Senior Conference Services Manager - The Langham, Chicago

Langham Hospitality Group • United States,

4h • $90,000 - $100,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Conference Services Manager is responsible for establishing, adhering to, and executing key processes to ensure group logistics are planned accordingly and properly communicated to operational departments. This individual works closely with the Director of Sales & Marketing (DOSM), Director of Catering, and Conference Services Manager to ensure events are executed at a luxury experience level. This includes developing VIP sets, working with the A/V company to understand technology offerings, and liaising with clients to deliver personalized experiences for meeting/event attendees. The role also involves close collaboration with the Director of Group Sales to ensure group food and beverage contributions align with budgeted expectations.

Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years in a senior conference services role.
• Two years of supervisory experience.
• Proven track record of leading project teams to achieve goals (in absence of supervisory experience).
• Thorough knowledge of event execution, food and beverage.
• Basic understanding of revenue management and space optimization to drive banquet revenue.
• Proactive, taking advantage of untapped business opportunities (adding on additional meals, breaks, meeting rooms/rental) maximizing existing ones.
• Leads by example, in alignment with the qualities one would expect from a luxury five-star hotel.
• Strong interpersonal skills that allow her/him to collaborate with key stakeholders such as the DOSM, Director of Group Sales, Director of Catering, Executive Chef / Director of Food and Beverage, Director of Banquets and Conference Services Manager.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Any combination of education and training within hotel sales may also be considered.

Responsibilities

• Contributes to the overall strategy and planning of conference services by maximizing resources (diagrams, menus, a/v, etc.) to enhance upsell efforts.
• Partners with the conference services manager to develop a comprehensive upsell program (food and beverage, meeting room rental, amenities, etc.) to ensure budgeted banquet and catering sales revenues are achieved.
• Works with the Executive Chef / Director of F&B, Director of Catering and Director of Banquets to develop a plan to launch a minimum of two new initiatives (substantial in scope—F&B offerings, service enhancements, etc.) each year.
• Proactively addresses challenges and opportunities to ensure flawless event execution.
• Identifies, locates and secures the people/assets (i.e. marketing) to achieve the event logistics required.
• Works with the conference services manager to develop and execute an annual rebooking sales plan to facilitate group rebookings.
• Partners with the Director of Catering and conference services manager to forecast revenue projections, market segmentation analysis, guest cover projections and meal period pricing to ensure total banquet budget is achieved.
• Partners with group sales associates to develop customized group experiences in alignment with organizational objectives.
• Oversee processes associated with pre-convention meetings, post-convention meetings, increased capture of meeting event surveys, etc.
• Works with DOSM, Director of Catering and Conference Services Manager to fully understand competitive set, including financial performance, SWOT analysis, menu analysis, meeting/event trends, and market conditions that may impact purchasing patterns/industry trends.
• Establishes, enhances and maintains productive quality working relationships with key internal and external customers.
• Keeps Hotel information relating to customer requirements, interests and market activities up to date.
• Develop relationships with customer base to determine new opportunities for account penetration and share information with appropriate disciplines (i.e. catering sales, group sales, transient sales).
• Contributes ideas to improve the products and services offered.
• Responsible for the creation of marketable and cutting-edge offerings (i.e. themed breaks, unique events, etc.).
• Directs, monitors and evaluates the upsell results of c.s. team to ensure sales revenue targets are met.
• Shares departmental and individual objectives with team—reviewing and updating considering changes in the business, implementing corrective action if necessary.
• Communicates regularly and on-time verbally and non-verbally, providing individual team members with prompt and specific feedback on performance.
• Creates an atmosphere that motivates and encourages people to perform to the best of their ability, minimizing conflict when/if it occurs.
• Collaborates with key internal stakeholders such as DOC, Executive Chef/ Director of F&B and Director of Banquets for implementation of best practices and innovations.
• Has the ability to identify potential challenges and solve problems through collaboration with key stakeholders.
• Responsible for the team utilizing Amadeus Advanced to the fullest and completing all the tasks on a day-to-day basis.
• Responsible for developing team members to reach their full potential in order that they may be able to take on greater levels of responsibility.
• Ensures team members adhere to the policies and procedures of the hotel.
• Coaches and develops people to enhance performance and meet current and future departmental needs.
• Assists in the recruitment of C.S. candidates.
• Produces training and development plans for the department and related areas.
• Regularly reviews and evaluates the impact training has on performance at departmental, team and individual levels.
• Coaches and counsels team members to optimize their performance.
• Additional responsibilities and/or special assignments may be required at the request of management.
• Maximizes opportunities for revenue at all client contact points while providing a sophisticated food and beverage offering and ensuring fair market price and value.
• Monitors banquet event changes; ensure that all information is complete and accurate and distributed on a timely basis.
• Establish upselling guidelines and strategy and ensure sales and catering team is informed of overall catering sales strategy.

Benefits

• Vacation Pay and Sick/Personal time (in accordance with Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick Leave Law)
• Paid Holidays
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your family (employee paid partial premiums)
• Basic Life Insurance, AD&D, and Short-Term Disability (company paid)
• Long Term Disability, Additional Life Insurance, Child Life, Spouse Life, Pet Insurance, ID Theft Protection Coverage, Prepaid Legal, Critical Illness, Hospital Care, Accidental Injury Supplemental Plans (available for purchase)
• 401k plan with Roth option and employer match
• Free meals while on duty
• Uniforms and cleaning of uniforms (for applicable positions)
• Free and discounted hotel stays
• Discounted parking
• Guidance Resources – company paid benefit for personal counseling

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree