Conference & Events Sales Executive

Compass Group PLC; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Restaurant Associates, part of Compass Group UK, is seeking a proactive Conference and Events Sales Executive to drive inquiries and bookings for our HMS Belfast venues in London. You will follow up on enquiries, secure show rounds, issue contracts, nurture client relationships, and work with Event Planners to deliver exceptional events while hitting sales targets and contributing to campaigns.

The role requires at least 2 years of sales experience in events, strong written and verbal

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years in proactive enquiry handling sales, preferably within a high-profile Conference & Events venue.
• Minimum 1 year experience in the London market.
• Experience with a diary management system.
• Multi-site selling experience.
• Strong commercial awareness linking sales to profit.
• Excellent written ability.
• Strong communication and organisation skills.
• Experience within the Hospitality Sector.
• Knowledge of Delphi booking system (but not essential).

Responsibilities

• Follow up on all enquiries within a specific time scale with aim to convert to confirmed bookings and optimise conversion rates.
• Secure venue show rounds for the BDMs and Event Planners.
• Achieve sales targets by driving conversion.
• Issue contracts to customers once bookings are converted.
• Ensure booking details are handed over accurately to the Event Planner.
• Proactively contact past bookers and lapsed enquiries to recover business.
• Nurture relationships with clients to maximise sales and upsell opportunities.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date reports and compliance benchmarks.
• Maintain relationships with regional agent accounts and BDM.
• Support campaigns for the sales and marketing plan.
• Attend local/national FAM trips and shows.
• Respond to customers promptly to encourage repeat business.
• Perform ad hoc tasks as directed.

Skills

Sales targets

Diary management

Multi-site selling

Communication

Organisational skills

Hospitality sector

Customer service

Tools

Delphi booking system

Job description

Working at the historic HMS Belfast, you will be exhibiting the venues spaces, so that memorable events for our customers can be created. As a Conference and Events Sales Executive, you are at the heart of our operation, and we are looking for an individual who shares our energy and passion to increase and enhance sales. You'll be working as part of our fantastic sales team driving enquiries and bookings across our three iconic London venues and ensuring all customer's needs are met and their expectations are exceeded, with a focus on increasing corporate business., Producing professional and accurate proposals, providing best options first time to customers, within agreed response times

• Following up on all enquiries within a specific time scale with an aim to convert to confirmed bookings and ensuring conversion rates of incoming sales enquiries and bookings are optimised
• Securing venue show rounds for the BDM's and Event Planners
• Achieving agreed sales targets by driving conversion
• Issuing contracts to customers once bookings are converted
• Ensuring all details and requirements of confirmed bookings are handed over accurately to the Event Planner
• Proactive calls focusing on past bookers, lost and turned down enquiries and lapsed accounts
• Working alongside BDM and Events Planners, nurture customer relationships to maximise all sales and upselling opportunities
• Maintaining accurate, up-to-date reports and information
• Maintaining the compliance benchmarks
• Maintaining relationships with regional agent accounts alongside BDM
• Supporting innovative campaigns for the sales and marketing plan
• Achieving and exceeding agreed sales campaign targets
• Having the opportunity to attend local/national FAM Trips and Showcases
• Responding positively and efficiently to customers, ensuring repeat business is optimised
• Performing ad hoc tasks as directed.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Minimum 2 years' experience in a proactive enquiry handling sales role, preferably within a high-profile Conference & Events venue, with a proven track record of achieving sales targets. Minimum 1 year experience in the London market
• Previous experience of a diary management system
• Multi-site selling experience
• High degree of commercial awareness and to be able to understand links between sales and profit
• Excellent written ability
• Strong communication and organisation skills
• An ability to sell a product / package.
• Enthusiastic and confident
• Ability to deal with a wide range of people
• Excellent attention to detail
• Previous experience within the Hospitality Sector
• Knowledge of Delphi booking system (but not essential)

Restaurant Associates is a leading premium hospitality provider with an ethos drawn from our history of fine and high-quality dining in London and New York. Within our venues team, we provide catering and hospitality services to some of the most iconic visitor attractions and destinations in the UK including the Imperial War Museum London, Glyndebourne Opera House, Knebworth House, Design Museum, Whipsnade Zoo and many more. Within these amazing venues we operate a host of bespoke cafés and restaurants, as well as delivering private events ranging from small meetings to large-scale ground events of up to 1000 people. You can find a full list of our venues on our website. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive, diverse, fun, and dynamic place to work with opportunities to collaborate with a wide range of teams plus a commitment to putting our people first. Restaurant Associates is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. As a business, we are committed to sustainability led practices and are proud to have achieved 3 stars with the Sustainable Restaurant Association's Food Made Good Programme.

Job Reference: com/#####/90347001/52678737/R/SU #RA VenuesTPBN1_UKTJ

What can we offer you:

• A collaborative and inclusive culture, where your ideas are valued, and creativity is encouraged.
• 20 days annual leave (Excluding bank holidays and national holiday days)
• Free staff meals whilst at work.
• Access to Compass Group company perks & benefits.
• Perks for Works discounts and promotions
• Access to training, mentoring and development, with support from our wider Restaurant Associates and Compass Group UK networks.
• On-site F&B discounts.
• No shortage of delicious food