The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Sales Coordinator (Hospitality)
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Lead qualification, administrative support for sales managers, basic CRM data entry, understanding hotel products and services, client communication fundamentals.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently exceeds targets for lead qualification and follow-up.
- Demonstrates initiative in supporting sales team beyond assigned tasks.
- Receives positive feedback from sales managers on organisational skills and reliability.
- Shows a keen interest in learning sales strategies and client negotiation.
- 2
Junior Sales Executive (Non-Hospitality)
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Individual quota attainment, prospecting, objection handling, closing techniques, CRM management, building client rapport.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently achieves 100%+ of individual sales targets in a previous role.
- Proven ability to manage a full sales cycle from lead to close.
- Strong desire to transition into the hospitality sector and learn its nuances.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, adaptable to new industries.
- 3
Events Executive / Conference & Banqueting Sales
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Event planning logistics, F&B knowledge, client relationship management for events, understanding operational constraints, upselling event services.
You're ready to move on when
- Deep understanding of event client needs and pain points.
- Proven ability to sell and coordinate complex event packages.
- Strong client-facing skills with a focus on problem-solving.
- Desire to move into a more proactive, revenue-generating sales role.