Conference Services Manager

HEI Hotels and Resorts•New Orleans, LA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Create the desired conference and meet clients’ needs through active communication, planning, and team leadership. This role requires an understanding of monthly forecasting and the annual budget process, and the importance of raising meeting planner evaluation scores. The manager will optimize room rental charges, participate in re-booking repeat business by fostering long-term client relationships, and actively participate in industry-related organizations like NACE and MPI. The position demands thorough knowledge of sales techniques, including strong closing and negotiating skills, comfort with hotel site inspections and client presentations, and excellent creative skills to provide innovative set-ups, menus, and functions for groups. The manager will also generate creative and innovative menus in collaboration with the Chef on pricing specialty menus, work closely with the banquet department on operations and event execution, and provide overall direction, coordination, and ongoing evaluation of operations. This includes detailed execution of all banquet event orders, experience providing and operating Audio/Visual equipment as a profit center, and proficiency with computers, specifically Delphi, Word, and Excel. The role involves 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, along with performing any other job-related duties as assigned, are also required.

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.

Nice To Haves

An understanding of both monthly forecasting and the annual budget process.
Thorough knowledge of sales techniques including strong closing skills as well as negotiating skills.
Comfortable with hotel site inspections and client presentations.
Excellent creative skills to provide innovative set-ups, menus, and functions for groups.
Ability to generate creative and innovative menus while working closely with Chef on pricing specialty menus.
Experience providing Audio/Visual equipment and operating Audio/Visual as a profit center.
Excellent knowledge of computers, specifically Delphi, Word, and Excel.

Responsibilities

Create the desired conference and meet clients’ needs through active communication, planning, and team leadership.
Understand the importance of raising the meeting planner evaluation scores and implement effective methods to ensure exceeding meeting planner satisfaction.
Optimize room rental charges.
Consistently 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).
Provide innovative set-ups, menus, and functions for groups.
Generate creative and innovative menus while working closely with Chef on pricing specialty menus.
Work closely with banquet department on operations and event execution, ability to quickly evaluate alternatives and decide on a plan of action.
Provide overall direction, coordination, and ongoing evaluation of operations.
Detailed execution of all banquet event orders generated by the Convention Services Department.
Experience providing Audio/Visual equipment and operating Audio/Visual as a profit center.
Monitor group room blocks and pick up, generate detailed resumes for the operating departments.
Ability to 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.