Catering & Events Sales Manager

What’s the job?

• Manage all aspects of the Events Sales operation including the selling of all food and beverage functions, conferences and banquets.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state and local regulations concerning health, safety, or other requirements.
• At InterContinental Hotels & Resorts we look for people who are charming, confident, and internationally-minded; people who know what it takes to exceed guest expectations.

Your day-to-day

• Manages all functions of the Conference and Banquet operations to achieve the optimum departmental revenue targets
• Conducts sales visits, telephone calls, writes letters, sends emails and extends invitations to clients to visit the hotel
• Follows up on all enquiries
• Analyses historical and other statistical information
• Entertain clients with the object to secure business or strengthen ties when required
• Negotiate terms pertinent to the sale of conference and banqueting services
• Conduct site inspections and tour familiarizations
• Conduct client interviews
• Attends trade shows and sells conference space when directed
• Establish leads from newspapers, magazines, relevant industry documents and follow up
• Maintain a regular pattern of sales calls
• Maintain regular contact with ICHG regional hotels and reservation networks
• Monitor competitor activities and use information when developing strategies
• Develop and maintain contact with business generations, meeting and convention planners, visitors/convention Bureau/ travel agents, tour operators, airlines, corporate accounts, Government Departments and other producers closely allied to hotel business
• Assist in the co-ordination of conference sales/promotional events and activities
• Assist in the operation of banquet functions
• Liaise with Reservations for space allocation and priority
• Conducts daily briefings and other meetings as needed to obtain optimal results
• Handles administrative works and keeps up-dated files on the following Conference matters including:

o Past, present and future events

o Menus and beverage lists

o Finance

o Standards

o Personnel and Training

o Entertainment

o Meetings

o Other hotels Conference and Banqueting operations

o Projects

o Material and Equipment

o Miscellaneous

• Liaise with the Purchasing Manager for any purchases needed for the Events department
• Liaise with the Graphic Department and Print Shop or external agencies to produce art work and printed material needed for the Conference department
• Monitors local competitors and compare their operation with his/her operation
• Solicits business and follow up on referrals and potential sales leads
• Keeps aware of trends, systems, practices and equipment in audio visual through trade literature, hotel show and site visits
• Works with Manager in the preparation and management of the Department’s budget

What we need from you

Required Skills –

• Demonstrated ability to interact with customers, employees and third parties that reflects highly on the hotel, the brand and the Company.
• Problem solving, reasoning, motivating, organizational and training abilities.
• Good writing skills

Qualifications –

• Diploma in Hotel Management, Sales & Marketing or related field.

Experience –

• 1 years related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience