Catering Sales Manager

The Crowne Plaza North Augusta is currently seeking a dynamic, experienced and motivated individual for the position of Sales Catering Manager at our StepStone Hospitality managed hotel. This candidate should demonstrate excellent organizational & communication skills, a strong proficiency in multi-tasking with hospitality sales experience essential.    

The Catering Sales Manager reports to the hotel Director of Sales for all sales revenue generation of social events and venue management responsibilities. This position works in collaboration with hotel Banquet Manager as main liaison for event clientele. 

Duties and Responsibilities

· Attend regular meetings, including but not limited to, daily departmental stand up meeting, weekly business review meeting, weekly BEO meeting, monthly sales meeting, and pre-con meetings as needed or required

· Represents the brand and reputation of Crowne Plaza North Augusta to potential and existing catering prospects, vendors

· Administer catering operations to include, but not limited to, client service needs, soliciting accounts, negotiating contracts, merchandising, planning, systems management and reporting

· Maintaining effective relationships with clients and establishing new relationships

· Act as a liaison to maintain effective lines of communication within and between all departments

· Works in conjunction with and has a high level of communications with the hotel sales manager who booked the group to understand what the sales manager sold and promised the client.

· Ensures pop up events and last-minute client changes are communicated promptly 

· Ensures that all BEOs are signed by the client and returned in a timely manner 

· Ensures client overnight rooming lists are entered in Opera correctly, all billing requirements are correct for the master bill and for individual guests. Ensure all Advance deposits are collected, and VIP guests are identified and provided welcome amenities 

· Is knowledgeable of all hotel services, banquet menus, and wine lists and understands what cannot be promised to clients and how much advance notice is required to the operating departments to ensure
special client requests can be delivered as expected by the client.

· Evaluate client needs and industry competitive set to provide input for operational changes necessary to ensure client satisfaction

· Monitor and communicate industry trends within marketplace

· Meets IHG standard of 2 hour response time to all incoming leads and inquiries including Meeting Broker leads. 

RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS

· Assumes complete responsibility for coordination of all client meeting and event details to include
room set up, staging, lighting, audio-visual, menu selections, décor, traffic flow, entertainment, transportation, billing, security, shipping/receiving/ storage of materials, electrical and internet services and VIP services and ensures client events run smoothly with minimal problems.

 

· Ensures all client event details are clearly detailed on Group Resumes and BEOs and clearly communicates with banquet services/set-up, culinary, housekeeping, front office, reservations, accounting, engineering, security, and sales to ensure client details are executed and exceed client expectations.

 

· Maintains a high level of professional appearance and maintains positive relationships with all hotel operating departments to foster a supportive environment, teamwork and ongoing cooperative interdepartmental relationships.

· Has general knowledge of the hotel’s banquet inventories, chairs, tables, podiums, linens, centrepieces to ensure we do not overcommit property inventories.
 

· Directs client on use of signage and banners to ensure a professional image of hotel public space is maintained at all times.
 

· Provides clients with current banquet menus and as required negotiates food and beverage prices within approved guidelines from the Chef or Food & Beverage Director 

· For catering events with less than 10 contracted sleeping rooms follow hotel-established catering space booking policies.

· Conducts banquet, meeting space, and facility tours and entertains clients to help close on potential business opportunities, As requested, joins hotel sales managers for client site inspections and tours to show supportive cooperative relationships between sales and service departments focused on client satisfaction and attention to detail.

· Knows and understands hotel operational practices and policies to better assist the client and not misrepresent the hotel’s capabilities., including accounting practices for direct billing, deposits, and credit card usage.

· Ensure proper storage and delivery of packages and materials for hotel meetings and events.

· Represents and promotes the hotel and the IHG Crowne Plaza brand’s meeting and catering services
capabilities in the community by participating in community organizations and events as required. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

· Salesforce (Delphi) and Opera experience preferred

· Solid sales & account management skills are essential, with a strong knowledge of banqueting trends and procedures

· Knowledge of menu planning, menu design, and the ability to guide a planner or client toward meals most conducive to the size of their groups and the space allotted.

· Exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills, and time management skills 

· Advanced communication skills, with the ability to negotiate, convince, sell and influence professional clientele.

· Results / goal-oriented individual with emphasis on the achievement of individual and team goal accountability 

· Ability to keep and maintain a professional appearance and demeanor at all times

Ideal candidates must have at least two (2) years of current Hotel experience at an equal to, or higher sales volume/ full-service property. Only candidates located within the continental United States will be considered. Local Candidates are preferred as relocation is not available. Market segments assigned could be subject to change based on the needs of the hotel.  StepStone Hospitality has determined our core set of values as: Quality, Teamwork, Competency, Professionalism, Candor, Efficiency, Fair Play, Fun, and Integrity. These values are considered and applied in all aspects of our performance and relationships with others. Everything we do has our guests, associates and ownership in mind. 

 EOE/M/F/D/V