Catering Sales Manager

Job Summary

Responsible for soliciting new catering accounts, building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, and coordinating events to meet and exceed food and beverage revenue goals. This position requires excellent time management skills, a passion for networking, and a proactive approach to being involved in the community and industry. Additionally, oversee client functions to ensure customer satisfaction and deliver outstanding service.

Essential Functions

• Solicit and book new and existing accounts for social catering to meet/exceed revenue goals through telephone solicitation, outside sales calls, site inspections and written communication.
• Prepare correspondence to customers, internal booking reports and file maintenance.
• Participate in daily business review meeting, pre-convention meetings, training and other catering sales related meetings as required.
• Work with other departments within the hotel to provide quality service to customers.
• Attend community/social events and industry meetings.
• Develop/maintain knowledge of market trends, competition, and customers.
• Develop a target sales and marketing plan with focus on social catering functions.
• Assist with the development of banquet menus.
• Participate in 30-60-90 day banquet forecasting.
• Coordinate in-house sales promotions and associate functions.
• Greet client upon arrival.
• Facilitate and communicate details related to catering functions to management.
• Maintain professionalism in problem situations.
• Maintain detailed records of discussions with guest, including all meeting setups, food and beverage, etc.
• Upsell to improve revenue generation on property.
• Be readily available during functions for consultation with client.
• Flexible schedule required to accommodate client needs.
• Preside at conference planning meetings where details related to group coordination will be discussed and reviewed by management.
• Participate in site reviews.
• Conduct exit interviews with clients to solidify repeat business and distribute results.
• Participate in the preparation of the annual hotel budget.
• Respond and resolve guest requests, complaints, or questions in a courteous and timely manner.
• Ability to accurately use various office and accounting software.

Other:

Regular attendance in conformance with the standards, which may be established from time to time, is essential to the successful performance of this position.

Due to the cyclical nature of the hospitality industry, employees may be required to work varying schedules to reflect the business needs of the hotel. In addition, attendance at all scheduled training sessions and meetings is required.

Supportive Functions

In addition to performance of the essential functions, this position may be required to perform a combination of the following supportive functions, with the percentage of time performing each function to be solely determined by the manager based upon the particular requirements of the hotel:

• Professionally represent the hotel at all industry/community functions.
• Participate as a team player with all departments.
• Assist with reports and/or competition data collection.

Specific Job Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

The individual must possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities and be able to explain and demonstrate that he or she can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Flexible schedule is required to accommodate client needs.
• Must be able to speak, read, write, and understand the primary language(s) used in the workplace.
• Must be able to read and write to facilitate the communication process.
• Requires good communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Excellent interpersonal and sales-related experience.
• Exceptional organizational and supervisory skills.
• Knowledge of food and beverage menus, food preparation and presentation.
• Ability to act independently with minimal or no supervision.
• Ability to communicate customer needs and resolve complaints independently.
• Sales ability and skill in both oral and written form.
• Must possess computer skills, including, but not limited to, Microsoft Word, Excel and Amadeus.
• Ability to establish and master goals.
• Working knowledge of federal, state and local laws governing equal employment opportunity and civil rights, occupational safety and health, wage and hour issues, and labor relations, including, but not limited to the following statutes and their comparable state and local laws (where applicable): Title VII, ADEA, Equal Pay Act, Pregnancy Discrimination Act, FLSA, ADA, OSHA, FMLA, and NLRA.

Qualification Standards

Education

High school or equivalent education required. Bachelors Degree preferred.

Experience

Minimum of two to three years prior catering sales experience required in full-service hotel.

Must be able to have prior proven performances of Essential Functions as outlined above.

Schedule

Generally, Monday Friday 8:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m., however, must be able to work varying shifts based on business and client demand, including weekends and holidays as necessary.

Licenses or Certificates

Must be able to maintain valid drivers license.

Physical Demands

Frequent walking, standing, sitting, hearing, talking, smiling. Lifting, pushing, and pulling of objects weighing up to ten (10) pounds.