Sales Manager (Athenaeum Hotel)/ Career Opportunity

Chautauqua Institution • Chautauqua, NY

2d • $62,500 - $66,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Chautauqua Institution owns and operates the Chautauqua Hotel Company , a historic full-service comprehensive hotel that has 150 rooms for guests. The Athenaeum Hotel houses the Heirloom Restaurant, and the Lobby Lounge. The Athenaeum Hotel is open from late April through October for conferences and events. The Hotel is in full operation during the Chautauqua Institution summer season, from late June through late August. About the Opportunity About Your Work Maintain a working knowledge of hotel operations including F&B, Catering, Guest Services, and Reservations in order to provide clients with accurate information. Solicit, negotiate, and contract business through various efforts and promote upselling with contracted events. Solicit, negotiate, and contract group business on behalf of Chautauqua Institution to include group tickets or venue rentals. Continually research and identify new and potential business within assigned segment. Develop and continually enhance relationships with key accounts, community organizations and professional associations to maintain visibility and increase market share. Collaborate with hotel departments to prepare information for clients. Coordinate meetings between clients and departments when necessary. Coordinate or complete the delivery of group tickets during the Chautauqua Season to contracted groups. Work closely with ticketing and/or safety and security to arrange bus arrival and parking and ensure a positive arrival experience to Chautauqua. Able to set priorities, plan, organize, and delegate. Communicate safety guidelines with clients and ensure clients abide by set policies. Provide detailed customization services and professional counsel to any client with special requests ensuring that those requests can be granted within confines of rules and regulations. Maintain a working knowledge of the OPERA Sales and Catering Module within the Hotel’s Property Management System (PMS). Maintain a working knowledge of the BOS ticketing system for group tickets and management. Prepare Banquet Event Orders (BEO) for assigned markets. Coordinate distribution to hotel departments with Sales Admin. Participate in BEO, Daily Business Review, and Pre-Event meetings as required. Resolve any client complaints with hotel staff and provide follow up and closure. Assist with the posting of event deposits/final payments ensuring that timely communication occurs. Revise and distribute Reservations Calendar for Hotel/Institution and coordinate work orders for building maintenance, as required.

Requirements

• Bachelors degree in Hospitality/Hotel, Event Management, Communications, or equivalent combination of education/experience.
• Minimum 3-years prior experience in hospitality experience in a client-facing role required.
• Excellent interpersonal and professional communication skills (written/verbal) to interact with internal management and staff at all levels, as well as patrons and donors.
• Working knowledge of event planning ‘best practices’/logistics and terminology to communicate effectively with vendors.
• Exceptional attention to detail coupled with an ability to make quick decisions, take initiative and prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced, high-demand environment.
• Must possess excellent attention to detail in relation to job duties and responsibilities coupled with the ability to provide positive client service.
• Ability to navigate multiple high-priority demands/frequent changes in a fast-paced work environment with a balanced level of patience.
• Proficiency in various computer applications, including Property Management System, Catering/Sales Software (Opera), and advanced Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Nice To Haves

• Strong preference will be given to candidates with proven sales experience in addition to professional event administration.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a working knowledge of hotel operations including F&B, Catering, Guest Services, and Reservations in order to provide clients with accurate information.
• Solicit, negotiate, and contract business through various efforts and promote upselling with contracted events.
• Solicit, negotiate, and contract group business on behalf of Chautauqua Institution to include group tickets or venue rentals.
• Continually research and identify new and potential business within assigned segment.
• Develop and continually enhance relationships with key accounts, community organizations and professional associations to maintain visibility and increase market share.
• Collaborate with hotel departments to prepare information for clients.
• Coordinate meetings between clients and departments when necessary.
• Coordinate or complete the delivery of group tickets during the Chautauqua Season to contracted groups.
• Work closely with ticketing and/or safety and security to arrange bus arrival and parking and ensure a positive arrival experience to Chautauqua.
• Able to set priorities, plan, organize, and delegate.
• Communicate safety guidelines with clients and ensure clients abide by set policies.
• Provide detailed customization services and professional counsel to any client with special requests ensuring that those requests can be granted within confines of rules and regulations.
• Maintain a working knowledge of the OPERA Sales and Catering Module within the Hotel’s Property Management System (PMS).
• Maintain a working knowledge of the BOS ticketing system for group tickets and management.
• Prepare Banquet Event Orders (BEO) for assigned markets.
• Coordinate distribution to hotel departments with Sales Admin.
• Participate in BEO, Daily Business Review, and Pre-Event meetings as required.
• Resolve any client complaints with hotel staff and provide follow up and closure.
• Assist with the posting of event deposits/final payments ensuring that timely communication occurs.
• Revise and distribute Reservations Calendar for Hotel/Institution and coordinate work orders for building maintenance, as required.

Benefits

• Chautauqua Institution’s competitive compensation and benefits suite includes a national health insurance network with Highmark, flexible spending (or health savings) account options, dental and vision insurance, complimentary life insurance, wellness incentives, an employee assistance program, supplemental life insurance, and long-term disability options.
• The Institution supports planning for retirement through a discretionary employer retirement plan contribution, which has recently been 6% of gross compensation following the designated service period.
• Employees will receive a traditional Chautauqua gate pass, free of cost, which provides access to many of our programs at the Amphitheater.
• Chautauqua Institution will provide a $500 referral bonus (less taxes) for active employees referring a new candidate who is hired and remains employed for at least 90 days from the first physical date of work. In the case of seasonal positions working less than 6 months, the new candidate must remain actively employed for at least 30 days from the first physical date of work and until the closing date of the season. The closing date of the season is the last Sunday in August.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level