Sales & Catering Manager

Responsible for soliciting business with present and future clients and for negotiating contracts with clients to sell hotel room blocks and meeting space. Represent the property at industry-related trade and travel shows. Responsible for personnel-related matters for the Sales staff. 

Oversees various sales and promotional programs.

•  Maintains relationships with travel agencies and resolves issues and concerns.

• Responsible for securing and promoting booths within various travel industry related trade shows throughout the year.

• Responsible for promoting company within various television, radio, and print advertising media utilizing trade dollar value.

• Solicit catering and group business via inbound and outbound methods, including off property solicitation. 

• Represents the property at trade shows by providing information to tour and travel operators to promote business. 

• Update convention service requirements in client files and maintains contact with customers. 

• Negotiate contacts with tour and travel operators. 

• Negotiates contracts reserve meeting space and meeting rooms. 

• Conducts facility tours providing information on features, amenities, and services to possible clients and tour operators. 

• Communicate B.E.O. (Banquet Event Order) changes to appropriate departments to ensure client satisfaction. 

• Input all Sales/Catering accounts, bookings, profiles, reservation information, rooming list changes, block requests, and finalize group prospectus sheets. 

• Update function book with any changes, additions, and deletions. 

• Coordinate work flow between clerical staff, management, and convention porters to ensure customer satisfaction.

• Other duties as assigned

Additionally, plan, organize, and develop the food and beverage services of organizations and businesses, at the same time as meeting customer expectations, food and hygiene standards and financial targets. Responsible for the combined performance of the team and for ensuring that everyone within their team reaches their targets.

• Having a ‘hands on’ role and being involved in the day-to-day running of the operation.

• Spend time negotiating with the client organization, assessing its requirements and ensuring that it is satisfied with the service delivered.

• Recruiting and training permanent and casual staff.

• Organizing, leading and motivating the catering team.

• Communicating daily with the management team, planning work schedules and checking client requirements.

• Dealing with customer complaints and enquiries.

• Taking responsibility for the sales and marketing of the conference center, including pricing, promotions, image/brand and profile.

• Researching markets to identify new business; therefore, negotiating with external service providers and suppliers as required.

• Planning menus in consultation with chefs.

• Ensuring health and safety regulations are strictly observed.

• Budgeting and establishing financial targets and forecasts.

• Monitoring the quality of the product and service provided.

• Keeping financial and administrative records.

• Managing the payroll and monitoring spending levels.

• Maintaining stock levels and ordering new supplies as required.

• Interacting with customers if involved with ‘front of house’ work.

• Coordinating with suppliers and clients.

• Negotiating contracts with customers.

• Setting and agreeing budgets.

• Monitoring quality standards.

• Overseeing the management of facilities, example: checking event bookings and allocation of resources/staff.

• Planning new promotions and initiatives, and contributing to business development.

• Dealing with staffing and client issues.

• Communicating courteously with customers by telephone, email and face to face.

• Keeping accurate records of discussions or correspondence with customers.

• Keeping abreast of trends and developments in the catering industry such as menus, consumer tastes and management issues.

• Ensuring compliance with health and safety, licensing laws and other legal regulations, and ensuring effective security systems are in place.

• Developing customer service policies and standards for your organization or department. · Keeping ahead of developments in customer service by reading relevant journals, going to meeting and attending courses.