Commercial Manager, Hotel, Restaurant & Catering Show

Montgomery Group; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading events organization in London is seeking a Commercial Manager for HRC, part of Food, Drink and Hospitality Week. The successful candidate will excel in building client relationships, leading commercial activities, and managing a sales team. This role requires a proactive individual with strong negotiation skills and at least three years of exhibition sales experience. The position offers hybrid work options and a dynamic, collaborative environment.

Benefits

Corporate gym membership

Hybrid working

Cycle to work scheme

Charity volunteering days

Monthly social events

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of exhibition experience with a proven track record.
• Demonstrated success in achieving results within exhibitions and sponsorship sales.
• Highly organised with effective time management skills.
• High emotional intelligence for relationship building.
• Personable and enthusiastic with a solutions-oriented approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial activity on HRC.
• Manage and coach Commercial Executives.
• Maintain accurate floorplan management.
• Represent HRC at industry events.

Skills

Exhibition sales experience

Negotiation skills

Relationship building

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Overview

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Commercial Manager - HRC, part of Food, Drink and Hospitality Week
Montgomery Events, part of Montgomery Group

Montgomery Events is seeking an innovative, collaborative, and results-oriented exhibition sales professional to lead commercial activity on HRC, part of Food, Drink and Hospitality Week, held annually in March at ExCeL London.

As Commercial Manager, you'll be immersed in the dynamic world of hospitality, working with a passionate team and a loyal exhibitor base. You'll be a natural relationship builder, skilled at asking the right questions and listening closely to client needs. Exhibitors in this sector deeply value face-to-face engagement, so prioritising travel to meet clients at their premises, industry events, and networking opportunities is essential. You'll be expected to represent HRC at key moments throughout the year, becoming a visible and trusted ambassador for the show and the industry.

You'll play a pivotal role in helping the team meet ambitious targets, while supporting and developing Commercial Executives through effective line management. You'll be confident presenting in person, hosting clients at social events, and leading proactive outreach via phone and email. Your approach will be resourceful, strategic, and relentless in pursuit of success.

You'll also support the Event Manager with accurate floorplan management and ensure the CRM and prospect database are continuously updated and fit for purpose. We're looking for someone with strong negotiation skills, a collaborative spirit, and a proven ability to inspire others to achieve shared goals.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives on being out in the market, building long-term relationships, and understands the power of in-person connection in driving commercial success.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Minimum of 3 years of exhibition experience with a proven track record of developing new projects and achieving successful outcomes.

• Demonstrated success in achieving results within exhibitions and sponsorship sales, consistently meeting and exceeding targets.

• Highly organised, with the ability to effectively prioritise and manage time to maximize productivity and achieve goals.

• High emotional intelligence, skilled in building and sustaining strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

• Personable and enthusiastic, with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach a true team player committed to collective success.
• Line management experience is preferred but not essential

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Strong awareness and regard for personal brand and reputation within the industry.

• A dedicated champion of Montgomery Events, proud to represent and serve the industry.

• A commitment to continuous improvement, actively seeking opportunities for personal and professional growth.

• A creative and strategic thinker who can identify and leverage opportunities effectively.

• An approachable and collaborative team player who can also work independently and with initiative.

• Resilient and adaptable, capable of delivering results in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

• To be well informed on developments in the hospitality sector through attendance at conferences, reading blogs and keeping updated with industry news.

COMPETENCIES

• Self-motivated and performance-driven, with a focus on achieving goals and driving commercial success.

• Advanced objection handling, negotiation, and closing skills, both over the phone and in face-to-face interactions.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with an ability to clearly convey information and influence stakeholders.

• Proven capability to develop, support, and mentor team members, fostering a positive and high-performing team environment.

• Experienced in crafting detailed partnership and sponsorship proposals, ensuring alignment with client and company goals.

• Knowledgeable and experienced in using CRM systems for strategic relationship management.

• Skilled at nurturing strong, lasting client relationships, building trust and loyalty.

• High attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and consistency in all aspects of work.

• Creative and strategic thinking abilities, with an orientation toward innovation and problem-solving.

WORKING AT MONTGOMERY GROUP

Montgomery Group is a well-established, ethical, collaborative and empowering company. We are driven to maximise each and every employee\'s potential through empowerment, collaboration and adopting a growth mindset resulting in high-performing, tight-knit teams who relish coming to work. We are performance-led with a strong focus on growth. Importantly, we are purpose-driven, adhere to our values no matter what, and as a family business care about the people and communities that we serve. At Montgomery your achievements will be recognised and celebrated.

The central London, dog friendly offices are close to Oxford Street & Marylebone High Street with private access to Manchester Square Gardens. Hybrid working is offered to all applicants with a minimum of at least 4 days in the office, Monday - Thursday. Core hours are 9-5pm, flexibility outside these hours will be required to suit the needs of the business.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to diversity. We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, providing they meet the minimum requirements of the job role. Sadly, the office building is currently not wheelchair friendly.

We actively encourage applications from individuals with transferable sales experience-even if you have not worked in events before. At Montgomery Group we recognise that women are less likely than men to apply for a role if they do not have experience in all the areas mentioned in the job description. The list above is indicative; we would still welcome your application even if you feel you don\'t have experience in all the listed areas but think that you could do the job.

OUR PURPOSE : To serve our world, nurturing relationships and developing opportunities.

OUR VISION: To be our communities\' long term strategic partner throughout the year, creating opportunities for them to connect, transact and engage with the right people to achieve success.

OUR VALUES: Ethically Commercial, Growth Mindset, Embrace Collaboration, Empowerment

BENEFITS :

Charity volunteering days

Company away days

Corporate gym membership

Cycle to work scheme

Dog friendly office

Fundraising matching scheme

Hybrid working

Increased maternity & paternity benefits

Lunchtime speaker programme

Mentorship programme

Monthly social events

Pension and 8 x death in service-payment

Season ticket loans

Wellness weeks