Conference Center Sales Manager

California Center for the Arts•Escondido, CA

22h•Onsite

About The Position

This position is responsible for selling, planning, coordinating, and ensuring the proper execution of all assigned, initiated, or acquired facility rentals and events at the Conference Center. The position is expected to coordinate with the Banquet Manager during the planning and execution of events.

Requirements

Minimum 4 years of experience in catering and conference center sales or public facility management with a strong background in culinary operations, banquet food production and ability to effectively engage in sales lead generation.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
Ability to work with and communicate with all inter-office departments and customers.
Knowledge and proficiency in trade show and convention planning and requirements.
Exceptional skills in sales, event planning, contract and proposal negotiations.
Knowledge and proficiency in sales office management systems.
Must be self-motivated and able to work independently with excellent time management skills.
General office and computer skills.
Computer literate in Microsoft Office and/or Google Suites (Word/Docs, Excel/Sheets, etc.), Caterease, and Artifax.
Demonstrated commitment to providing exceptional customer service.
Minimum of Bachelor’s degree and/or and at least 4 years of relevant experience in hospitality and catering.
Must be able to regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move 30 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include, close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.
The employee is regularly required to stand and walk.

Nice To Haves

Nonprofit experience desired, but not required.
Project Management Certification or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

Responds quickly and effectively to rental inquiries and leads.
Works on outside sales to bring new business to the Center, as time permits.
Adds rental events to Caterease and Artifax.
Utilize approved sales tools for contract generation such as P&L workbooks and approved profit margin calculations.
Utilize approved venue rental rate sheets per market segment and preliminary event questionnaires.
Cooperate with other sales managers to manage revenues, calendar holds, coordinate bookings, sales promotions, lead referrals, and special projects.
Primary function is to work on rental bookings for the Conference Center and associated rental spaces.
Responsible for rental bookings from first inquiry to final settlement.
Rental Bookings will include: email and phone communications, application issuance and review, contract issuance and review, and transposition of all completed paperwork.
Communication of pertinent information to other service providers including, Banquets Department, Facilities, and Housekeeping.
Properly maintains Google Drive files and Caterease records for all rental clients.
Use of Caterease for booking, tracking client requests, needs, changes, and settlement.
Management of Conference Center rental calendar, including input of annual return clients and current leads, with projected revenues and expenses to assist with budget projections and annual budget creation.
Assists with site tours and vetting Conference Center rental clients.
Is proactive about reviewing SOP’s and policies, presenting re-drafted an updated verbiage to the Director of Sales for approval.
Is proactive in project management by assessing feedback from other staff and departments, understanding what is being conveyed, and diplomatic about solutions.
Collects event information through standardized questionnaires, drafts contract based on information provided, transposes all pertinent information into Caterease, and facilitates handoff to Banquets team to finalize details.
Follow up on outstanding balances related to your events as needed.
As scheduled, act as liaison between clients, staff, vendors, and guests on day/night of events.
Provides outstanding customer service to rental clients and guests.
Responds to special requests from guests and clients.
Acts appropriately in events environments in relation to guest speakers, clients, guests, vendors, and their teams.