Events and Marketing Manager

Full-Time

Working at Hotel de la Poste in the heart of New Orleans’ vibrant French Quarter offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich culture and timeless charm of this iconic city.

Newly transitioned from The W New Orleans, this soft-branded Renaissance hotel blends modern luxury with the distinctive, spirited essence of New Orleans—where history, music, and cuisine converge.

As a member of our team, you'll be part of a dynamic atmosphere that celebrates the city's lively energy and unparalleled hospitality, while offering guests an unforgettable experience surrounded by historic architecture, jazz-filled streets, and world-class dining.

Primary focus is on executing all aspects of event planning including meetings, reunions, social functions and catering. Event planning includes all aspects of business coordination from the signing of a group contract forward, for example, direct billing requirements, catering, all event details, VIP needs, amenities, group resumes, rooming lists, registration cards, etc. Approximately 75% of overall time. Other key responsibilities include targeting, capturing and coordinating catering sales. Approximately 25% of overall time. Meets and exceeds revenue goals by developing new catering accounts and planning/coordinating all components of group business in a profitable and win-win selling approach.

The Marketing focus of the position assists with the development, implementation and management of online marketing programs, websites, social media, SEO, content, and related programs. Coordinates with outside digital agencies and property staff to ensure all program objectives are achieved and revenue is maximized. The ideal candidate demonstrates enthusiasm and passion for all facets of marketing. Works with designated hotel/restaurant to create branded and unique property identities with forward-looking positioning statements, supported with online and offline content and initiatives that develop the hotel's identity.

-Achieves a minimum of 90% of productivity goals and 100% of activity goals, as established by management.

-Coordination of all group business as developed by the sales manager. Contact and appropriately follow-up on all signed/contracted business within 5 working days. --- -Determination and coordination of all event planning needs.

-Responsible for effectively communicating with the various departments to ensure that the meeting and related functions are executed to the clients "expectations plus one."

-Direct Sales: Targets appointment-oriented sales calls to ensure a successful catering direct sales effort, in accordance with goals established by department budget and marketing plan. Must have own reliable transportation and possess a valid state driver’s license in order to make outside sales calls.

-Key Account Management: Maximizes current hotel key accounts by identifying and developing those that offer revenue growth.

-New Account Development: Captures competitor's accounts through networking, research and reader board surveys in order to target and solicit those most probable to generate new business.

-Acquires referrals from existing accounts: Follows up on all leads within 48 hours of receipt in an effort to create new business for the hotel and, when appropriate, sends leads to other Sage hotels.

-Group retention: Is responsible for rebooking group and applicable catering business through building strong, professional customer relationships and providing consistent outstanding customer service.

-Account Service and Management: Maintains well-documented, accurate, organized and up-todate file management in order to serve client and employer in the most expedient, organized and knowledgeable manner.

-Develops customer profiles and maintains as effective trace system including trace dates and references, in order to best meet client needs, resulting in superior account service and increased revenues.

-Develops strong customer relationships through appropriate client communication and the use of professional, courteous and ethical interpersonal interaction.

-Promptly, the same day or by 10am the next business day, follows-up on all customers’ needs and inquires in an efficient and expedient manner.Time - - --- -� � --Management: Focuses on revenue-producing activity and maximizes selling time through retaining accounts/customers, maximizing account yield opportunities and direct sales effectiveness.

-Professionalism: Controls expenses on the property's behalf in order to minimize department and hotel costs. Maximizes return on all investments. Represents themselves and the hotel with the highest level of integrity and professionalism, a service -focused approach and a caring, sincere attitude at all times.

-Exhibits a positive and involved team attitude to all hotel departments and maintains open communications with all coworkers for the best overall performance of the hotel.

-Display a neat, clean and business-like appearance at all times.

-Manage online presence with an emphasis on creating unique and engaging content for branded hotel websites, vanity websites, company website, and third party sites

-Work with designated hotel/restaurant and agencies to ensure that hotel websites are optimized using current best practices for SEO

-Direct, manage or assist designated hotel/restaurant and agencies in all areas related to online/digital marketing, including website development and online marketing

-Conduct and track on-going email marketing campaigns for a variety of hotel business units

-Utilize current reporting from agencies, brands, and Google Analytics to drive improved content and marketing initiatives and decisions

-Recommend changes and new reporting based on changes in technology, CMS or other areas in conjunction with changing business needs.

-Oversee and coach hotel social media champions and social media agencies on channels including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others as the need arises

-Continually manage social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram, ensuring imagery and copy is consistent with the identity and positioning of each hotel.

-Manage promotional packages/campaigns including requesting creative, drafting the communication plan, and sending a marketing recap once completed.

-Monitor trends, online media, brand reputation and ensure management responds accordingly to online travel and review websites.

-Utilize current reporting from agencies, Google Analytics and social networks to drive improved content and social marketing initiatives and decisions

-Recommend changes and new reporting based on changes in technology, social networks or other areas in conjunction with changing business needs

-Develop and implement companywide Public Relations initiatives and programs.

-Work directly with PR agencies to support creation of property initiatives that reinforce identityand positioning, with execution in a timely manner

-Utilize current reporting from agencies and third party sources to drive improved content, PR initiatives, and decisions

-Recommend changes and new reporting based on changes in technology or other areas in conjunction with changing business needs

-Work with designated hotels to create forward-looking identity statements that will be utilized to drive messaging through online, social media, PR, and collateral

-Direct, manage or assist in the development of break-thru creative materials, online and offline, to support both corporate and property marketing goals

-Assist designated hotels with communication (flyers, signs, eblasts, etc.) – work with property staff and agencies on design and creation of new materials

-Maintains and stores a chronological order of media library and electronic files of all advertising materials by property and activity.

-Current search engine optimization (SEO) strategies

-Use of content management systems (CMSs) to update hotel websites

-Administrative knowledge for social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

-Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat

�

Education/Formal

�

Training Minimum of high school diploma or equivalent.

Experience

Two years minimum hotel sales, marketing and catering experience.

Marriott experience preferred.

• Requires knowledge of general sales techniques.�
• Yield management experience required.�
• Requires highly developed customer service skills. Strong follow-up and guest satisfactions skills.�
• Understand and follow verbal/written instructions.
• Work on more than one task at a time.�
• Develop strong internal and customer relationships.
• Set and manage priorities and plan activities in advance.
• Solve problems and make sound business decisions.
• Respond to coaching, feedback and training.
• Must be detailed oriented.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.�

• Requires ability to hear, speak, read and write English fluently.�
• Requires 12th grade level mathematics, spelling and reading skills.
• Reuires effective verbal communication and business writing skills.
• Must have dexterity/mobility to meet clients on and off premises, to tour property and attend functions, to climb stairs, use door keys and operate basic office equipment.�
• Vision to read fine print and computer screens, to see colors, to observe rooms in poorly lit conditions.

• Fun Exciting Work Environment

• Competitive Health Welfare Plans

• Discounted Room Rates for Marriott Sage Properties

• Negotiated Corporate Discounts on Home Insurance, Movie Tickets, Flowers more

• Community-Oriented