Salesperson - Banquet Events

One of the nation’s premier private event venues is looking for a salesperson to assist in supplementing sales and bookings of weddings and other high-end social events. As a venue in high-demand, we are looking to further service potential clients and expand upon our current success via increased bookings and the number/quality of events hosted.

We are hiring for an energetic, professional, approachable, and self-driven individual with substantial prior banquet event sales experience who thrives in a luxury sales setting and is adept at communicating and negotiating with a diverse range of clientele.

The candidate must be personable, show a proven knowledge of the wedding and event industry, understand the psychology of luxury/high-value sales, and be able to work within deadlines under a high degree of specificity to deliver sales results.

As a salesperson, you will be responsible for working alongside our team of hospitality professionals in providing best-in-class service to our clients and guests.

The ultimate goal is to meet and increase sales targets for mid-week and weekend business, particularly via large-scale, high-profile weddings and social celebrations.

Your main focus will be geared toward substantially supplementing our calendar with wedding ceremonies/receptions and other high-quality, high-ticket social event bookings.

Your effective collaboration with our ownership, sales director, general manager, banquet manager, executive chef, and other key department heads will be crucial to your success.

JOB DUTIES:

• Day-to-day sales management, venue touring, contracting, sales negotiation, client communication, and sales strategy input.
• You will be tasked with actively responding to incoming event inquiries and carrying the sales process from initial lead through to event booking.
• You will also be directly responsible for answering RFPs and fielding inquiries driven by our established reputation and marketing efforts.
• You will be responsible for client relationship development and building a strong rapport through direct interaction and communication with pending and booked clients.
• You will be tasked with meeting pre-established sales goals.
• You will be expected to coordinate sales within set pricing parameters, selling within set standards and protocols for operation, menu offerings, proper use of the venue, and customized event packages.
• As a salesperson, you will be expected to directly interact with clientele, ensuring a seamless point-of-contact from initial inquiry to detailing the particulars of each booked event to our service staff.
• You will be responsible for accurate documentation of prospective leads, tentative events, and successfully booked events, as well as providing projections and estimates for anticipated bookings.
• This position requires a close collaboration with our existing Director of Sales to ensure consistent communication.
• You will be expected to contribute ideas and techniques with the team for supplemental revenue generation and increased overall sales.

DESIRED SKILLSETS:

• Strong interpersonal and communication abilities. Highly responsive to clients with prompt communication/correspondence.
• Solid understanding of the North Jersey market; thorough grasp of the wedding and event industry from an in-venue perspective.
• A complete understanding of how wedding ceremonies/receptions and social events work from the inside, with a strong grasp of timelines, steps of service, and event execution.
• Adept at negotiating professionally and courteously. Can exhibit calm and patient demeanor in stressful situations.
• The ideal candidate will be highly likable and able to present information a clear and compelling manner.
• A true hospitality mindset, with a keen attention to detail.
• Ability to multitask and a knack for scheduling.
• Excellent promotional ability and knowledge of channels for lead generation. 
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills. 
• Willingness to work nights, weekends and some holidays.
• Contemporary knowledge of current trends and amenities in the wedding and event industry.
• Preference given to candidates with industry connections, a track-record of happy clients, a positive reputation amongst peers, and an established following of prospective clientele. 

REQUIRED OBJECTIVES:

• Assure achievement of financial targets in sales revenue, margin management, event cost control, and target profits through proficient sales management practices. 
• Set written priorities and key objectives and approaches for sales initiatives. Maintain open communication with key management and ownership to ensure successful implementation and follow-through, taking corrective action in the event of failure to meet objectives. 
• Forecasting . Regular forecasting of sales bookings, expenses, and event coordination needs. Planning in-line with forecasted sales and costs including accurate communication to department heads for proper staffing and food/materials ordering. 
• Sales Statement Critique . Regular review of sales statements in order to correct problems, assure that bookings are in line with targets, and to plan for future sales approaches. Review and approve all related expenses in "other expense" categories with General Manger and Ownership (Executive Committee). Regularly review all major operational expenses related to booked events to assure a close accounting of all costs. 
• Staff Relations . Develop a high level of consensus with Ownership (Executive Committee), Sales Director, and Service Staff for the hosting of booked events to reduce friction and increase collaboration. Communicate, counsel and assist in staff development. Be visible and available to guest service personnel in accordance with the Company's open-door policy. Attend Weekly BEO meetings and other departmental meetings as relevant. 
• Cost Controls Review. Control and assure adherence at all times in order to protect the venue's property/assets. 
• Leadership and Standards. Display guest service standards in line with our SOPs; establish a friendly, courteous, hospitality-oriented approach to guests and fellow staff members. 
• Mission Alignment. Properly represent the well-establish image, reputation, and culture of Pleasantdale Chateau, maintaining high standards of behavior and integrity.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education/Formal Training   Must possess a four-year college degree or equivalent education/experience, preferably in hospitality or business management. 
• Experience . A minimum of four years of experience in a corporate sales role at an equivalent large-scale, high-end, high-volume banquet event venue or hotel.
• Knowledge/Skills Advanced knowledge of sales practices, relevant area competition, event management practices (and associated software), current industry standard rates & fees . A general knowledge of the hospitality and business management fields. Highly-developed communication skills to frequently negotiate, convince, sell, and influence prospective clients. Must have excellent speech and written skills in order to communicate with managers, guests and employees. Must have excellent literacy skills necessary for reports, policies, and procedures as well as for written communication with key individuals.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:

• The salesperson will r eport directly to the Director of Sales. Additional reporting as needed to the General Manager and Executive Committee (Ownership) utilizing a participative style. Must be readily available and effectively communicate with each member of ownership.
• All prospective bookings and contracts must be submitted for review to the Director of Sales for approval to ensure they fall within sales standards and event timelines.
• Constant communication required with Director of Sales to ensure event date availability, avoid double-bookings, underselling of prime dates, or competing/conflicting bookings.
• Must coordinate with the Director of Sales and Executive Committee in development of an annual sales projection and forecasting which will serve as an operating plan and define required levels of achievement. 
• The ideal candidate will cultivate robust rapport with Executive Committee  by engaging in proactive and consistent communication . Ensures Executive Committee is well-informed about sales initiatives and guest experiences.
• Delivers comprehensive analysis of performance directly to the Executive Committee . Integrates guest, financial, and employee business data into meticulous analyses.
• Willingness to work in collaboration with the Director of Sales and managers.
• Actively advocates and promotes ideas to enhance service and drive profitability.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND SCHEDULE:

• This is an in-person, on-site position. The salesperson must be able to reliably commute to West Orange, NJ in all seasons.
• Workweek average of 50 hours.
• Work schedule will predominately include weekends and evenings, particularly for client tours and follow-up meetings; exact scheduling will be coordinated with Director of Sales.
• The salesperson will be expected to be present for regular Banquet Event Planning meetings as well as additional department meetings.

BENEFITS:

• Salary/Compensation: Base salary plus commission. Starting salary commensurate with experience.
• Employee-contributed medical insurance 
• Eligibility to participate in the Company’s 401(k) program (non-matching) 
• PTO commensurate with time served. Potential black-out days for prime booking season.

ORGANIZATION DETAILS:

• Company: Pleasantdale Chateau & Conference Estate
• Website:
• Industry: Hospitality
• Company Size: 51-200 employees
• Headquarters: West Orange, New Jersey
• Type: Privately Held
• Founded: 1912/1956/1997
• Specialties: Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Corporate Events, Conferences, Charity/Fundraising Events, Sweet 16s, Wine Dinners, Gala Celebrations, Corporate Conferences, and Training Seminars