Catering Sales Manager - Spartanburg Marriott

Mainsail Lodging & Development•Spartanburg, SC

About The Position

The Catering Sales Manager handles local social catering opportunities and coordinates group business referred by the director of sales. The role is responsible for achieving and exceeding hotel catering sales revenue goals by contracting and closing local catering and social business, actively up-selling opportunities, and ensuring business is turned over properly and promptly for quality service delivery. The manager implements the brand’s service strategy and applicable initiatives throughout the sales process and drives customer loyalty through excellent service. The position manages local social catering sales efforts, develops revenue and operating budgets and forecasts, coordinates definite group business, and collaborates with hotel sales, marketing, food and beverage, operations, and other departments to deliver events and meet customer needs. It also calls for understanding market conditions, developing creative catered events and offerings, and maintaining customer satisfaction before and during programs and events. Other duties may be assigned to meet business needs.

Requirements

Excellent customer service skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to effectively present information to individuals or groups.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs, Marriott systems, SFAweb, and CI/TY.
Ability to sit or stand for extended periods.
Ability to communicate clearly.
Corrected vision to the normal range.
Ability to drive or transport oneself and others.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally.
Ability to make sound judgments quickly.
Ability to work on multiple tasks and make appropriate progress toward deadlines.
Ability to work independently, take direction, and provide direction to others.
Ability to manage differing personalities within the office, hotel, and community.
Ability to maintain the highest degree of confidentiality.
Ability to work effectively in stressful, high-pressure situations.
Ability to anticipate, prevent, identify, and solve workplace challenges and problems.

Nice To Haves

Four-year bachelor's degree preferred.
Catering sales and/or convention services experience preferred.
Familiarity with local markets preferred.

Responsibilities

Identify, qualify, and solicit new catering business to meet personal and hotel revenue goals.
Coordinate definite group business; generate banquet event orders; and process billing, rooming lists, and group resumes.
Proactively solicit affiliate business associated with citywide events.
Analyze the overall market, including competitors, economic trends, supply, and demand, and sell effectively against market conditions.
Maximize revenue by up-selling packages and creative food and beverage offerings.
Identify and implement process improvements and best practices.
Understand the hotel's primary target customer and service expectations.
Support successful hotel performance by increasing revenue, controlling expenses, and providing a return on investment for the owner and business.
Manage hotel sales efforts for local social catering business and respond to incoming catering opportunities.
Close the best opportunities for the hotel based on market conditions and hotel needs; use negotiation and creative selling to close business and negotiate contracts.
Design, develop, and sell creative catered events.
Develop and manage catering sales revenue and operating budgets, and provide forecasting reports.
Identify and assist with selling, implementing, and following through on catering promotions.
Promote accountability and execute sales strategies, business processes, customer service standards, and hotel brand standards.
Execute operational aspects of booked business, including proposals, contracts, and customer correspondence.
Practice the brand's daily service basics.
Collaborate with property Sales and Marketing colleagues and other hotel departments to coordinate complementary sales efforts.
Develop a close working relationship with operations to ensure hotel-level execution of strategies.
Work with the management team to create and implement a catering sales plan addressing revenue, customers, and the market.
Work with the property's Food and Beverage team to develop sales-driving menus.
Interact effectively with vendors, competitors, the local community, catering associations, and hotel departments, including Sales, Kitchen, and Events, to ensure guest satisfaction.
Ensure seamless turnover between sales and operations while consistently delivering high service levels.
Understand customers' businesses, issues, and concerns to provide better solutions before and during programs and events.
Deliver exemplary customer service to drive satisfaction and loyalty and assist customers before and during programs and events.
Understand customer needs, recommend appropriate features and services, exceed expectations, and build customer relationships.
Monitor effective resolution of guest issues arising from the sales process by channeling them to property leadership or other appropriate stakeholders.
Perform other duties as assigned to meet business needs.