Sales & Event Services Manager
Starting wage $50K / annually
Choosing a career with Holiday Inn Austin Midtown isn’t just about creating special moments for our guests. For us, it’s about giving you the tools to take charge of your path and grow an incredible and rewarding career!
We are always looking for great people to join our team – those who are dynamic, resourceful, and ready to jump into any situation to give a helping hand. If you are a positive person and have a genuine interest in the well-being of others around you, we invite you to apply today! We want you to feel part of something special where you can learn and achieve. When you join us, we want you to be the spark that makes us even better!
Job Requirements :
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
· Prior hotel catering sales experience or event experience required.
· Knowledge of Delphi and other sales CRM and hotel PMS systems.
· Complete required Sales Reports.
· Strong written and verbal communication skills.
· Ability to travel if needed.
· Valid Driver’s License required.
· Basic computer skills: Excel, Word, Outlook.
· Ability to work nights, weekends and holidays as needed.
· The ability to lift up to 30 pounds.
· All other duties as assigned.
PREFERRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
· 2 years of sales or hospitality experience.
· Prior sales experience required.
· Knowledge of hospitality industry and sales processes.
· Ability to read and decipher financial reports and records.
· Strong written and verbal communication skills.
· Bilingual a plus.
· IHG experience preferred.
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or related major.
The primary purpose of the Sales & Event Service Manager is to develop catering accounts, detail, and help execute successful catering events to achieve assigned catering and associated room revenue goals.
DUTIES PERFORMED :
The Sales & Event Service Manager will be tasked with the following duties, responsibilities, and assignments:
- Solicit, negotiate and book new and repeat business through efforts (outside sales calls, telemarketing, mailings, networking, etc.) while maximizing banquet space to meet/exceed revenue goals.
- Serve as the on-site contact for all assigned groups, as well as work with the customer to produce Banquet Event Orders and Convention Resumes, ensuring that all special arrangements are properly documented.
- Responsible for growing overall revenue and profitability, while maximizing customer satisfaction from pre-event planning through post-event phases of service.
- Solicit new and repeat business through a proactive sales approach that incorporates consultative selling skills.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with key hotel personnel to enhance the overall business relationship with hotel.
- Maintain detailed files, notes, records, and trace systems to ensure the meeting and event experience meet the customer's expectations.
- Verify space requirements and meeting room set-up with the client and ensure that public space needed is properly maintained and in good condition.
- Plan, upsell and detail the meeting/function with the client including space requirements, times, equipment, menus, themes/decorations, etc.
- Complete the contracts, prepare the appropriate paperwork, including banquet event orders (BEO’s), coordinate with the appropriate areas in the hotel and resolve any issues, complaints and problems to ensure a quality product delivery and customer satisfaction.
- Ensure timely distribution of all Banquet Event Orders (BEO’s) and Group Resumes to the appropriate departments and follow-up on any questions.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of corporate and hotel procedures, products and competition, including their strengths and weaknesses, to continually improve sales strategies and achieve goals.
- Professional and positive communication to both guests and fellow associates.
- Communicate group details/changes to all hotel departments, coordinating customer's needs with other property business and activities to ensure customer's expectations are met and the property operates efficiently.
- Work and communicate with outside vendors to ensure all needs of clients are met.
- Must be detailed oriented to ensure that all details for events are completed as communicated by clients.
- Confirm revisions in agendas, room blocks, etc. and notify corresponding departments in a timely manner.
- Be proficient on IHG and all systems. Block guest rooms and meeting space in systems in timely manner and release when needed.
- Finalize the program/agenda with client and check all scheduled functions one hour prior to start time.
- Review event sheets and work with appropriate departments to ensure quality and satisfaction.
- Respond to a high volume of incoming catering opportunities including e-mails, walk-ins, phone calls and wedding website inquiries.
- Booking, selling, planning and coordinating events with a special focus on weddings, and social events while assuring the highest level of customer service.
- Build and strengthen relationships with existing and new customers to enable future bookings.
- Execute contracts and BEO’s, prepare invoices for daily events and ensure timeliness of final payments and deposits.
- Understand the overall wedding and social market (SMERF), competitor’s strengths and weaknesses, economic trends, supply and demand, and how to sell against them.
- Serve the customer by understanding their needs and recommending the appropriate features and services that best meet their needs and exceed their expectations.
- Works directly with clients and wedding planners gathering necessary information for menu planning, floor plans, room set-up, timeliness, rental orders, décor, cost, and billing details and any other requirements pertinent to their event in a timely manner and assist with those items, as necessary.
- Interacts effectively with all departments within the hotel to ensure guest satisfaction and a positive work environment.
- Assists in organizing on-site bridal events and attend outside bridal shows when needed.
- Assists with maintaining social media sites including but not limited to the hotel website, Facebook, Wedding Wire and The Knot, etc.
- Monitor blocked space to ensure group is meeting their contractual obligations. Initiate release of blocked space on cut-off date to allow sale of these rooms to other customers.
- Maintain account files in Delphi CRM system, ensuring accurate communication between client and hotel staff.
- Follow up appropriately with past appointments and report any issues and/or client inquiries to the Director of Sales & Marketing.
- Flexibility to cross train in other hotel position if needed.
- Must be available to work a varied schedule to include nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Any, and all other work as required to complete the primary purpose of the position.