Executive Meetings Manager

Executive Meetings Manager

Reports to the Director of Sales, position is exempt

What's in it for you:

• $62,000 - $65,000 annual salary
• Performance based incentive plan
• Paid vacation, sick time and holidays
• Medical, dental, vision, and pet insurance
• Employer paid basic life and AD&D
• Discounted pet insurance available through ASPCA
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Paid time off to volunteer for the causes you care about in your community
• Strong sense of belonging through diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Greatly discounted room rates for Aparium properties for you and your out-of-town guests

Who we are:

Hotels done differently. It's not just a slogan it is who we are in everything we do. We believe in the power of people, place and character; ensuring our properties are a place where individuals are valued and celebrated as a tribute to the neighborhoods and the people of the communities in which we operate; elevating our associates' pride in who they are, where they live and who we serve. Hewing Hotel is in Minneapolis' vibrant North Loop neighborhood, more commonly known as the Warehouse District, joining cultural stalwarts Traffic Zone Center for Visual Arts and Target Field, home to baseball's Minnesota Twins. With easy access to all interstates as well as Minneapolis' Metro Transit Blue Line and Northstar Commuter Rail, The Hewing sits at the literal crossroads of the Twin Cities. While Minneapolis presents a plethora of hospitality options, none tap into the local culture to create importance and significance beyond the business traveler. The Hewing occupies the historic Jackson Building, originally built in 1897, at the gateway to the Warehouse District, immediately tying it to local culture like no other competitor. The hotel is managed by Aparium who was founded in 2011 by Chicago hospitality executive and entrepreneur Mario Tricoci and luxury hotel veteran Kevin Robinson. The duo saw a clear need for a company that could bring c-suite service and accommodations to underserved, yet distinct and important cities, while maintaining and celebrating the unadulterated character of each. Driven by the belief that all hospitality experiences should be fueled by the poetics of their surroundings, Aparium was born with an intense focus on unearthing the amazing moments unique to every city.

The role:

This role requires the tenacity to create memorable experiences and unique events within our event spaces. If you are known to have the grit that is associated with an entrepreneurial spirit, then we invite you to your next career opportunity. This position will oversee all aspects of the details surrounding the group and/or events for corporate and/or association segments. A creative mind must accompany this position to work alongside our operations team to find ways to customize each event with set-up, food and/or beverage, etc. to provide the best-in-class experience for our clients.

What you will do:

• Uphold and role model the company's principles of people, place and character; and ensure modeling the way of our values that drive collaboration, intuition and translocal hospitality
• Receive and respond to all customer inquiries within four business hours. Negotiate and capture all profitable rooms & catering business in accordance with the hotels selling guidelines
• Meet clients upon arrival and prior to departure to ensure all details of the contract are being delivered in a timely, accurate and consistent manner, document and report all sales activities as required
• Thorough knowledge of sales techniques including strong closing skills as well as negotiating skills
• Prepare and send requested collateral materials (i.e. catering menus, brochures, meeting room layout and seating capacity diagrams, area maps and brochures) to designated clients or guests
• Conduct successful site tours, pre-con meetings, client presentations when required
• Demonstrate excellent creative skills to provide innovative set-ups, menus, and functions for groups
• Generate creative and innovative menus while working closely with Chef on pricing specialty menus
• Coordinate all details pertaining to "Rooming Lists" to include room types, shared rooms, room locations, handicap-accessible rooms, room billing, etc.
• Educate event planners on hotel procedures, such as: meal guarantees, set-up styles, payment terms, available hotel services, etc.
• Coordinate all details to appear on each "Banquet Event Order." Details to coordinate may include meeting room set-up specifications, banquet food & beverage items, audio/visual equipment & billing details
• Distribute final Rooming Lists, Group Resumes, and Banquet Event Orders to all applicable service staff, including the Banquet Service Staff, the Food Preparation Staff and the Rooms Division
• Provide overall direction, coordination, and ongoing evaluation of operations
• Meticulously execute all banquet event orders generated for the Banquet Department to
• Offer clients audio/visual equipment and services for operating audio/visual
• Maintain an active list of top accounts to ensure continuous relationship building activities.
• Review function book to maximize client flow and revenue optimization
• Work to upsell events to achieve higher B&C revenues, AV, and additional needs for client
• Close out file by checking billing and working with accounting on any adjustments post-meeting
• Follow your instinct and use your best judgment to create experiences for guests that are thoughtful and genuine
• Perform other services and duties as requested by the Director of Sales. May be called on to host functions and participate in, or conduct sales blitzes, travel, and work extended hours to achieve departmental goals
• Understand the importance of effective methods to ensure exceeding meeting planner satisfaction
• Meet tight deadlines while working in a very fast-paced environment and under considerable stress.
• Work with outside vendors to ensure client satisfaction for all events/groups
• Comply with attendance rules and be available to work on a regular basis
• Take on additional tasks and responsibilities as requested by the Director of Sales and/or hotel General Manager in support of a successful operation
• Coordinate details related to meeting room set-up specifications, banquet food and beverage items, audio/visual equipment and billing details

How you lead:

• Engage others in general conversation tactics to build rapport quickly; leading and adapting communication and presentation tactics to engage your audience; displaying adaptable interpersonal skills for a wide range of audiences and clients
• Demonstrate business acumen and practices sound financial decisions by ensuring the actions and plans put into place support the achievement of sales goals and budgets
• Approach fact-finding and discovery missions in a collaborative effort; valuing input and experiences of others that creates additional insight to uncover deeper issues that may need to be addressed or removed as a barrier to implementation.
• Value the importance of making decisions with integrity, maintaining confidentiality across internal workgroups, and knowing how to use discretion when appropriate; knows how to keep a secret by understanding the difference between transparency and confidentiality

What you will need:

• Minimum of (2) two years of hospitality sales experience, with a mix of group sales and banquets & catering experiences
• Experience with Delphi FDC system knowledge, preferred but not required
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, etc.
• Flexible in being present during events that occur in the evening or during weekends
• Adaptable interpersonal skills to communication with ability to demonstrate forming local connections, developing business and achieving sales goals.
• Professional proficiency of the English language in reading, writing and verbal communication
• Ability to work in a dog-friendly work environment

As an equal opportunity employer, Aparium Hospitality Services celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment, and sense of belonging for all employees. We do not discriminate and believe every individual should be proud of who they are, where they come from and take pride in who we serve. Aparium is an E-Verify employer.