Waterfront Hospitality Group is seeking an experienced, organized, and personable Director of Sales & Marketing to lead private-event sales, public-cruise revenue, ticket-booth sales, and companywide marketing efforts. This position oversees the complete sales process for weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, group outings, and other private celebrations aboard our vessels. The Director also owns the strategy for increasing public-cruise passenger counts and revenue, supports guest-facing vessel operations, and ensures that the experience being marketed and sold is consistently delivered. The ideal candidate is confident in sales, highly organized, comfortable managing multiple priorities, and able to communicate professionally and warmly. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring close collaboration with ownership and the sales, ticketing, marine, operations, culinary, bar, and event teams. The Director is accountable for driving revenue across private events and public cruises while ensuring that sales, marketing, ticketing, and the onboard guest experience operate as one coordinated function.

PRIVATE-EVENT SALES AND CLIENT MANAGEMENT

Respond promptly to private-event inquiries and ensure every inquiry receives consistent follow-up. Speak with prospective clients by phone and email to understand their vision, guest count, budget, and event needs. Conduct venue tours and sales appointments aboard the vessels. Prepare customized proposals, pricing, contracts, and payment schedules, and move qualified leads through the sales process. Serve as the primary client contact from the initial inquiry through the event date. Maintain accurate client records, event details, payments, and communications. Create and update banquet event orders and other internal event documents. Coordinate timelines, menus, bar packages, layouts, rentals, entertainment, vendors, and other event needs. Communicate changes clearly, resolve concerns professionally, and ensure deposits, balances, agreements, and event details are received by deadline. Attend event-planning meetings and ensure the experience promised during the sales process can be successfully delivered by the operating team.

PUBLIC CRUISE SALES AND MARKETING

Own the sales and marketing strategy for sightseeing cruises, happy hours, specialty cruises, holiday experiences, and other public offerings. Develop campaigns to increase passenger counts, advance bookings, occupancy, and revenue per sailing. Monitor booking pace, passenger counts, revenue, sales trends, and performance by cruise and departure time. Recommend adjustments to schedules, pricing, packages, promotions, and cruise offerings based on demand and performance. Identify underperforming cruises and work with ownership and operations to implement targeted sales and promotional strategies. Build relationships with hotels, tourism partners, chambers, local businesses, group organizers, and other referral partners. Ensure schedules, pricing, availability, and cruise details remain accurate across the website, booking platforms, printed materials, and third-party listings. Develop and market specialty cruises and seasonal experiences.

TICKET BOOTH SALES AND GUEST EXPERIENCE

Take ownership of ticket-booth sales performance and the guest purchasing experience. Establish sales expectations, service standards, scripts, and upselling procedures in collaboration with management. Train and coach ticket-booth staff on cruise schedules, vessels, packages, promotions, company policies, and effective selling techniques. Set and monitor seasonal and daily goals, including walk-up sales, conversion, upgrades, and add-on revenue. Review sales performance and identify opportunities to improve signage, guest flow, promotions, and the booking process. Ensure the ticket booth is organized, informed, supplied, and prepared to support daily operations. Support clear guest communication and service recovery when weather, cancellations, schedule changes, or other disruptions occur.

SALES STRATEGY AND LEADERSHIP

Develop strategies to increase private-event bookings, group business, public-cruise sales, and overall revenue. Set sales goals and track inquiries, conversions, booking pace, revenue, and trends. Identify new lead sources, partnerships, and revenue opportunities. Review pricing, packages, minimums, commissions, and promotions and recommend adjustments when appropriate. Create clear sales procedures and maintain the team's 24-hour inquiry-response standard. Directly supervise, train, and support the Sales Associate. Establish priorities, delegate responsibilities, monitor performance, and provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and accountability. Conduct regular sales meetings and ensure the Sales Associate has current information on schedules, pricing, packages, availability, and policies. Report regularly to ownership and management on sales activity, upcoming events, performance, challenges, and opportunities.

MARKETING

Develop and manage the companywide marketing calendar and marketing budget. Plan content and campaigns for Instagram, Facebook, email marketing, the company website, and other relevant channels. Promote private events, public cruises, seasonal experiences, specialty cruises, and company events. Create or coordinate digital and printed marketing materials, photography, video, and other promotional content. Keep website information, cruise schedules, packages, pricing, availability, and event details accurate and current. Manage or support paid advertising, including Google and Meta campaigns. Monitor campaign performance and adjust strategies based on results. Maintain consistent branding and messaging across all platforms and identify creative opportunities to reach new audiences.

GUEST-FACING VESSEL AND EVENT OPERATIONS

Work closely with the culinary, bar, marine, operations, and event teams to support smooth public-cruise and private-event operations. Maintain a visible presence aboard the vessels and throughout the waterfront during peak periods, major events, holidays, and other high-volume operating dates. Support guest-facing operations, including boarding, signage, passenger flow, cleanliness, service standards, and issue resolution. Conduct regular walkthroughs of vessels and guest areas and communicate operational concerns to the appropriate manager. Communicate final event details clearly to all departments, participate in internal meetings, and identify potential issues in advance. Be present for major events and other events as assigned to help ensure smooth execution. Coordinate timely guest and client communication when weather, inspections, vessel operations, mechanical issues, or other circumstances require changes. Participate in pre-season planning, staff training, daily operational meetings, and post-event or post-cruise reviews as needed. Help ensure the guest experience being advertised and sold is consistently delivered onboard.

QUALIFICATIONS

Previous experience in sales, hospitality, event planning, venue management, tourism, or a related field. Experience selling and coordinating weddings is strongly preferred. Strong written and verbal communication skills and confidence speaking with prospective clients by phone and in person. Excellent organization, follow-through, attention to detail, judgment, and problem-solving ability. Ability to manage multiple clients, deadlines, events, revenue priorities, and operational demands simultaneously. Experience creating proposals, contracts, event documents, sales reports, and professional client communications. Leadership, staff supervision, coaching, and team-training experience. Comfort with CRM systems, email marketing platforms, social media tools, Canva, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Office. Experience with Planning Pod, Meta Business Suite, Google Ads, Toast, Sling, or booking platforms is helpful but not required. Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with ownership and multiple departments.

SCHEDULE AND SEASONAL EXPECTATIONS

This is a full-time, primarily in-person position based in Lake George, New York. From April through October, the position generally includes approximately 40 scheduled in-office hours per week, in addition to evening, weekend, holiday, and event coverage as required. June through August are the company's peak operating months. Candidates should expect a demanding and highly flexible schedule, with total weekly hours potentially reaching approximately 50-60 hours during busy weeks. April, May, September, and October generally have lighter event-coverage demands, although evening and weekend availability is still required based on the cruise and event schedule. The Director is expected to maintain a visible presence during major events, high-volume weekends, holiday periods, and other key operating dates. From November through March 15, the typical schedule is four workdays per week, with greater off-season scheduling flexibility. The company closes for the full week of Thanksgiving. Sales inquiries are expected to receive an initial response within 24 hours. The Director is responsible for establishing appropriate team coverage to maintain this standard, including weekends and employee absences. Weekly schedules will be coordinated with management based on cruise operations, events, staffing, and seasonal business needs. Candidates must be comfortable working aboard vessels and in an active waterfront hospitality environment.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for someone who understands that hospitality sales is about more than booking an event or selling a ticket. The right person will take ownership of revenue, build trust with clients and guests, communicate clearly, follow through on details, lead the sales team, and work closely with operations to create experiences people will remember.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base salary of $65,000-$80,000, based on experience. Commission based on the company's commission plan. Paid time off that increases with tenure, in accordance with company policy. Health insurance or health-insurance stipend, if applicable. Four-day workweeks and greater scheduling flexibility during the off-season, from November through March 15. Company closure for the full week of Thanksgiving.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$90,000.00 - $105,000.00 per year

Work Location:

In person