In this edition of our “Getting to Know You” feature, Stephanie Pinto, Vice President of Sales, shares with us what she thinks makes Interstate stand out from the crowd and what she enjoys most about working with the team.

Tell us about your role and what it involves:

My role is primarily to lead the sales function here at Interstate. I oversee our team of Sales Effectiveness Directors and Specialist Sales Team each of whom have their own sectors to work within: leisure, entertainment, MICE, associations and sport.

I support and advise the team, working with them to set clear key performance goals and ensuring that together we take a strategic approach to sales.

The industry has changed so much in the last 18 months, the role of our sales leaders is to offer solutions and to be specialist in key verticals. Our we focus a great deal more on the mix of the business we target, working hand-in-hand with Interstate’s wider commercial team to identify gaps in the market and ways we can offer increased value to our customers.

What does a typical day in your role involve?

The reason I love my job so much is because there isn’t a typical day! I could be meeting with one of our hotels along with the commercial team, to help them tackle a specific issue, I could be pitching for a new management contract, working with our brand partners, delivering training to our sales leaders or spending time with the regional commercial leadership teams.

You never know what new opportunities each day will bring – and that’s all part of the attraction!

Jas Sandhu, who is Director of Sales & Marketing at Holiday Inn London Heathrow Bath Road and Staybridge Suites London Heathrow Bath Road, was the deserved winner of the Sales Manager of the Year award at Interstate’s Commercial Forum event held in Newcastle earlier this year.

But the recognition then went global, as to acknowledge his incredible dedication and performance over his seven-year career with Interstate, he was then invited on an all-expenses paid trip to the Bahamas along with other top sales performers from across Interstate and the US division, Aimbridge Hospitality.

These top sales performers – Very Important Producers (VIPs) – were treated to a trip to the luxurious Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau.

Jas said: “I really enjoy working in sales and for Interstate who have been so supportive as an employer helping me develop my career and progress through the company over the last seven years.

“To win the Sales Manager of the Year at the Commercial Forum was a wonderful acknowledgement of my work and that of the strong team I work with at both hotels as together we really drive the business and our results.

“It goes without saying that a huge bonus of winning the award was the trip I was invited on, along with my wife, to the Bahamas. It really was a once in a lifetime experience not only to enjoy the benefits of visiting such a wonderful resort and country but also being able to meet other top sales performers from across the company as well as the senior leadership from Aimbridge. To be in the position to spend time with them in a relaxed environment was an incredible learning opportunity for me both personally and professionally so it really was priceless.

In our latest Getting to Know You feature, we speak to Lucy McNicoll – Interstate’s Sales Effectiveness Director.

Here, Lucy shares an insight into her role, as well as some little-known facts about her time in hospitality.

Tell us about your role and what it involves?

I am Sales Effectiveness Director for the UK3 region of Interstate Hotels & Resorts, looking after 29 hotels mostly Mercure and IHG branded, from Brighton to Inverness. I manage the sales team and work with the wider commercial team to ensure the best revenue results possible for our hotels.

My role involves training and coaching, assisting with advice on large business opportunities, making sure we are offering the best solutions to our customers and agents and that all the systems and tools are utilised to their full capacity to help us achieve our sales goals. I am also the brand lead for Accor, so I provide guidance and insight to our Accor hotels to ensure they make the most of the Accor tools and initiatives to drive performance.

What does a typical day in your role involve?

Every day is different! There’s a really good mix of future planning, day to day hotel team support, understanding and actioning business analytics. Presenting on various topics around learning and development to wide ranging audiences across the UK and International locations, ensuring we are up to date with industry and customer trends and partnership reviews with suppliers.