Director of Sales

DIRECTOR OF SALES Reports to : General Manager Our Story Janko Hospitality is a Chicago-based operator of upscale full-service, boutique lifestyle, extended-stay, and select-service hotels throughout the Midwest. The firm’s award-winning properties within the Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG brand families have made Janko Hospitality a 2023 Hotel Business Magazine Top 100 Hospitality Management Company .

Janko Hospitality is a growth company focused on expansion through strategic acquisition, development, and third-party management. With a passion for people, a proven track record of solid financial performance, honorable community involvement, and an unwavering commitment to quality, Janko Hospitality is a management company that will provide an exceptional hospitality experience to guests, owners, and associates.

Job Description Janko Hospitality is seeking a dynamic Director of Sales (DOS) to lead the repositioning of an existing hotel into a full-service boutique hotel experience in downtown Evanston, IL. This opportunity is ideal for a hospitality professional with luxury or soft-brand experience and a proven track record in rebranding and/or new hotel openings.

The Director of Sales will serve as a strategic revenue leader, driving performance through innovative sales, marketing, and catering initiatives while delivering an elevated, personalized guest experience. This role will build and lead a high-performing sales team, cultivate strong client partnerships, and grow business across all segments—including group, transient, and catering.

Success in this position requires polished professionalism, a proactive sales mindset, and a steadfast commitment to excellence in a luxury hospitality environment. What You’ll Do Achieve or exceed annual revenue targets across rooms and catering segments, as defined in the business plan. Interview, hire, train, schedule, and mentor the Sales and Catering team to ensure performance standards align with luxury brand expectations and company culture.

Develop strategic sales plans using internal analytics and market intelligence to proactively target all business segments and channels. Understand complex business needs and craft tailored proposals and contractual agreements that align with guest expectations and brand policies. Monitor individual and team performance against annual business goals, making timely adjustments to optimize sales results.

Cultivate strong relationships with key corporate accounts, industry partners, and event clients to drive repeat business and long-term loyalty. Represent the hotel with distinction at networking functions, industry/local events, and client meetings to build brand visibility and client trust. Lead by example with advanced sales presentations, thoughtful client proposals, and professional correspondence.

Conduct regular outside sales calls and site visits to promote the hotel, assess the competition, and generate new business opportunities. Partner with the Marketing team to develop creative promotions, seasonal packages, and advertising strategies designed to enhance RevPAR and brand awareness. Collaborate with Revenue Management to provide market insights and trend forecasting to inform strategic decisions and maintain competitive advantage for both high and low demand periods.

Maintain accurate forecasts across all group segments; identify value dates and build strategic campaigns to drive demand. Ensure flawless execution of all events through oversight of Banquet Event Orders (BEOs), group resumes, and post-event follow-up and billing. Ensure seamless communication between Sales and Operations teams to deliver elevated guest experiences.

Lead the development of innovative sales materials and digital marketing assets in collaboration with the PR and marketing teams. What You’ll Bring Polished professionalism and an unwavering commitment to excellence in guest and client experience. Proven sales leadership experience with a track record of revenue growth and exceeding targets.

Strong sales, communication, leadership and customer service skills. Consultative selling techniques and detailed knowledge to negotiate terms that fulfill both client needs and hotel profitability goals. Ability to work independently with excellent organization, time management, and follow-through. A bachelor's degree in Sales, Marketing, Hospitality Management, or a related field is highly desirable.

Public relations, branding, and community engagement experience is an asset. Previous experience with a luxury hotel brand or soft-branded property is highly desirable. Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills with a hands-on, service-oriented approach. Proficiency in hotel systems and Microsoft Office Suite; experience with brand property management and revenue systems preferred.

What You Can Look Forward To Competitive compensation package Robust benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off and 401k with matching Cell Phone Reimbursement Paid maternity leave Growth company focused on expansion through strategic acquisition and development Hotel discounts at locations worldwide