Event Services & Catering Sales Manager

Full-Time

Hilton Waikiki Beach is seeking a Event Services & Catering Sales Manager to join our great team and enjoy all the benefits of our exciting hotel environment. This position is responsible for soliciting, negotiating, and servicing the business and social community, generating a high profile and quality perception in the catering market place. Must service the needs of Sales groups through close association with the Sales Department. Responsible for generating food, beverage and other revenues as directed by the General Manager.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Event Services

• Responsible for the management and planning of meetings/conventions and related activities. Leads Banquet Event Order (BEO) meetings and is a team leader for all hotel department staff participating in the event delivery process. Update Front Office with weekly forecast and in-house groups.
• 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 of file turn. Determine and coordinate of all event planning needs.
• Maintain well documented, accurate, organized and up to date file management in order to serve client and the employer in the most expedient, organized and knowledgeable manner.
• Develop customer profiles and maintains an effective trace system including trace dates and references 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.
• Follow up on all client needs and inquiries in an efficient and expedient manner.
• Focuses on revenue-generating activity and maximizes selling time through retaining accounts/clients, maximizing account yield opportunities and sales effectiveness.
• Up-sell and detail the program with the client including; verification and modification of space requirements, audio-visual, times, equipment, menus, themes/decorations, etc. Prepare the appropriate resumes, BEO’s, and paperwork to ensure quality service.
• Manage function details and related activities to ensure that program requirements are satisfied. Anticipate and handle customer complaints and/or problems to ensure quality product delivery, customer satisfaction and repeat business.
• Improve hotel convention services' products through; (a) participate in the development of new sales tools, menus, themes, and decorations, (b) participate in the analysis of the strengths and weakness of our competitions product, and (c) analysis, understanding, and satisfaction of our customer’s needs.
• Monitor and control individual client event budgets and details to maximize revenues and minimize expenses while ensuring delivery of a quality product.
• Work in liaison with the banquet and banquet kitchen departments to ensure timely deliverance and execution of the event.
• Attend and lead pre conference meetings. Coordinate the pre-con between the client and hotel staff and review the details of the BEO with all parties
• Initiate Billing Procedures, ensuring any deposits and/or credit applications are received with adequate information and within an acceptable time frame.
• Complete diagrams for all groups using software
• Work closely with the client and hotel departments throughout the duration of assigned groups/conventions/programs by being available to assist the client and provide information to hotel departments at the appropriate times. This includes communicating between Sales to Front Office Associates as well as Banquet Staff. Responsible for making sure event and stay runs smoothly.
• Create floor plans for each event to ensure banquets and clients are in agreement prior to set up
• Work in partnership with the banquet/event staff to ensure the highest quality presentation/service is being delivered with an emphasis on attention to detail. Attend to and respond to guest complaints/comments.
• Enter Sales contracts & create group blocks in Delphi and OnQ
• Make reservations for group blocks, some individual reservations for long-term and repeat guests, and also for guests who have negotiated corporate rates. Some reservations may be packaged to include food and beverages.
• Assist in safety and maintenance by tracking items in HotSOS for relevant department
• Follows up on the progress of any additional information needed for groups booked, such as guarantees, room night pick up, cut off dates, etc. with operational team and Sales Managers
• Perform special projects and other responsibilities as assigned.
• Assist Front Office, Banquets and Director of Sales and Marketing with miscellaneous tasks.

Catering Sales

• Meet or exceed pre-determined booking goals for guest room revenue and food & beverage revenue for events; meet or exceed budgeted costs and revenue on a monthly average with the liberty to negotiate as needed on banquet/catering functions within established guidelines yet maintaining the overall revenue goals.
• Negotiates contracts on behalf of the hotel for all catering events.
• Responsible for prompt handling (within the business day) of inquiry calls and monitoring the efficient flow of paperwork relative to confirming function details to the client.
• Compiles lists of prospective clients for use as sales leads based on information from newspapers, business directories and other sources.
• Solicit new and repeat guest room and meeting business. Maintain client base of key accounts and conventions. Determine the guest’s needs, space availability, and meeting details.
• Make outside sales calls and tele market to obtain business. Also utilize site inspections and on-site luncheons to book business.
• Maintain active liaison with competitors regionally through personal contacts, professional and industry associations. Monitor pricing, service levels, facilities and function activities at competitive facilities to ensure the Hotel remains in a competitive position.
• Evaluate a potential piece of business for profitability and overall benefit to the Hotel.
• Negotiate catering rates with clients for one-time and recurring basis.
• Have acquired knowledge with the ability to upsell clients, while promoting a level of service parallel to the stature of the facility.
• Generate “thank you” notes to clients with prompt follow up of negative client feedback as necessary.
• Follow up on bookings and solicit repeat business.
• Represent hotel in community affairs and industry related events.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 2 years experience as a Hotels Sales or Hotel Catering Manager.
• Sales or Catering Coordinator experience of 1-2 years at a similar sized location
• High school graduate or equivalent
• Associate's degree or higher preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Hilton Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants and employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; sex; gender identity; sexual orientation; religious practices and observances; national origin; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; status as a protected veteran or spouse/family member of a protected veteran; or disability. If you need accommodation for any part of the application process because of a medical condition or disability, please send an email to cindy.fujioka@hiltonwaikikihotel.com or call 808-921-5504 to let us know the nature of your request.

Qualifications

Hotel Sales or Hotel Catering Sales Manager

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)