Event Sales Manager

Pyramid Global Hospitality•Minneapolis, MN

2d•$70,000 - $75,000

About The Position

The Event Sales Manager executes all aspects of event planning for meetings, reunions, social functions, and catering. From the signing of a group contract onward, this includes coordinating business requirements such as direct billing, catering, event details, VIP needs, amenities, group resumes, rooming lists, and registration cards. Event planning accounts for approximately 75% of the role. The remaining approximately 25% focuses on targeting, capturing, and coordinating catering sales. The manager meets and exceeds revenue goals by developing new catering accounts and planning and coordinating group business in a profitable, mutually beneficial manner. The position coordinates group business, communicates with clients and hotel departments, and ensures events meet client expectations while supporting hotel profitability. It also develops and retains accounts, pursues new business and referrals, manages account records and customer relationships, supports budgeting and forecasting for catering and banquet business, and prepares complete Banquet Event Orders. The role requires outside sales calls using reliable transportation and involves visiting clients, touring the property, and attending functions.

Requirements

Knowledge of general sales techniques and processes.
Highly developed customer-service and problem-solving skills.
Strong follow-up and guest-satisfaction skills.
Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions.
Ability to work on more than one task at a time.
Ability to develop and maintain strong internal and external customer relationships.
Ability to set and manage priorities and plan activities in advance.
Ability to solve problems and make sound business decisions.
Fluent English-language hearing, speaking, reading, and writing abilities.
Effective verbal communication and business-writing skills.
Detail-oriented approach.
Dexterity and mobility to meet clients on and off premises, tour the property, attend functions, climb stairs, use door keys, and operate basic office equipment.
Vision to read fine print and computer screens, distinguish colors, and observe rooms in poorly lit conditions.
Reliable personal transportation and a valid state driver’s license for outside sales calls.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of CY/TY.

Responsibilities

Achieve at least 90% of productivity goals and 100% of activity goals established by management.
Coordinate group business developed by the sales manager and determine and coordinate event-planning needs.
Communicate with clients to ensure event details are accurate and complete on time, balancing customer satisfaction and hotel profitability.
Upsell banquet menus and recommend options that increase revenue for contracted banquet events.
Communicate effectively with hotel departments to ensure meetings and related functions meet or exceed client expectations.
Conduct appointment-oriented direct sales calls in accordance with department budget and marketing-plan goals.
Develop existing key hotel accounts by identifying opportunities for revenue growth.
Capture competitor accounts through networking, research, and reader-board surveys, targeting and soliciting prospects likely to generate new business.
Follow up on leads within 48 hours, seek referrals from existing accounts, and forward leads to other Pyramid hotels when appropriate.
Retain group and applicable catering business by building professional customer relationships and providing consistent service.
Maintain accurate, organized, well-documented, and current client files and account records.
Develop customer profiles and maintain an effective trace system with trace dates and references.
Build customer relationships through appropriate communication and professional, courteous, and ethical interactions.
Respond to customer needs and inquiries within the industry-standard four-business-hour timeframe.
Prioritize revenue-producing activity, retain accounts, maximize account yield opportunities, and use selling time effectively.
Control expenses, maximize returns on investments, and represent the hotel with integrity, professionalism, and a service-focused attitude.
Maintain a positive team attitude, communicate openly with coworkers, and maintain a neat, clean, business-like appearance.
Complete Banquet Event Orders on time with the information needed to execute events, including in-house meetings.
Assist with budgeting and forecasting catering and banquet business.
Perform other duties as assigned, requested, or deemed necessary by management.