Business Travel Sales Manager in Chicago, Illinois at Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago

Position Overview:

The Business Sales Manager is responsible for generating transient corporate room revenue through the acquisition, development, and retention of local, regional, and national business accounts. This position plays a key role in driving market share and profitability by establishing strategic partnerships with corporate travel buyers, travel management companies, executive assistants, procurement professionals, and key decision-makers.

As a representative of one of Chicago's premier luxury hotels, the Business Sales Manager serves as a trusted advisor to clients while promoting the hotel's exceptional accommodations, amenities, and service standards. The ideal candidate is a results-driven sales professional with a proven ability to cultivate relationships, negotiate contracts, and deliver revenue growth within the luxury hospitality sector.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITY BREAKDOWN

30% — Strategic Corporate Account Development
Develop and maintain strong relationships with key corporate accounts, travel managers, procurement professionals, executive assistants, and travel management companies to drive transient business travel revenue, increase market share, and strengthen the hotel's position within targeted business sectors.

20% — Corporate Travel & Business Development Initiatives
Promote the hotel as a preferred accommodation partner among local, regional, and national corporate accounts. Conduct proactive sales calls, client meetings, presentations, and networking events to generate new business opportunities. Represent the hotel through off-property sales activities, industry associations, business organizations, trade shows, and community events to identify prospects, present proposals, and secure negotiated corporate agreements.

20% — Account Management & Client Engagement
Manage a portfolio of key corporate accounts by conducting regular business reviews, identifying growth opportunities, and ensuring exceptional service delivery. Foster long-term client relationships that drive repeat business and increased room night production.

10% — Sales Presentations & Contract Negotiation
Professionally represent the hotel through sales presentations, client meetings, and proposal development. Negotiate preferred corporate rates, transient agreements, and partnership opportunities that align with revenue goals and the hotel's luxury positioning.

10% — Performance Review & Revenue Optimization
Conduct quarterly business reviews with key accounts to evaluate room night production, revenue contribution, market share, and account performance. Collaborate with Revenue Management and sister properties to develop strategies that maximize ADR, occupancy, and overall revenue generation.

5% — Sales Operations & Reporting
Participate in weekly sales meetings, forecasting discussions, pipeline reviews, lost business analysis, and production reporting. Maintain accurate account information, sales activities, and business intelligence within CRM systems to support strategic planning and forecasting accuracy.

5% — Property Tours & Client Hosting
Conduct personalized property tours for prospective corporate clients, travel managers, and decision-makers, showcasing guest rooms, executive amenities, dining venues, and business services. Host clients during site inspections, business review meetings, and networking events to strengthen relationships and support business development efforts.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

In addition to performance of the essential functions, this position may be required to perform a combination of the following supportive functions, with the percentage of time performing each function to be solely determined by management based upon the particular requirements of the company.

• Prospect, solicit, and secure new transient corporate accounts to achieve and exceed revenue goals.

• Develop strategic sales plans to maximize room night production and market share within targeted industries.

• Identify opportunities within key market segments including finance, consulting, technology, healthcare, legal services, private equity, and professional services.

• Conduct sales calls, presentations, networking events, and client meetings to generate new business opportunities.

• Maintain an active pipeline of qualified prospects and new account opportunities.

• Manage and grow a portfolio of corporate accounts through proactive relationship management.

• Develop customized account plans to increase market penetration and share of wallet.

• Conduct regular business reviews with key clients to evaluate performance and identify growth opportunities.

• Maintain strong relationships with travel managers, procurement leaders, executive assistants, and travel management companies.

• Ensure all account activity and production data are accurately maintained within CRM systems.

• Negotiate preferred corporate agreements, transient rate contracts, and partnership opportunities.

• Collaborate with Revenue Management to develop competitive pricing strategies and maximize profitability.

• Monitor account production, room night trends, and market conditions to optimize sales performance.

• Achieve assigned goals for room revenue, ADR, room nights, and account retention.

• Assist with forecasting, budgeting, and monthly sales reporting.

• Represent the hotel at industry events, business associations, chamber functions, and networking opportunities.

• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of Chicago's corporate landscape, business districts, major employers, and market trends.

• Monitor competitor activity and provide market intelligence to leadership.

• Promote the hotel's luxury accommodations, dining experiences, wellness offerings, and meeting capabilities to prospective clients.

• Work closely with Revenue Management, Reservations, Front Office, Marketing, and Operations teams to ensure exceptional client service.

• Partner with Group Sales and Catering teams to identify cross-selling opportunities.

• Support VIP arrivals, executive stays, and key account visits when appropriate.

• Communicate client needs and expectations to operational teams to ensure seamless guest experiences.

• Host site inspections, client events, and entertainment opportunities for key accounts.

• Attend local and national industry trade shows and corporate travel events.

• Maintain strong relationships with travel management companies and corporate travel partners.

• Serve as a brand ambassador, promoting the hotel's luxury positioning and service excellence.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Proven success in corporate transient sales and account management

• Experience negotiating corporate travel agreements and managing key business accounts

• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills

• Strong organizational, analytical, and time-management abilities

• Strong understanding of Opera/OperaCloud and Delphi

• Proficiency with Agency360, Hoteligence, Demand360, and Lanyon

• Ability to travel as required for client meetings and industry events

• Strong analytical skills, with experience in data-driven decision-making and KPI tracking

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment

• Words Per Minute Typing at 60

• Leadership and team-building abilities

• Return all phone calls on the same day and demonstrate timeliness in getting proposals to clients

• Always maintain a professional image in appearance/attire and conduct when dealing with clients or hotel employees

• Basic mathematical skills to complete reports and working knowledge of financial statements and forecasting techniques

• Strong computer skills including Excel, PowerPoint, Word

• Ability to work under pressure and deal with stressful situations during busy periods

• Interpersonal skills to provide overall guest satisfaction

OTHER:

Due to the industry that we are in, a need will occur for each associate to provide “Lateral Service”. Our goal is to ensure that we are maximizing customer satisfaction and as a result there will be times when our associates in the Operations will call upon us for support in order to ensure customer satisfaction occurs. When we are fortunate enough for this to occur, each associate will positively respond unless there is a chance that an opportunity resulting in dissatisfying a guest could occur. If this is the case the leader is to be notified and the level of support that is being requested will be obtained.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Directly reporting to this position (titles): Director of Sales & Marketing

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience required

EXPERIENCE

• A minimum 3 years of previous experience in a hotel sales office, preferably in a 4-5 star hotel

GROOMING

All associates must maintain a neat, clean and well-groomed appearance (specific standards available)

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Frequency Key: Never – 0 hours; Rare – up to 1 hour; Occasional – 1-3 hours; Frequent – 3-6 Hours;

Constant – 6-8 hours

Physical ActivityFrequency

Sitting Constant

Walking, climbing stairs Frequent

Crouching/Bending/Stooping Occasional

Reaching Occasional

Pushing/Pulling Occasional

Near Vision Frequent

Far Vision Occasional

Hearing Constant

Talking Constant

Lifting/Carrying (15 lbs.) Occasional

Travel Rare

BENEFITS: At Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago, we offer a range of employment benefits for this Full-Time position, subject to any applicable eligibility, enrollment and/or benefit plan requirements. An overview of the benefits offered can be found on the Hotel's Career Center webpage here: Click Here.

E-VERIFY: Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago participates in the federal E-Verify program, an electronic system that verifies employment authorization in the United States by comparing information from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, with government databases. The company uses E-Verify only after an employee has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. The company does not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or candidates who have not received a job offer from the company.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.