Conference Services Manager

Blue Sky Hospitality Solutions•Houston, TX

24d

About The Position

Responsible for achieving or exceeding revenue goals by proactively prospecting, facilitating, and closing small-group business opportunities; executing events; and servicing larger groups with rooms and catering. The role manages accounts, builds business relationships, coordinates event details across hotel departments, and supports guest satisfaction and efficient hotel operations. The position reports to the Director of Sales.

Requirements

Minimum 2 years of hotel group sales or Convention Services Manager experience.
Experience at a hotel of similar size and quality.
Ability to negotiate contracts and banquet event orders, identify and price customer event needs, upsell, and close sales.
Creative skills to provide innovative event setups, menus, and functions; ability to develop menus with the Chef and work on specialty-menu pricing.
Ability to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
Ability to recognize signs of emergency and remain calm and alert during emergencies or periods of heavy hotel activity.
Sound business judgment and ability to make decisions and act quickly based on experience.
Knowledge of hotel operations, including marketing plans, security and safety programs, personnel and labor relations, business plans, repairs and maintenance, budget forecasting, quality assurance, hospitality law, and long-range planning.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with team members and customers, and to deal effectively with internal and external customers using patience, tact, and diplomacy.
Ability to anticipate, prevent, identify, and resolve problems and customer conflicts.
Ability to understand and evaluate complex information and data from various sources and maintain confidentiality.
Computer skills including word processing, spreadsheets, and familiarity with brand-specific property management systems.
Ability to read and interpret documents and write routine reports and correspondence.
Command of written and spoken English.
Valid driver’s license in the applicable state(s).
Must be willing to work some weekends and holidays depending on business demands.

Responsibilities

Manage accounts to achieve guest satisfaction and solicit past and new business to meet or exceed revenue goals.
Solicit small-group business, entertain clients, and maintain relationships with existing accounts to generate revenue in rooms, food and beverage, and meeting-room rental.
Develop networking opportunities through community and professional associations, events, sales blitzes, internet prospecting, and supplier partnerships to generate local transient accounts and group business of 25 rooms or less.
Manage events, including creating banquet event orders (BEOs), forecasting food and beverage, communicating resumes, designating amenities and VIPs, and managing room blocks.
Produce accurate contracts, banquet/catering event orders, and resumes within hotel timelines, and respond to leads and RFPs within 24 hours.
Monitor group room blocks and pickup, and prepare detailed resumes for operating departments.
Generate small-group sales revenue by maximizing revenue potential and upselling additional events and amenities.
Communicate group details and changes to hotel departments and coordinate customer needs with other property business and activities.
Complete required brand training.
Negotiate contracts and BEOs; identify and price customer event needs, upsell, and close sales.
Develop innovative event setups, menus, and functions, working with the Chef on pricing specialty menus.
Conduct persuasive verbal sales presentations to prospective clients.
Coordinate activities with hotel departments to improve communication and guest satisfaction.
Resolve customer complaints, anticipate potential problems, and monitor complaints, operational issues, business flow, and associate performance to maintain customer satisfaction and quality.
Implement company and franchise programs and assist in addressing productivity problems and solutions.
Attend required hotel meetings and trainings, comply with attendance rules, and remain available for regular work, including some weekends and holidays depending on business demands.
Maintain personal appearance and grooming standards, wear a nametag, and comply with hotel standards and regulations for safe and efficient operations.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.