Event Planning Manager

Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA•San Francisco, CA

6d•$75,000 - $90,000•Onsite

About The Position

Highgate Hotels is hiring an Event Planning Manager for the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA, a 686-room hotel in San Francisco’s South of Market district. The role develops strategies to generate business interest and solicits and negotiates hotel business for assigned markets, which may include national, corporate, state, regional, SMERF, association, sports tournament, and other group functions. The position represents the hotel to prospective customers, develops leads, prepares proposals and contracts, and coordinates with hotel operations to service accounts. The role also manages event and group details, monitors financial performance, and maintains guest service standards. The posting prefers two to four years of sales and/or event-services experience; a college degree is desirable.

Requirements

Minimum of two years of college; a degree is desirable.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Strong self-direction and ability to prospect.
Excellent computer and telephone skills.
Superior relationship-building skills and ability to network effectively and represent the property in business settings.
Aggressive, outgoing, self-motivated approach and a pleasant personality.
Prior hotel experience in hospitality sales, conference planning, or convention skills.

Nice To Haves

Two to four years of experience in sales and/or event services.
A college degree.

Responsibilities

Apply basic sales techniques and customer-service practices.
Comply with departmental policies, service procedures, and standards; use equipment correctly and only as intended.
Anticipate and respond promptly to guests’ needs, maintain positive guest relations, and resolve complaints to ensure guest satisfaction.
Solicit account leads from group meeting and event planners and decision makers for cultivation and development.
Represent the hotel to prospective customers, provide information about facilities and services, and determine their level of interest.
Maintain familiarity with hotel services and features and local attractions and activities to respond accurately to guest inquiries.
Maintain knowledge of scheduled group functions, including times, locations, attendance, requirements, function-space locations, room names, meeting and banquet setups, and hotel policies and procedures.
Review prior-day sales and labor costs, resolve discrepancies with Accounting, and track actuals against budget.
Manage group room blocks through the contracted cutoff date.
Prepare accurate deposit invoices and review final bills for completeness and accuracy.
Prepare and distribute accurate banquet event orders in a timely manner.
Manage and negotiate account details and contracts, document solicitation and closing, and coordinate operations departments’ participation in servicing accounts.
Formulate programs and submit formal sales proposals to prospective customers.
Lead customer site inspections, entertain customers, and make outside sales calls to develop leads.
Attend trade shows and events and make personal calls on customers, potentially traveling within or outside the United States depending on assigned markets.
Forecast realistic group pickup using recent convention history and other information.
Distribute information concerning the company, customer, and hotel.
Participate actively in related trade organizations.
Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned or required.

Benefits

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Life insurance
Short-term and long-term disability insurance
401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions
Paid holidays
Paid vacation
Paid sick leave in accordance with applicable law
Employee assistance program (EAP)
Educational opportunities
Tuition reimbursement
Paid jury duty, personal, medical, and military leave in accordance with applicable law