Catering Sales Manager

MCR Hotels • Glen Allen, VA

1d

About The Position

The Catering Sales Manager is accountable for proactively soliciting and handling catering sales opportunities. Ensures business is turned over properly and in a timely fashion for service delivery. Conducts day-to-day activities related to catering sales with a focus on building long-term, value-based customer relationships that enable achievement of sales objectives.

Collaborate with the operations team to develop and implement cutting-edge, comprehensive plans for groups and events. Oversee the events efforts for the hotel. Lead by example and mentor team members to effectively implement smart strategies. Nurture and grow client relationships through upselling and proactive customer service once contracts have been signed and handed over to the events team. Plan, organize, and manage all aspects of events and group meetings from conception to completion, including menu and room set planning, audio visual, logistics, equipment rentals, tastings, menus, themes, walkthroughs, participation on the floor during event service, invoicing, and follow-up. Ensure MCR Events SOPS are followed and completed accurately. Maintain accurate, organized, and up-to-date file management system in order to quickly and effectively meet clients and colleagues’ needs; utilizing Delphi to trace all daily activities and correspondence with clients to ensure prompt responses. Identify and act on business opportunities through a constant pursuit of knowledge about market trends, competition, and customers. Communicate accurately and effectively in verbal and written form with guests and associates so as to respond accurately and completely to people to give directions, instructions, information, answer questions and provide service as required. Work to continuously improve customer service by integrating obtained feedback into action plans. Negotiate with clients for banquets, meetings and other functions, all arrangements, suggesting menus, bar set up, room arrangements as per policy and procedure. On completion of negotiations, inform other departments of arrangements in writing which are necessary to assure success of the function. Understand the impact of Banquet operations on the overall success of the hotel.

Requirements

• Must have a positive attitude and willingness to learn.
• Must be able to understand and follow established guidelines and procedures.
• Must be able to evaluate and select among alternative courses of action quickly and accurately.
• Must work well in stressful, high-pressure situations and maintain composure and objectivity under pressure.
• Must be effective at listening to, understanding, clarifying, and resolving the concerns and issues raised by co-workers and guests.
• Must be able to work with and understand financial information and data, and basic arithmetic functions.
• Must be attentive to detail and meet deadlines.
• Must be proficient in Windows operating systems, Company approved spreadsheets and word processing.
• Must be able to convey information and ideas clearly.
• Leads team members to always provide friendly service with a smile to guests.
• Must meet the legal age to serve alcoholic beverages (at select properties).
• A valid Driver's License is required.
• Basic market knowledge.
• Must be 18 years of age or older to perform this job.
• Must be willing to work a varied schedule that may include evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays based upon the demands of the hotel.
• Read, write, understand and communicate with others effectively using the English language.
• Read and interpret documents in English, such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals, newspapers, periodicals, journals, and manuals.
• Write routine reports, correspondence, business letters, summaries, and reports in English using prescribed format, and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
• Ability to speak effectively in English before groups such as customers or employees.
• Read and interpret business records and statistical reports in English.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's or Associates degree is preferred.
• Experience in a hospitality, service, consumer-facing franchise or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Proactively soliciting and handling catering sales opportunities
• Ensuring business is turned over properly and in a timely fashion for service delivery
• Conducting day-to-day activities related to catering sales with a focus on building long-term, value-based customer relationships that enable achievement of sales objectives
• Collaborating with the operations team to develop and implement cutting-edge, comprehensive plans for groups and events
• Overseeing the events efforts for the hotel
• Leading by example and mentor team members to effectively implement smart strategies
• Nurturing and growing client relationships through upselling and proactive customer service once contracts have been signed and handed over to the events team
• Planning, organizing, and managing all aspects of events and group meetings from conception to completion, including menu and room set planning, audio visual, logistics, equipment rentals, tastings, menus, themes, walkthroughs, participation on the floor during event service, invoicing, and follow-up
• Ensuring MCR Events SOPS are followed and completed accurately
• Maintaining accurate, organized, and up-to-date file management system in order to quickly and effectively meet clients and colleagues’ needs; utilizing Delphi to trace all daily activities and correspondence with clients to ensure prompt responses
• Identifying and acting on business opportunities through a constant pursuit of knowledge about market trends, competition, and customers
• Communicating accurately and effectively in verbal and written form with guests and associates so as to respond accurately and completely to people to give directions, instructions, information, answer questions and provide service as required
• Working to continuously improve customer service by integrating obtained feedback into action plans
• Negotiating with clients for banquets, meetings and other functions, all arrangements, suggesting menus, bar set up, room arrangements as per policy and procedure
• Informing other departments of arrangements in writing which are necessary to assure success of the function
• Understanding the impact of Banquet operations on the overall success of the hotel

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree