Catering Sales Manager OEM - Hotel Champlain Burlington

The Catering Sales Manager is responsible for attainment of assigned group guest room blocks and catering/banquet goals tied to the overall performance of the hotel. The individual will be responsible for effectively soliciting and securing new accounts, as well as servicing clients/groups for most of the business they book. The Catering Sales Manager will work in conjunction with the Director of Sales & Marketing to achieve the hotel’s revenue and market share goals for the property. The focus of sales and client services for this position will be all local catering business (events without guestroom blocks) and wedding/social event related room blocks on property.

This is a management level position, and associates are expected to work as much of each workday as is necessary to complete their job responsibilities for OEM.

Education & Experience

· High School diploma or equivalent required; previous Hotel Sales, Catering Sales, Food & Beverage Execution or Sales, or Event Planning experience preferred.

· Must have a valid driver’s license for the applicable state.

· Must be proficient in general computer knowledge especially Microsoft Office products; Delphi/Salesforce system knowledge will offer a leg up!

· Must possess developed verbal and written communication skills to frequently negotiate, convince, sell and influence other managerial personnel, hotel guest(s) and/or social group and event clients.

· Experience with professional selling skills desired: prospecting, opening, probing, supporting, and closing.

· Demonstrate creativity and knowledge of food & beverage desired.

· Must be detail oriented, an expert multi-tasker, and able to thoroughly communicate specifics requested by clients to all responsible internal departments for execution.

· Passion for client engagement and connections is a must!

· Experience building relationships with professional partners, vendors, and colleagues will be a strong plus.

Job Duties & Functions

· Effectively attain assigned sales and revenue goals, as well as solicitation call goals.

· Field and qualify client inquiries for department and distribute accordingly.

· Proactively conduct solicitation calls, sales tours, respond to inquiries, and entertain client’s specific to the assigned segment of local catering (no guestrooms) and weddings/social room blocks and associated catering/banquet events.

· Grow existing relationships with past and current local catering clientele in all segments of business.

· Maintain relationships with assigned vendor partners and offsite venues without guest rooms to maximize referrals for wedding/social room blocks.

· Own the full sales and services process for wedding/social group room blocks and onsite events at property. This includes rates quotes, contracting, client facing servicing needs, event planning, internal documentation and communications for room block and event execution.

· Monitor and evaluate trends within your market segment: be a community/wedding/social event trend GURU and help the property set new standards for client expectations.

· Attend tradeshows and local events to represent property and build/maintain a wedding/social event related reputation within the community.

· Be a multifaceted salesperson. Exhibit upselling skills to incrementally increase revenues by adding room blocks to catering only events, and ancillary events to wedding/social rooms only blocks.

· Guide clients through menu planning process to maximize revenues and guest experiences, this includes guest count guarantees and menu/bar specifics.

· Detail resumes with meticulousness; including final guestroom pick up, rooming lists monitoring, VIP guests needs, facilitating amenities, and client special requests.

· Detail banquet event orders with immense thoroughness; including event specific floorplans, timelines, F&B selections, service specifics, etc.

· Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, and courteous and service-oriented manner.

· Adheres to Aimbridge Hospitality’s established regulations, company standards, sales standards and sales metrics related.

· Develop a full working knowledge of the operations and policies of the hotel and applicable departments.

· Maintain strong visibility in local community and industry organizations, as applicable.

· May assist in implementing and/or participating in special promotions relating to direct sales segments i.e. sales blitzes, etc.

· Attend daily/weekly/monthly meetings and any other functions required by management.

· Work with various sales team members (Group Rooms & Sales Coordinator, Event Coordinator, and Director of Convention Services) to ensure that the department specific communications are completed and distributed are generated on a timely basis and ensure accuracy – ie: resume packets, BEO packets, and any other event related daily/weekly items.

· Perform any other duties as requested by the General Manager or Director of Sales & Marketing.

Situated on the waterfront, Hilton Burlington offers expansive views of the scenic Lake Champlain and the picturesque Adirondacks. With its convenient location, on-site amenities and substantial event space, our hotel has something for everyone. Visitors can explore the area’s many attractions and activities including a scenic lake cruise on The Spirit of Ethan Allen and Burlington Segway Tours.

As the global leader in third-party hotel management, our growing portfolio represents over 1,550 hotels in all 50 states and 22 countries, from top international lodging brands to luxury hotels, destination resorts and lifestyle hotels. Our associates around the globe are passionate about serving our guests and driving exceptional results, and thrive in a culture where everyone is inspired to be the best. Join a world of possibility with Aimbridge Hospitality.

After an initial waiting period, those hired into full time positions are eligible for a competitive benefits package that includes the following:

• Now offering Daily Pay! Ask your Recruiter for more details
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Income
• Term Life and AD&D Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401k Retirement Plan