Catering Manager

Job Description

Job Description

The Catering Sales Manager is responsible for booking and coordinating catering operations in the hotel's continuing effort to deliver outstanding guest service and financial profitability. Specifically, you would be responsible for performing the following tasks to the highest standards.

• Solicits/books local catering business.
• Assists in the development and implementation of catering sales revenue and operation budgets and provides forecasting reports.
• Assists in the development and implementation of a comprehensive advertising, social media and PR plan to ultimately uncover new revenue opportunities and shift-share.
• Develops and implements a trade show, special event, public event, and targeted industry events plan, introducing new business to the hotel.
• Works with the management team to create and implement a catering sales/marketing plan addressing revenue, guests, and market.
• Develops creative menus with the F&B team that drives sales.
• Assists with the development, selling, implementation and follow-through of catering promotions.
• Executes and supports the operational aspects of business booked (e.g., generating proposals, writing contracts, guest correspondence).
• Participates in and practices daily service basics of the brand
• Coordinates and deploys catering sales resources on-property to establish pull-through and sustainment of catering sales strategies and selling solutions. Develops a close working relationship with operations to execute strategies at the hotel level.
• Verifies that the property implements a seamless turnover from sales to operations and back to sales while consistently delivering a high level of service.
• Monitors the effective resolution of guest issues that arise because of the sales process by creating mechanisms to channel issues to property leadership and/or other appropriate stakeholders.
• Maintains successful performance by increasing revenues, controlling expenses, and providing a return on investment for the owner.
• Implements the brand’s service strategy and applicable brand initiatives in all aspects of the sales process.
• Interacts effectively with guests/clients, sales and kitchen, vendors, competitors, local community, catering associations and other hotel departments in order to drive sales and monitor guest satisfaction.
• Executes exemplary guest service to drive guest satisfaction and loyalty by assisting the guest and monitoring their satisfaction before and during their event.
• Gains understanding of the hotel’s primary target guest and service expectations; serves the guest by understanding their business, business issues and concerns, to offer better business solutions both prior to, and during the event.
• Leads on-property catering sales process to achieve hotel revenue goals by proactively targeting current and new high-value accounts in the market and implementing effective catering sales deployment strategies to grow market share.
• Delegates appropriate event detailing to the Catering Coordinator to ensure maximum productivity and client satisfaction.
• Supports tools and training resources to educate sales associates on winning catering solutions.
• Champions leadership development and workforce planning priorities by assessing, selecting, retaining, and developing diverse, high-caliber talent that can lead the organization today and strengthen the leadership bench for the future; continues to upgrade the sales & marketing talent; works with HR to anticipate future talent needs based on business growth plans.
• Identifies, trains and mentors catering sales associates.
• Transfers functional knowledge and develops catering sales skills of other discipline managers.
• Shares responsibility for achieving revenue goals, guest and associate satisfaction and the financial performance of the department.
• Champion all catering and convention services operations to include, but are not limited to, guest service, soliciting new accounts, negotiating contracts, merchandising, and marketing, planning, event execution, cost control implementation, systems management, budget and forecasting, department management and meeting participation and facilitation
• Performs other duties, as assigned, to meet business needs.
• Builds successful relationships.

Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Exceptional communications skills where you are able to negotiate, convince, sell, and influence professionals and hotel guests.
• You must be able to speak, read, write, and communicate in English fluently to perform the duties of the job.
• Advanced knowledge of catering, hospitality, and food and beverage industries is expected.
• This position requires fast-paced full mobility, with occasional lifting and carrying up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to travel if needed; valid driver’s license required.
• Basic computer skills: Excel, Word, Outlook.
• Ability to work nights, weekends and holidays as needed.
• Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Education and Experience:

• Must have a minimum of 3 years of catering experience.
• A minimum of 2 years working in Hospitality with a known brand prefered.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred.

In addition to a great work environment, our talented team enjoys:

• Competitive compensation.
• Sales bonus program.
• Professional development and growth.
• Paid time off for vacation, holiday and sick.
• Company-sponsored medical plans including health insurance, dental, vision, life, LTD, STD and Flexible Spending Plans for Medical and Dependent Care.
• 401k-retirement plan with Company Match.
• Room discounts at all Columbia Sussex hotel locations.