Event Sales Manager UK

What you'll bring to the team Event Sales Manager UK Location: Chessington World of Adventures or Thorpe Park Resort Hours: 37.5 hours per week Contract Type: Permanent, salaried We are looking for a commercially driven Event Sales Manager with a passion for events and client relationships to lead sales across our Merlin Venues UK portfolio. In this senior role, you will be responsible for driving revenue growth, delivering against ambitious targets, and developing strong relationships with agencies, corporate clients and key partners. You will lead the creation and execution of proactive sales strategies, manage and grow key accounts, and maximise cross-selling and upselling opportunities across a diverse and unique venue portfolio. You will take ownership of the UK sales pipeline, leading campaigns, activity planning, and performance tracking, while providing clear reporting, insights, and forecasting. Alongside this, you will play a key role in coaching and developing Sales Executives, ensuring a high-performing, commercially focused team with strong conversion and best-practice sales approaches. With a strong focus on operational excellence, you will champion effective CRM usage, maintain accurate data, and support seamless collaboration with operational teams to ensure outstanding event delivery. You will also stay close to market trends and competitor activity, aligning client needs with the most suitable venue solutions, while representing Merlin Venues UK at key industry events and networking opportunities. Qualifications & Experience Minimum 5+ years’ experience in a sales role within the events, hospitality, or venue sector Proven track record of delivering and exceeding revenue targets in an event sales environment Experience managing and selling across multiple venues or a diverse portfolio Demonstrated line management experience, with the ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing sales teams Strong key account management experience with corporate clients and agencies Excellent commercial awareness with the ability to identify and maximise revenue opportunities Confident in leading client pitches, negotiations, and high-value conversations Strong organisational skills with experience managing pipelines, forecasts, and CRM systems Effective communicator with strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills Benefits A competitive annual salary 33 days holiday (including bank holidays) ‘Enjoy the Ride’ Merlin Annual Passes - 6 in total per year, 1 for you, plus 5 to gift to loved ones! Merlin Magic Pass - 20 free tickets for you, your family and friends to enjoy all of our Merlin Attractions across the world rising to 40 after a year’s service Company bonus Private pension scheme 40% discount online off LEGO 25% discount in our on-site retail shops and restaurants Ongoing training and development opportunities Plus, many more… Pay Range Competitive