Conference Services Manager

HEI Hotels & Resorts•Fort Lauderdale, FL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Create the desired conference and meet clients’ needs through active communication, planning, and team leadership. This role involves managing monthly forecasting and the annual budget process, focusing on raising meeting planner evaluation scores and ensuring client satisfaction. The position requires optimizing room rental charges, consistently participating in the re-booking of repeat business through long-term client relationships, and actively participating in industry-related organizations like NACE and MPI. The role demands thorough knowledge of sales techniques, including strong closing and negotiating skills, and comfort with hotel site inspections and client presentations. Excellent creative skills are needed to provide innovative set-ups, menus, and functions for groups, working closely with the Chef on pricing specialty menus. Collaboration with the banquet department on operations and event execution is crucial, requiring the ability to quickly evaluate alternatives and decide on a plan of action. The Conference Services Manager will provide overall direction, coordination, and ongoing evaluation of operations, with detailed execution of all banquet event orders generated by the Convention Services Department. Experience providing and operating Audio/Visual equipment as a profit center is necessary. Proficiency in computers, specifically Delphi, Word, and Excel, is required. The role includes monitoring group room blocks and pick up, generating detailed resumes for operating departments, and working with outside vendors to ensure client satisfaction for all events/groups. Compliance with attendance rules and availability to work on a regular basis is expected, along with performing any other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Prior experience in the field of hospitality with specific experience in catering sales is essential.
Minimum of one year within the Hospitality Industry required.
Must have experience at a similar size and hotel quality.
Must possess computer skills, including, but not limited to, use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Delphi.
Knowledge of sales skills, revenue management, training, and motivation of peers.
Knowledge of hotel features, benefits, and competing hotels within the market.
Ability to execute appropriate action plans.
Knowledge of hotel operations, including marketing plans, security and safety programs, personnel and labor relations, preparation of business plans, repairs, maintenance, budget forecasting, quality assurance programs, hospitality law, and long-range planning.
Ability to work effectively under time constraints and deadlines.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to adapt communication style to suit different audiences, such as effectively communicating with supervisors, coworkers, public etc.

Responsibilities

Manage monthly forecasting and the annual budget process.
Raise meeting planner evaluation scores and implement effective methods to ensure exceeding meeting planner satisfaction.
Optimize room rental charges.
Participate in the re-booking of repeat business by having a track record of long-term client relationships.
Actively participate in industry related organizations (NACE, MPI).
Utilize strong sales techniques, closing skills, and negotiating skills.
Conduct hotel site inspections and client presentations.
Provide innovative set-ups, menus, and functions for groups, generating creative and innovative menus while working closely with Chef on pricing specialty menus.
Work closely with the banquet department on operations and event execution, evaluating alternatives and deciding on a plan of action.
Provide overall direction, coordination, and ongoing evaluation of operations.
Ensure detailed execution of all banquet event orders generated by the Convention Services Department.
Manage Audio/Visual equipment and operations as a profit center.
Monitor group room blocks and pick up, generate detailed resumes for the operating departments.
Work with outside vendors to ensure client satisfaction for all events/groups.
Comply with attendance rules and be available to work on a regular basis.
Perform any other job-related duties as assigned.