively target, convert, and retain business from key competitors.
• Ensure seamless collaboration between proactive Sales and M&E teams, creating a unified and high-performing commercial culture.
• Partner with Preferred Global and Regional Teams to identify and capture new business opportunities from strategic clients and accounts.
• Act as an ambassador for Splendid Hospitality Group, championing The Grand, York while cross-selling the wider SHG portfolio.
• Represent both SHG and The Grand, York at key industry events, tradeshows, and sales missions domestically and internationally.
• Maintain and deliver a strong sales pipeline across all influenced segments, tracked and managed through Salesforce.
• Provide strategic oversight to ensure full Salesforce adoption and transparent, data-driven performance management.
• Monitor industry trends, competitor activity, and market conditions, adjusting strategy to maintain a market-leading position.
• Partner with SHG Leadership to drive commercial innovation and best practice across the wider Group.
• Manage The Grand, York’s sales budget, including payroll, subscriptions, tradeshows, and travel.
• Ensure rigorous ROI tracking and reporting for all sales initiatives and event-related investments.

About You:

• A strategic and commercially driven leader with the ability to develop and execute a property-specific Sales Plan.
• Proven success in Proactive Sales, with a strong network across Luxury Leisure and MICE sectors.
• In-depth knowledge of the York market and established relationships with key decision-makers and buyers.
• Exceptional relationship builder and communicator, able to engage confidently and authentically at all levels.
• A persuasive and confident presenter and negotiator, with a talent for achieving win-win outcomes that support long-term business growth.
• A collaborative leader who inspires and motivates teams, fostering a culture of success, accountability, and teamwork across Sales and Events.
• Highly motivated and results-oriented, with a proven ability to exceed commercial goals and drive measurable impact.
• Flexible to travel domestically and internationally as required.
• Holds a full, clean UK driving licence.

What We Offer

The Grand, York is proud to provide our team with a variety of benefits to enhance and drive engagement. We believe in consistent and tangible reward and recognition initiatives, and we put health and wellbeing firmly at the heart of our employer brand. Joining The Grand, York is not just a career, but a deeply rewarding journey with limitless opportunities to develop and grow.

• Supervisory and Management development training programmes, Ignite and Inspire.
• Splendid Family discounts across our group - on accommodation, food and drink.
• Enjoy being creative with friends and family with a 50% discount on cookery classes in our Grand Cookery School
• Discounted local NCP car parking and discount off local First bus travel.
• Experience our hotel as a guest with a complimentary guest experience for you and a guest within your 90-day probation period
• Monthly pay day treats and an annual ‘Thank You’ week – full of treats and activities.
• We celebrate our diverse workforce with awareness days and diversity lunches.
• Visit York discounts to visit local attractions and experience what our wonderful city has to offer.
• We love to recognise our Grand Family through Grand Star of The Month, Grand Celebrity of The Week, Probation Pass lunch and Long Service recognition dinner. Enjoy our annual Grand Family party, with many other social events throughout the year.
• Company Pension salary sacrifice scheme.
• Access to our Cycle to Work scheme through Green Commute Initiative to support health and wellbeing and our environment.
• Make a difference and join our Grand Goes Green Team, our Grand Plans Team to help organise our social events and raise funds for our nominated charities. There is also opportunity to represent your department in our Grand Family Forum.
• 12 Mental Health First Aiders onsite to provide signposting and initial support.
• Retail Trust Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to give free, confidential 24-hour support and advice whenever you may need it.
• Employee referral scheme - refer a friend or family member and receive a £350 incentive payment.

About Us

The Grand is York’s only five-star hotel, situated in the very heart of the historic city. The property offers a splendid blend of Victorian elegance and modern sophistication and is known worldwide as a beacon of hospitality excellence. We are honoured to have been awarded the ‘Hotel of the Year’ Catey and we are also absolutely delighted to be named in The Sunday Times top 100 ‘Best Places to Work 2023’.

Along with our 207 guest bedrooms, we boast an award-winning rosette restaurant, The Rise, which holds the Conde Naste 2022 award for Best Afternoon Tea. In addition to this, our new fine dining restaurant, Legacy, provides the opportunity to elevate our dining offering and become leaders in the York food scene. We have a state-of-the-art Cookery School, are home to an atmospheric Spa, stunning Meeting and Event spaces and an In-Room Dining offering. Each day is unique and memorable at The Grand and we live to create special memories for our guests and our team.

Our vision is to be the UK’s most loved hotel. We pride ourselves on our values. We place emphasis on driving for results in all areas of the business, excellence in everything we do and genuine care for our Grand family, guests, and the environment.

Role in our Family

At The Grand, York, our team are the heart and soul of everything we do — without them, The Grand would simply be a beautiful building. We pride ourselves on the warmth of our Yorkshire welcome and the genuine hospitality that every guest experiences from the moment they arrive.

As Director of Sales, you’ll play a pivotal role in continuing that legacy. A true commercial leader, you’ll drive revenue growth and shape strategy across five key segments — Leisure Consortia, Leisure Group, Meetings & Events, Corporate Groups, and Corporate Transient.

This role calls for a seasoned, high-performing sales professional with an extensive network of industry contacts and a proven track record of securing high-value business. You’ll define the strategic direction for both Sales and M&E teams, ensuring seamless alignment and execution of strategies that position The Grand, York as a market leader in the luxury city-centre hotel sector, both regionally and nationally.

What Happens Next

Ready to take the next step in your career? 

Apply now — it only takes a few moments. Simply share your details and CV, and if shortlisted, you’ll be invited to meet our team to explore the role and discover more about life at The Grand, York and the wider Splendid Hospitality Group.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunities and Disability Confident Committed employer, dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone can flourish