Step 1) 

(not required, but may be right for you)  Apply for a job at a front desk and learn the ropes of the hotel.  Front desk jobs are fairly easy to obtain if you have a nice image and can be inviting and hospitable to guests checking in to the hotel.  After 6 months to a year you can possibly transfer over to the sales offices where the better money is made.  The front desk only pays 10-14 or so an hour depending on the city or location.  Keep in mind the front desk is a great place to start because you will be interacting with all departments of the hotel.  You will learn a lot at the front desk and this will carry over well to the sales office.

Step 2) 

Skip the front desk and jump in at the entry level hotel sales manager level.  You can easily get a hotel certificate at www.aprinda.com    They will train you on-line in just 14 hours on how to become a hotel sales manager and hit the ground running.    You should be able to start at a minimum of 40-50 thousand or more as an entry level sales manager.  This site works well because it will teach you the practical things you need to know about hotel sales and the site skips the theory and fluff.

Step 3)

Update your resume and make sure it is sales oriented.   Note at the top of your resume any hospitality training or hotel sales certificates you may have earned.  Put them at the top of your resume.  Any hotel sales training or hospitality training must be at the top of your resume, otherwise, your resume can easily be tossed aside and overlooked.

Step 4)

Visit hcareers.com   hospitalityonline.com and indeed.com and search for hotel sales manager positons.   Be sure and look for hotel sales on these sites, there should be plenty of jobs in each city.

 

Step 5) 

Call the Director of Sales at each hotel and let them know you understand hotel sales, how to generate and land new accounts, how to identify corporate and SMERFE business, how to handle group inquireis, and target accounts and maximize revenue for the hotel.  If you don’t understand the business, just visit www.aprinda.com or www.ecornell.com and review their courses, they even have some free courses at aprinda.com.  Ask for the interview and don’t be afraid to leave a message and follow up again….and again if neccessary.

Step 6) 

At the interview, be sure and demonstrate that you know the hotel sales business.  The last thing the Director of Sales wants to do is explain to you what the position entails.  They don’t want to feel like they are going to spend months training you.  Be sure and communicate that you can land the business, you know where to find it, you understand the various market segments, and that you  are ready to hit the ground running.  Those are the steps folks…..Good luck.

 

I have over 25 years of hotel sales experience. I’ve hired hundreds of individuals for Hilton Hotels, Wyndham Hotels, Holiday Inn, Radisson, and more. I have helped hundreds of individuals start lucrative careers in the hotel busienss. If your looking for a fun, and life long career, I hope I have helped you.