Conference Services Manager

HEI Hotels & Resorts•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The Conference Services Manager creates the desired conference experience and meets clients’ needs through active communication, planning, and team leadership. The role provides overall direction, coordination, and ongoing evaluation of conference and banquet operations, including detailed execution of banquet event orders generated by the Convention Services Department. The manager works closely with banquet staff, the Chef, outside vendors, and clients to deliver events and achieve client satisfaction. The position also supports revenue and business development through forecasting, budgeting, room rental optimization, repeat-business rebooking, and monitoring group room blocks and pickup. The manager conducts site inspections and client presentations, develops creative event setups and menus, and uses audio/visual services as a profit center. The role requires hospitality and catering-sales experience, knowledge of hotel operations and sales techniques, and proficiency with Delphi, Microsoft Word, and Excel.

Requirements

Prior hospitality experience, specifically in catering sales.
At least one year of experience in the hospitality industry.
Experience at a hotel of similar size and quality.
Computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Delphi.
Knowledge of sales skills, revenue management, training, and motivating peers.
Knowledge of hotel features and benefits and competing hotels in the market.
Ability to execute appropriate action plans.
Knowledge of hotel operations, including marketing plans, security and safety programs, personnel and labor relations, business-plan preparation, 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, with the ability to adapt communication style to different audiences.

Responsibilities

Understand monthly forecasting and the annual budget process.
Implement effective methods to improve meeting planner evaluation scores and exceed meeting planner satisfaction.
Optimize room rental charges.
Participate in rebooking repeat business and build long-term client relationships.
Participate in industry-related organizations such as NACE and MPI.
Use sales, closing, and negotiating skills.
Conduct hotel site inspections and client presentations.
Develop innovative setups, menus, and functions for groups; work with the Chef on pricing specialty menus.
Coordinate with the banquet department on operations and event execution, evaluate alternatives, and decide on plans of action.
Provide overall direction, coordination, and ongoing evaluation of operations.
Ensure detailed execution of banquet event orders generated by the Convention Services Department.
Provide and operate audio/visual equipment as a profit center.
Monitor group room blocks and pickup, and generate detailed resumes for operating departments.
Work with outside vendors to ensure client satisfaction for events and groups.
Comply with attendance rules and be available to work on a regular basis.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.