Private Events Manager

If you love great hospitality, great events and the thrill of turning a conversation into a sale, you might really like this job. And if you also love movies, you’ll definitely want to keep reading…

Metro Private Cinema is an upscale private cinema experience from the founder of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Our Chelsea location features 20 private cinema suites available for movies, meetings, corporate events, private screenings, celebrations, sports, karaoke and gaming, paired with upscale contemporary dining, an ambitious wine and cocktail program and highly personalized service.

Metro Cinema is seeking a Private Event Sales Manager to drive event revenue through a combination of inbound sales, proactive business development and long-term client relationships.

The opportunity is significant. This position offers an $80,000 base salary plus uncapped commission, with expected total compensation of $120,000+ for a strong performer.

This is a true sales position. You will respond to guests and companies already interested in hosting events at Metro, but we are equally interested in someone who knows how to create business. We want a salesperson who prospects, builds relationships, develops repeat accounts, gets people in the building and closes business.

Key Responsibilities

Drive Event Sales: Own the sales process from initial inquiry through signed contract. Respond quickly, understand what the client is trying to accomplish and turn opportunities into booked business.

Create New Business: Proactively prospect for corporate, entertainment, agency, social and other private event opportunities. Develop relationships with event planners, executive assistants, companies and organizations that can become repeat Metro clients.

Own the Pipeline: Maintain an organized, active sales pipeline with disciplined follow-up. Know where every opportunity stands, what needs to happen next and what business is likely to close.

Sell the Experience: Conduct compelling site visits and presentations that bring Metro to life. Help prospective clients understand what makes the venue different and creatively match our spaces, food, beverage and entertainment capabilities to their needs.

Grow Revenue: Consistently work toward individual and company sales goals while identifying opportunities to increase event value through food and beverage, premium experiences, additional space and other enhancements.

Build Repeat Business: Develop relationships that extend beyond a single event. Follow up after events, stay connected with clients and turn successful experiences into repeat bookings and referrals.

Know the Market: Understand the New York City private events landscape, what clients are looking for and how Metro can compete effectively for their business.

Partner with Operations: Work closely with our Operations, Culinary and Service teams to ensure that what we sell can be executed exceptionally well. Maintain clean communication and handoffs so the client's experience matches what was promised during the sales process.

Represent Metro: Be an enthusiastic and polished ambassador for the business, whether speaking with a corporate decision-maker, an event planner, a movie studio or someone planning an incredible birthday.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role is straightforward: you grow event revenue.

You respond to opportunities with urgency. You create business instead of waiting for it. Your pipeline is healthy and organized. You know your numbers. You close.

Just as importantly, clients trust you. They enjoy working with you, come back to Metro and recommend us to others.

The best person for this role will see our 20 private cinemas and immediately start thinking about all the people, companies and organizations who should be using them.

Who We're Looking For

We are looking for a salesperson with hospitality instincts.

You may come from a luxury hotel, restaurant group, private dining operation, event venue, private club, catering company, entertainment business or another premium hospitality environment. You do not need cinema experience.

What matters is that you know how to sell experiences, build relationships and turn opportunities into revenue.

The strongest candidates will demonstrate:

Sales Ability: A track record of meeting or exceeding event sales goals and the confidence to ask for and close business.

Business Development: Comfortable prospecting and creating opportunities rather than relying exclusively on inbound leads.

Hospitality: A genuine understanding of elevated service and what makes clients feel taken care of.

Relationship Building: The ability to develop credibility quickly and build relationships that lead to repeat business.

Organization: Strong pipeline management, follow-up and attention to detail. Great salespeople lose business when they are disorganized. That doesn't work here.

Communication: Polished, persuasive and personable communication in writing, on the phone and face-to-face.

Ownership Mentality: Takes responsibility for results, follows through and doesn't wait for someone else to solve a problem.

Competitive Drive: Motivated by goals and excited by the opportunity to earn meaningful commission by growing the business.

Creativity: Able to look beyond a standard event package and help clients imagine experiences they may not have considered.

Experience & Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of relevant sales experience , with 5+ years preferred
• Private event, hospitality, venue, hotel, restaurant, catering or experiential sales experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success meeting or exceeding revenue or sales goals
• Experience managing a sales pipeline and CRM
• Strong understanding of private events and elevated food and beverage experiences
• Experience conducting site visits, developing proposals, negotiating and closing business
• Existing relationships within the NYC corporate, event planning, entertainment or hospitality communities are a major plus
• Comfortable learning and working across modern hospitality, CRM and operational technology
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to attend events and work occasional evenings or weekends when business needs require it

A demonstrated ability to sell is more important to us than a particular title or career path. If you have built business, exceeded goals and believe Metro is something you could sell exceptionally well, we want to hear from you.

Compensation & Benefits

Great talent deserves to be rewarded. As part of our team, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being, future and professional growth, including:

• $80,000 base salary
• Uncapped commission with expected total compensation of $120,000+ for a strong performer
• Paid Time Off
• Comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) with matching
• Transit benefits

Metro Cinema is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants due to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

Job Type: Full-time

Work Location: In person | Chelsea, New York