Catering Sales Manager
Status: Hourly, Non-Exempt
Reports to: Director of Sales
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Minneapolis – Park Place in St. Louis Park offers you the chance to be part of dynamic hospitality team in a welcoming, well-appointed hotel just west of downtown Minneapolis. With nearly 300 guest rooms, extensive meeting and event space, on-site dining, and amenities like an indoor pool, fitness center and 24-hour business center, our property is a vibrant place where team members support each other to deliver great experiences for travelers, business guests and event attendees alike. You’ll work in a diverse environment with opportunities to grow your skills, service guests with genuine hospitality and be part of a team that values collaboration, upbeat energy, and pride in what we do every day.
GENERAL PURPOSE
Solicit, capture, plan and coordinate meetings, social and catering only functions, while maximizing the banquet space to meet and ideally exceed catering revenue goals.
This position will focus on groups of 30+ with meeting space and catering needs, and/or small local with rooms, and/or meeting space with catering for 30+.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
- Solicit, negotiate and book new and repeat business through efforts (outside sales calls, telemarketing, mailings, networking, etc.) while maximizing banquet space to meet/exceed revenue goals.
- Execute a territorial marketing strategy to capture the maximum amount of revenue and meet and ideally exceed sales goals.
- Plan, upsell and detail the meeting/function with the client including: space requirements, times, equipment, menus, themes/decorations, etc. Complete the contracts, prepare the appropriate paperwork, including banquet event orders, coordinate with the appropriate areas in the hotel, resolve any issues, complaints and problems to ensure a quality product delivery and customer satisfaction.
- Prepare status and period end reports.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of corporate and hotel procedures, products and competition, including their strengths and weaknesses, to continually improve sales strategies and achieve goals.
- Professional and positive communication to both guests and fellow employees.
OTHER DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
- Participate in communication and professional organizations to maintain high visibility and promote sales.
- Perform special projects and other responsibilities as assigned. Participate in task forces and committees as required.
- Local travel required. Own vehicle required for sales calls.
- Hours: 40-42.5 hours over a five-day period; days and times may vary based on need. Must be available when personal accounts are in-house.
- Available for site tours based on client needs and schedule.
- Lead pre- and post-client events reviews.
SUPERVISORY DUTIES - None
JOB QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge
- Requires thorough knowledge of practices and procedures of catering, food and beverage, menu suggestions and input.
- Requires knowledge of policies and procedures and the ability to determine course of action based on these guidelines.
- Requires ability to investigate and analyze current activities and/or information to form conclusions and recommendations.
- Must posses communication skills in terms of the ability to negotiate, convince, sell and influence
- Ability to drive to outside sales calls.
Skills
- Excellent hearing required for verbal interaction with guests and associates.
- Excellent vision required for viewing set-ups.
- Excellent speech communication skills required for verbal interaction with guests and associates.
- Excellent comprehension and literacy required to develop marketing plan, create menus and programs, etc.
Abilities
- Lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying – tables, chairs, boxes (50 lb. maximum) occasionally.
- Bending/kneeling – taping down cords, skirting tables, picking up floor after function, occasionally.
- Mobility – ability to service clients on a moment’s notice, variable distances.
- Standing and walking – function observation, client site inspections (one to four hours).
- Sitting/computer work – sitting at a desk and working on a computer for extended periods of time, including data entry, correspondence, scheduling, and administrative tasks. Frequent to continuous.
Education/Formal Training
- High School or GED required. College degree preferred.
Experience
- 3-5 years of hotel, group and catering sales required.
- Past experience in booking goals of around $1M in revenue.
- 1 year of Delphi experience required.
- Participation in a formal professional sales training program.
BENEFITS INCLUDE
Medical, Dental and Vision insurance
401(k) including 401(k) match
Paid Time Off (both paid sick time and vacation)
Employee Discount