Senior Catering Sales Manager

Crestline Hotels and Resorts•Canton, OH

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Catering Sales Manager is responsible for selling, planning, and overseeing all events booked at the hotel. The ultimate mission of this catering leadership role will be to sell, plan and execute successful catering events to meet or exceed revenue and profit goals. The Senior Catering Sales Manager will collaborate with the Director of Sales and Marketing on the direction of the catering sales team, and be the liaison between the customer and the hotel sales and operations departments delivering top notch customer service and creating repeat business and relationships. This is a phenomenal opportunity to work with a premium-branded hotel and Crestline Hotels & Resorts, a company that has continuously been labeled a top hospitality company to work for! At Crestline, we believe in innovative and inclusive approaches driven by enthusiasm, open ideas and respect. We strive to provide not only excellent service but to achieve excellence in all we do.

Requirements

Leadership skills and ability to provide guidance, training and coaching to junior team members.
Outstanding customer service skills.
The ability to engage with guests and associates in an attentive, friendly, courteous, and service-oriented manner.
Excellent communication skills.
The ability to negotiate, sell, and influence clients and meeting attendees.
Both written and verbal communication skills.
Knowledge of event planning/hospitality and the operations of the hotel industry.
Ability to travel to area businesses and accounts to meet with current clients and/or solicit new business as needed.
Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying inquiries made by guests, staff and corporate officers.
Outstanding organizational and time management skills and the ability to multitask and prioritize responsibilities.
Ability to handle sensitive material with the utmost discretion and confidentiality.
Must be detail-oriented and able to work both independently and with a team, making decisions based on current operating procedures and guidance from the DOSM.
Must be effective in handling problems, including anticipating, preventing, identifying, and solving problems as necessary.
Must be able to show initiative, including anticipating guest and/or operational needs.
Must be able to maintain standards of attendance and punctuality and must be able to work varying schedules that include evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours as business dictates.
Must have a high school diploma or GED plus four (4) to seven (7) years of experience in hotel and/or conference center sales and have extensive knowledge and able to coordinate wedding ceremonies and receptions; or any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the above knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Must have ability to effectively and efficiently utilize a variety of computer programs, i.e., Word, Excel, MICROS, property management system, etc.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Selling catering events, soliciting and servicing new and existing accounts, developing relationships, and following up on leads for assigned markets.
Developing and continually enhancing relationships with key group and catering clients to maintain and grow market share.
Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of all property offerings, food & beverage minimums, room rental and hotel rates, strategies, discounts/promotions, meeting space layout, capacities, and catering menus with pricing.
Engaging in proactive sales efforts including outside sales calls, prospecting phone calls, mailings, referrals, networking, etc.
Working with the DOSM to create action plans for proactive catering sales initiatives.
Aiding in the development of profitable menus.
Working with off-site vendors to coordinate catering support services (flowers, entertainment, linens, china, decorations, etc.)
Ensuring site inspections and client visits to the hotel are successful by planning carefully and communicating accurate details in advance to all departments.
Participating in trade shows, community, professional, and industry organizations to maintain high visibility/exposure for hotel.
Joining and participating in associations that influence and aid in continuing education and securing future business.
Responding to all assigned RFP’s received through all channels including internet/website, direct inquiries, third party lead sites, and walk-ins.
Create and send proposals, collateral, and menus, follow up with potential clients and logging all activity in Delphi.
Negotiating and drafting contracts and banquet event orders (BEOs).
Planning and detailing each event booked and oversight of the entire function.
Working with clients to obtain all final booking details, i.e., food & beverage, room set-up, audiovisual requirements, complete rooming list and meeting agenda.
Ensuring group resumes and banquet event orders (BEOs) are accurate and providing all relevant information to all hotel departments giving them ample time to plan and execute.
Participating in regular meetings with operations, F&B, and banquet departments to review Resumes and BEOs for upcoming events and providing updates on other groups/events as needed.
Anticipating (or reacting to) group problems and providing quick, efficient solutions to customer issues or comments to ensure a quality experience, to build relationships and to increase future sales prospects.
Participating in the preparation and coordination of after-hour hotel events that include setting up, interacting with the guests/customers, assisting in clean up and ensuring that the events are successful.
Preparing specialized reports, as needed.
Maintaining accurate and comprehensive records and files to provide sales history and continuity of quality service.
Keeping abreast of budgeted revenue goals and assisting in putting together plans and actions to generate business.
Achieving sales goals.
Ensuring that all guest checks, payments, master folios and advanced deposits are submitted to accounting; ensures that any other information, which is necessary and/or helpful for successful catering business, is submitted to appropriate departments.
Communicates directly with Executive Chef, Banquets, and Conference Services regarding all changes to set-up and final counts.
Performing administrative duties relevant to account responsibilities in compliance with corporate guidelines.
Filling in and supporting coworkers and team as needed to ensure efficient operation.
Performing special projects and other duties as assigned and participating in task force and committees as requested by management.