Job Description

DWR Executive Search has been retained to find an exceptional and highly experienced Director of Sales and Marketing with a specific and extensive background in the international 4 and 5-star luxury and business class, boutique hotel sector. This position is for expatriate applicants only.

The Sales and Marketing Director is responsible for developing and executing strategic marketing and sales plans to achieve maximum revenue and occupancy for their 5-star hotel suites and penthouses, services and apartments across a group of three luxury hotel properties in Ghana’s capital, Accra. The role includes leading the sales and marketing teams, identifying new business opportunities, managing relationships with key clients, and promoting the brand to enhance visibility in the market. The position requires a blend of leadership, creativity, and analytical skills to ensure the property maintains its competitive edge in the hospitality industry.

The position will oversee the complete sales and marketing operations of three premier 5-star properties, ensuring the seamless delivery of luxury experiences and optimizing opportunities. This role includes strategic planning, operational leadership, and team development to support the property’s objectives and brand reputation. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience within the luxury hotel sector, demonstrate sound decision-making, and exhibit a passion for high-quality, innovative and effective marketing & sales initiatives.

OVERVIEW:
With a solid history and prestigious reputation, my client is an established and leading independent hospitality provider in West Africa. Their three luxury hotels are a major part of their business operation in Ghana, internationally recognised and of a supreme standard. From the outstanding services they provide to the highest levels of comfort, their meticulous attention to detail and their record of excellent customer satisfaction, my client stands out as a premier provider in Ghana’s first-class accommodation, hotel, fine dining and luxury hospitality sector.

MAIN DUTIES OF THE ROLE:
Strategic Planning & Execution:
• Develop and implement comprehensive sales and marketing strategies to meet or exceed the hotel’s revenue goals.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activities, and customer behaviour to identify new business opportunities.
• Set annual sales targets and revenue objectives, ensuring alignment with the hotel’s overall goals.
• Develop, execute and evaluate holistic marketing strategy for the three properties in their hotel cluster.

Sales Management:
• Lead and manage the sales team, providing guidance, training, and motivation to achieve targets.
• Lead on-property sales functions to build long-term, value-based customer relationships that enable the achievement of hotel sales objectives.
• Set monthly room nights target goals for sales team members.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key corporate accounts, travel agencies, and business partners.
• Identify new markets and business segments for hotel apartment offerings, including long-stay guests, corporate housing, and vacation rentals.

Marketing & Brand Promotion:
• Oversee all marketing activities, including online and offline campaigns, social media management, and advertising initiatives together with other traditional forms of marketing.
• Develop creative promotional strategies to increase occupancy, average daily rate (ADR), and brand visibility.
• Collaborate with the creative team on the design of promotional materials, ensuring consistency with the brand’s image.

Revenue Management:
• Work closely with the Revenue Management team to set competitive pricing strategies and optimize room inventory.
• Analyse market data to forecast demand and adjust pricing strategies accordingly.
• Drive direct bookings and reduce dependency on third-party platforms.

Client Relationship Management:
• Attend networking events, exhibitions, and conferences to represent the hotels’ apartments and to generate leads.
• Manage relationships with corporate clients, ensuring their needs are met and they remain loyal to the property.
• Handle VIP guests and clients, ensuring high standards of service and satisfaction.

Performance Tracking & Reporting:
• Track and analyse sales and marketing performance through key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics.
• Prepare regular reports on market trends, performance, and future opportunities.
• Adjust strategies based on performance data to ensure continuous improvement.

Budgeting & Financial Management:
• Develop and manage the sales and marketing budget, ensuring effective use of resources.
• Monitor expenditures to ensure they are within budget and deliver a good return on investment (ROI).
• Identify areas to improve cost-effectiveness without compromising quality.

Leadership & Team Development:
• Lead, coach, and mentor the sales and marketing teams, fostering a collaborative and performance-driven culture.
• Conduct regular training sessions to keep the team updated with the latest sales techniques and market trends.
• Ensure that all team members meet their individual targets and contribute to the overall success of the hotel.
The Director of Sales and Marketing will be responsible for all operations within their department and report directly to the Managing Director whilst working closely with the hotels’ General Manager. Both male and female candidates will be considered equally and based on their merits. Likewise, equal consideration will be given to single as well as married applicants.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Highly experienced in the hotel sector, with international exposure and a strong track record in global hospitality standards and the ability to work in a diverse, multicultural environment.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is essential, and a secondary language (French in particular) is preferred but not mandatory.
• Proven track record of achieving sales targets and driving revenue growth.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to analyse data, market trends, and financial reports to inform strategy.

With notable leadership experience and a focus on team building, mentorship, and performance management, you are a creative thinker with strong business acumen. You are adept at strategic planning and execution, with strong analytical and financial competencies, excellent communication and negotiation skills, outstanding client relationship management abilities, and enjoy problem-solving. You will also be adaptable, proactive and determined to prove and exploit your talents. Some history of living and working in (preferable West) Africa will be a possible advantage.

Qualifications:
• Degree in Marketing, Business, or equivalent (MBA preferred).
• Several years of experience in sales and marketing roles within the luxury hospitality industry or closely related field.

This is an exciting and involved role based in a vibrant, multi-cultural and dynamic city that offers an equally vibrant lifestyle. It will appeal to a career professional in the hotel and hospitality space, probably from Europe or North America (though not necessarily from either of these regions) and in possession of a strong career record gained in the international market with the relevant background and experience, and who is conscientious and naturally outgoing by nature, energetic, imaginative and focused. The successful applicant will value teamwork and be able to inspire others to reach their full potential. S/he will be committed to their career, enthusiastic about their work and have an instinctive talent for “sales and marketing” . The start date is immediate to ASAP subject to notice periods as/if applicable.

CONDITIONS:
This is an expatriate position and is offered on either a single person or couple status. The employment package will include a competitive salary, accommodation, health insurance and other benefits in line with industry standards. Details will be discussed at the client interview stage. As a senior and important position that carries a high degree of responsibility, it is a prerequisite that applicants possess the required skills and experience to be considered. PLEASE therefore do NOT apply unless you have the competencies specified, can comply with the conditions and have a verifiable and solid background in the international 4 and 5-star/high-end business class, luxury hotel sector.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
If you meet the criteria for this position and wish to submit an application, in the first instance please send your CV (in Word or PDF) to dwr@ukghana.com quoting the role you are applying for in the subject box. You are welcome to include a Covering Letter in support of your application. Selected candidates will be contacted by email and sent a Candidate Questionnaire, which must be completed in full to be progressed to the next stage. If chosen, you will be invited to an initial interview with DWR. If shortlisted, the following stage will be an interview with the employer.

Applications for this role will close by 1st May, 2025. Although every effort is made to respond to all applicants, due to the volume of replies it is not always possible to do so. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement by the 25th May 2025, then regrettably your application has not been successful on this occasion.

You are encouraged to connect with DWR on LinkedIn and to then join the DWR Executive Group.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:
DWR does not discriminate in the acceptance or referral of candidates on the basis of race, colour, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, disability, or any other protected characteristic. By applying for this position, candidates agree to respect these standards and be observant of the internationally accepted guidelines governing equality and inclusiveness in the workplace aimed at eliminating racism, discrimination and hate speech throughout every level of society.

DWR Executive Search is appointed by the employing company as their Recruitment Service Provider for this position. The client’s name will remain confidential until applicants have been shortlisted to the client interview stage.