Director of Sales

Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns

 

Lead our commercial success. Create opportunities. Inspire excellence.

The Hotel

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns is a luxury five-star hotel perfectly positioned on the Cairns waterfront, overlooking the iconic Marlin Marina and Trinity Inlet. Featuring 255 well-appointed guest rooms and suites, alongside 19 versatile function venues, our hotel offers an exceptional setting for both leisure and business travellers.

As part of the internationally recognised Shangri-La Group, we are committed to delivering heartfelt hospitality and creating memorable experiences for our guests. We take pride in our people, our destination and the experiences we create.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an accomplished and commercially driven Director of Sales to lead our Sales & Marketing and Reservations teams and drive the hotel's commercial performance.

Reporting directly to the General Manager, this is a key leadership position responsible for developing and executing strategic sales initiatives, strengthening market presence and maximising revenue opportunities across group and individual business segments.

The successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of the hospitality industry, a strategic mindset and the ability to inspire a high-performing team. You will play an instrumental role in identifying new business opportunities, strengthening client relationships and positioning Shangri-La the Marina, Cairns as a preferred destination for leisure, corporate, conference and event travellers.

What You'll Be Responsible For

• Commercial Strategy & Business Development: Develop and execute the hotel's sales and marketing plan, identifying new business opportunities and driving growth across key market segments.

• Revenue Generation: Monitor sales performance, market trends and business opportunities, adjusting sales strategies and account priorities to achieve commercial objectives.

• Forecasting & Planning: Maintain accurate group and individual (FIT) business forecasts, identify low-demand periods and implement targeted sales initiatives to maximise occupancy and revenue.

• Strategic Account Management: Build and nurture strong relationships with key clients, industry partners and stakeholders to strengthen the hotel's market presence and generate repeat business.

• Rooms & Events Optimisation: Work collaboratively with Revenue Management, Events and operational departments to maximise rooms inventory, function space utilisation and overall business opportunities.

• Financial Management: Develop and manage the Sales & Marketing budget, monitor departmental expenditure and ensure resources are aligned with business demands.

• People Leadership: Lead, develop and motivate the Commercial team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous development.

• Brand Representation: Represent the hotel through industry engagement, networking and media opportunities, enhancing brand awareness and the hotel's reputation.

• Operational Excellence: Ensure departmental activities align with Shangri-La's policies, procedures, service standards and workplace health and safety requirements.

What We're Looking For

• Previous experience in a senior sales and marketing management role, preferably within the hotel or hospitality industry.

• Strong commercial acumen with a demonstrated ability to develop and implement effective sales strategies.

• Sound financial knowledge, including budgeting, forecasting and performance analysis.

• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.

• Proven leadership capability with the ability to inspire, coach and develop a high-performing team.

• A goal-oriented and proactive approach, with the ability to identify opportunities and translate them into results.

• Strong organisational, analytical and business correspondence skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant hotel systems.

• A genuine passion for hospitality and an appreciation of the importance of both guest and colleague experiences.

Why Join Shangri-La?

At Shangri-La, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do. Joining our team means becoming part of a global hospitality group that values its colleagues, encourages professional growth and celebrates excellence.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Lead the commercial direction of a prestigious five-star waterfront hotel.

• Make a meaningful contribution to the hotel's business performance and strategic growth.

• Work alongside a passionate and supportive Hotel Leadership Team.

• Develop your career within an internationally recognised luxury hospitality brand.

• Be part of a team committed to delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you are a commercially minded hospitality leader who thrives on building relationships, identifying opportunities and inspiring teams to achieve outstanding results, we would love to hear from you.

Apply now and take the next step in your career with Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns.