Event Sales Manager - Water Grill South Coast Plaza

For over 25 years, the Water Grill has sated the palates of seafood lovers in Southern California. Hailed as "the best seafood in Southern California" by the internationally recognized Zagat Guide, Water Grill consistently offers dazzling fish preparations of superior quality and freshness. 

Here's What We'll Bring To The Table for Event Sales Manager:

• Competitive Salary: $65,000 + commission
• Paid Vacation and Sick Days
• Dining Discount for you and up to 5 guests
• 401k with a Match
• Education Reimbursement 
• Medical insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Life insurance, and Pet Healthcare Savings Account 

Event Sales Manager is responsible for generating revenue in Private Dining & Events in the restaurants assigned to them through direct specified sales activities and marketing efforts. Connect with people in a meaningful way, continually innovating to expand the reach with key corporate, business, and travel industry accounts, tapping into community organizations and the media to elevate the market share awareness and driving further business. Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, our brands with private and semi-private venues include: Water Grill, Lou and Mickey’s, 555 East, and King’s Fish House.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for all event functions from marketing to booking.
• Understand the competitive landscape and do what it takes to secure business that meets or exceeds revenue expectations and profit goals.
• Solicit, negotiate and book new and repeat clients using multiple channels, such as social media, outside calls, community outreach, and telemarketing.
• Work local Key Influencers including Hotels, Convention & Visitor Bureaus, Chambers, Retail Outlets, Office Buildings and Condo/Apartment buildings
• Ensures excellence in guest satisfaction through effective communication and organization with all concepts.
• Capture the client’s vision and effectively convey the specifications to appropriate departments, rapidly responding to inquiries, concerns, and issues, ensuring an exceptional client experience and seeding future sales.
• Identify qualifying business potential, closing business, overcoming objections, negotiating, upselling and understanding the client’s needs through Features-Adjectives-Benefits selling
• Manage business on the books successfully and work pipeline of inquiries, prospects, tentative and definite bookings
• Conduct client visits when needed that are targeted and meaningful to build private dining sales
• Keeps up on industry trends and seeks creative ways to infiltrate markets/accounts
• Assist in reviewing and updating menus/packages, as requested to satisfy guest needs/maximizing revenue
• Assist in creating appropriate sales collateral tools to maximize revenue
• Complete responsibility for positive P & L results for all PE sales.
• Reports to the GM weekly on the status of sales, crewmembers and operations.
• Calls and visits potential guests from our existing database to generate sales.
• Calls and visits new guests to generate sales as outlined in the weekly schedule of an Event Manger.
• Meets with guests to determine menu (food & bev) pricing, room set up, special requests, etc.  Coordinates a tasting, if necessary, with guest and Chef.
• Sends out Thank You notes.
• Creates contracts, reviews with guests and confirms all final details.
• Manages all deposits and refunds.

Requirements:

• A four-year college degree or equivalent education or experience is required
• Advanced knowledge of sales and hospitality principles and practices is expected.
• At least 4 years previous sales experience in a restaurant and hotel operation
• Ability to write business correspondences and set up contracts and function sheets.
• Ability to professionally present promotional materials to prospective clients, and to effectively communicate and coordinate with GM, Banquet Manager, Chef/kitchen staff, and outside vendors.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts for customer contracts.
• Stable and progressive work history; Strong work ethic
• Achievement Driven