Conference & Catering Services Manager

The Elser Hotel & Residences•Miami, FL

About The Position

The Conference and Catering Services Manager is responsible for driving catering sales and revenue while coordinating and supervising assigned banquet events booked by the sales department. The position requires proactively generating and developing quality leads to ensure growth in catering business. The primary focus is to cultivate existing accounts and secure new catering opportunities through both traditional and innovative sales techniques. Key responsibilities include booking, selling, planning, and coordinating all social and special events while maintaining the highest level of customer service. Additional duties include generating revenue, establishing new accounts, monitoring event space availability, securing repeat business, and conducting catering sales presentations and calls to support overall sales growth and client satisfaction.

Requirements

Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written with all level of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service oriented manner.
Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.
Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service-oriented manner.
Attend all hotel required meetings and trainings.
Participate in M.O.D. coverage as required.
Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotel Standards, as required by scheduling.
Ability to work flexible hours, including nights, holidays and weekends.
Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, which include wearing nametags.
Comply with Highgate Hotel Standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.
Maximize efforts towards productivity, identify problem areas and assist in implementing solutions.
This combined role of Conference and Catering Services Manager is responsible for driving catering sales and revenue while coordinating and supervising assigned banquet events booked by the sales department.
The position requires proactively generating and developing quality leads to ensure growth in catering business.

Responsibilities

Develop a full working knowledge of the operations of the hotel, including Food and Beverage, Guest Services and Reservations.
Know meeting room setups and capabilities.
Know sleeping room configurations and types.
Develop a complete knowledge of company sales policies and SOP’s and ensure knowledge of and adherence to function space and booking policies.
Meet or exceed set goals.
Prepare and submit required reports in a timely manner.
Operate sales activities within established sales expense budget.
Initiate and follow up on leads and turnovers within 24 hours via telephone and within 3 business days with written correspondence.
Be visible on the floor and assist staff as needed during functions.
Respond to requests by Meeting Planners immediately.
Use the Partnership Agreement to meet client needs.
Maintain and participate in an active sales solicitation program.
Monitor production of all top accounts and evaluate trends within your market.
Conduct departmental BEO/Resume meetings as scheduled.
Detail events and create floor plans in Social Tables per company standards.
Interact with outside planners, vendors for event setup.
Establish a preferred vendor list.
Develop relationships with local vendors for table arrangements, limousines, photographers, etc.
Regularly contact existing accounts.
Meet or exceed sales solicitation call goals as assigned by the Director of Sales & Marketing.
Assist in implementing special promotions relating to direct sales segments, i.e., parties, sales blitzes, etc.
Be familiar with all Highgate Hotel sales policies and selling techniques.
Invite clients to the hotel for entertainment, lunches, tours and site inspections.
Conduct a professional, thorough site inspection of the hotel with clients, exhibiting key features and benefits of the property.
Use your property’s computerized sales management system to manage the hotel’s business, including (but not limited to) generating reports, entering business, blocking space and tracing accounts.
Manage the function book and adjust space in order to ensure maximum potential revenue.
Abide by Prime Selling Time (PST).
Develop networking opportunities through active participation in community and professional associations, activities and events.
Use feedback from Meeting Planner evaluations to improve service and quality
Be involved in and/or conduct departmental and hotel training (One-to-One Training, etc.)