Director of Catering Sales & Events

Description

For seekers of the timeless and worldly, the provocatively spirited, the cultured, and the hidden gem traveler, Mayfair House Hotel & Garden, A MICHELIN Key Hotel, offers an iconic experience set against a sexy & seductive backdrop, designed to evoke a cultured escape through guest programming and effortless service.

Join this industry-changing and forward-thinking team as the Director of Catering Sales & Events to create high touch, unpretentious, personable, accommodating, effortless and discreet service, ultimately with the highest level of diligence in making the Mayfair House service come to life.

If you would like to know a bit more about this opportunity, or are considering applying, then please read the following job information.

The Director of Catering is responsible for proactively selling / servicing social catering events including but not limited to weddings, corporate events, Galas, and partnering with city-wide events.

One area of responsibility involves developing relationships with individuals who influence and drive local social profit and not-for-profit events.

The DOC role will research, solicit and qualify business opportunities. In addition, the DOC will handle all social group related rooms contract needs on property, as well as be involved in any Sales related events planned for the hotel.

The position executes proposals, contracts, and menu planning.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS :

Catering / Events Sales

• Conducts targeted Catering Local / National account research to determine potential.
• Effectively networks within the local community to create relationships resulting in business opportunities.
• Responds in a timely manner to incoming business opportunities.
• Ensures business evaluated and contracted within hotel parameters.
• Solicits and qualifies new accounts whose profile meets hotel needs.
• Maintains and grows business of existing accounts.
• Understands competitor's strengths and weaknesses and effectively sells our benefits.
• Effectively manages and develops relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Effectively utilizes sales resources and administrative / support staff.
• Hotel Communication - Coordinates with hotels for site inspections.
• Updates hotels on the status of their accounts and pending business and ensures follow-through on customer service needs.
• Develops correspondence, manages opportunity details and proactively develops customer solutions.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date account data and reporting using account management system.
• Processes all business correspondence within acceptable time limits. Creates proposals / contracts and other related booking documentation as required.

Manages and maintains account files.

• Effectively manages business opportunities and maximizes revenue.
• Understands the overall market - competitors' strengths and weaknesses, economic trends, supply and demand etc. and knows how to sell against them.
• Uses negotiating skills and creative selling abilities to close on business and negotiate contracts.
• Achieve individual and team goals established.
• Contribute to Quarterly Action Plans and Annual Marketing Plan.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the DOSM and / or GM.
• Manage, coach and plan effectively to motivate all sales personnel to do the best they can to achieve the departmental as well as the hotel’s goals and commercial objectives.
• Seek new customers through strategic outbound sales efforts for group, extended stay group and business transient room revenue.
• Implements designated revenue management strategies with each business opportunity presented.
• Guest Satisfaction - Responds to business opportunities in a timely basis and consistent with the designated hotel sales process.
• Thoroughly and accurately communicates customer needs and expectations to appropriate departments in a timely basis.
• Initiates customer feedback on hotel's services and relays information to appropriate departments.
• Liaisons between operating departments to resolve any customer concerns.
• Ensures that regular on-going communication takes place throughout department to communicate Catering / Sales activities and ongoing business opportunities.
• Ensures associates are treated fairly and equitably; brings issues to the attention of Human Resources as necessary.
• Financial Management - Identifies opportunities to increase revenues, profits and create value by challenging existing processes, encouraging innovation and driving necessary change.
• Performs other duties as assigned to meet business needs.

SPECIFIC JOB KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY :

The individual must possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities and be able to explain and demonstrate that he or she can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

Ability to complete a contract in compliance with all checklist, standards and corporate company policy.

• Ability to manage and direct staff.
• Ability to perform critical analysis.
• Ability to handle multiple customer and operational demands with high degree of professionalism, operating often with time sensitivity.
• Computer knowledge and ability : Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Opera, Salesforce.
• Ability to operate independently and with a high degree of autonomy requiring excellent time management skills and self-motivation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public and other Team Members.
• Read, write and speak English fluently, Spanish a plus.
• Able to work under pressure and deal with stressful situations during busy periods.
• Hotel product and industry knowledge, i.e., staffing, operations, safety, security, fire, police, city ordinances and permits.
• Due to the cyclical nature of the hospitality industry, employees may be required to work varying schedules to reflect the business needs of the hotel.
• This position requires a high degree of independent judgment and discretion on decision making.

QUALIFICATIONS :

• Requires a minimum of 3+ years experience in the market with a proven Catering track record of meeting and exceeding goals.
• 3+ years in a Hotel setting.
• Proven track record in leading a team in prospecting and closing new business.
• Knowledge of Delphi, Word, Excel.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel if needed.
• Basic computer skills : Excel, Word, Outlook.
• Ability to work nights, weekends and holidays as needed.
• All other duties as assigned.

In addition to a great work environment, our talented team enjoys :

• Competitive compensation.
• Sales bonus program.
• Professional development and growth.
• Paid time off for personal, vacation, and holiday.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Room discounts at all Crescent Hotels & Resorts hotel locations.
• Parking.
• Daily Employee Meals.
• Cellphone Stipend.
• And much more!

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES :

Must have the ability to communicate in English. Self-starting personality with an even disposition. Maintain a professional appearance and manner at all times.

Can communicate well with guests. Must be willing to pitch-in and help co-workers with their job duties and be a team player.

Thorough knowledge of food and beverage products, proper preparation and presentation of foods and beverage items. Ability to prepare signage for catering functions.

Ability to grasp, lift and / or carry, or otherwise move goods weighing a maximum of 20 lbs. on an occasional basis. Ability to create special themes and menus.

Ability to effectively deal with internal and external customers, some of whom will require high levels of patience, tact and diplomacy to defuse anger, collect accurate information and resolve conflicts.

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)

Source : Crescent Hotels & Resorts

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