Groups & Events Service & Sales - Assistant Manager

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is seeking a Group & Events Sales - Service Assistant Manager to drive event bookings and revenue within our UK operations. You will coordinate strategy with the hotel’s events and operations teams, nurture client relationships and participate in pre/post-convention planning to ensure flawless guest experiences.

You should have 2–3 years in catering or event sales, strong English communication, and proficiency with standard software; Delphi and HMS Infor familiarity is a

Qualifications

• Current, legal and unrestricted ability to work in the United Kingdom.
• Minimum 2-3 years of catering/event sales experience.
• Experience in hospitality including hotels, bars, restaurants and event spaces.
• Ability to clearly communicate in English with clients, guests, vendors, teammates/management.
• Proficient computer knowledge.
• Experience with Delphi and HMS Infor would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Booking events and achieving revenue goals; set a high bar for the team and motivate others.
• Network and represent Virgin Hotels; maintain supply/demand market relationships.
• Gather data and prepare strategic plans to meet revenue goals; forecast; price menus; establish revenue minimums.
• Organize and lead pre- and post-convention meetings with hotel teams and clients.
• Be the first line of communication with the Event Manager & Operations Manager; react quickly to issues; guest first.

Skills

Event sales

Hospitality industry

English communication

Client relations

Team collaboration

Tools

Delphi

HMS Infor

Job description

Who we are:

We love what we do and what we do is important! We believe that everyone should leave feeling better - this means not just our guests, but also our teammates. Everyone should go home feeling better because they learned something new, or had fun working that day. Therefore, we hire unique individuals who work together to create amazing experiences for our guests. We recognize that every member of the team contributes to the success of the whole hotel. No-one is more important than anyone else, and unless we are in it together, we can’t create that special experience for our guest.

Your mission:

Should you choose to accept it…

Unique hybrid, just like celebrities before you…

The Group and Events Sales & Service Assistant Manager knows having many talents within the same industry leave naysayers envious. Part sales person, part events manager, they put the M in multi-tasking.

Using their tenured experience the Group and Events Sales & Service assistant manager will sell and coordinate events in the hotel’s restaurants and dedicated event space to meet revenue goals. They are one of the leader's of the pack with client relationships and community involvement and an exceptional collaborator within all hotel departments.

The Group and Events Sales - Service Assistant Manager collaborates on service standards, food and beverage minimums and forecasting along with the Groups & Event Manager and both are the partner in crime to the Director of Sales & Marketing.

Role Responsibilities:

What exactly you will be doing…

In helping you understand your role in working for a world class organization, the following is a list of your essential job responsibilities. Please keep in mind that this list is not all inclusive and that you may be asked to perform other job tasks by your manager not listed below in the constant quest to provide "out of this world" customer service experience for our guests:

• Through the usual functions (planning, site inspections, selling, up‑selling and detailing) The Group and Events Sales & Service assistant Manager is responsible for booking events and achieving revenue goals. They set a high bar for the team by booking the highest quality business and motivate all to do the same.

• The Group and Events Sales - Service assistant Manager is cool under pressure and specializes in problem solving (especially when it comes to client relations and event management). As a titan of the industry they are involved in networking organizations and a proud representative of Virgin Hotels. Through untouched relationships they know what is happening with supply, demand and market fluctuations.

• They will gather data and prepare strategic plans to meet annual revenue goals. Monthly forecasting preparation, development of banquet menus pricing and establishing revenue minimums will be the focus. Participation and co‑facilitation in daily business review meetings as well as sales & catering meetings. Extensive knowledge of food and beverage, proper preparation and presentation of food and service standards are a must.

• Organizing and leading pre & post‑convention meetings with the hotel team (and sometimes the clients too) the Group and Events Sales - Service Assistant Manager will anticipate client needs and special requests.

• Along with the Event Manager & Operations Manager they are the first line of communication and react quickly when they see potential problems, constraints or complaints. We pride ourselves on outing our guests first.

• We live to learn. The Group and Events Sales & Service Assistant Manager is open to developing their professional skills through Virgin Hotels organized training programs.

What qualities are we looking for?

You got skills? If you are able to perform the following, then you have come to the right place…

• Great team player with the ability create excellent working relationships across the group. Collaborative approach with all departments, particularly food & beverage and of course, the sales & marketing and events team.

• Ability to break down barriers and resolving potential conflicts swiftly and effortlessly

• Strong communication and presentation skills to all levels of management

• Creativity and innovation are essential!

• Ability to think outside the box and approach all issues with a completely fresh approach

• Ability to anticipate needs and over deliver wherever possible

• Candidates must think on their feet and use their initiative to solve problems and deliver solutions

• Excellent customer relations, communication, presentation and organization skills of utmost importance

• Comply with all safety and health department procedures, as well as, all state and federal liquor laws.

• Able to change direction and work on multiple project aspects at once

• Enthusiastic, passionate, able to enthuse and motivate others

• Leadership ability and behavior consistent with Virgin Hotels Core Values: Fun, innovative, original and personable, and striving to deliver high quality and brilliant customer service

Background must-have:

• Current, legal and unrestricted ability to work in the United Kingdom

• Candidates must have previous hospitality experience. Hospitality could encompass; hotels, bars, restaurants and other event spaces

• Minimum 2-3 years of previous catering/event sales experience

• Ability to clearly and pleasantly communicate in English with clients, guests, vendors, teammates/management, in person, in writing and on the telephone

• Proficient computer knowledge.

• Experience with Delphi and HMS Infor would be beneficial but not necessary.

Just like you communicate through your smart phone via text, social media or an actual phone conversation, please communicate directly with the Director of Sales & Marketing regarding your work schedule, daily work tasks and responsibilities as well as general work‑related issues. Face‑to‑face conversation is preferred of course!

This job description is a general representation of the duties and responsibilities commonly found for this @type of position.

We believe that our team should be reflective of the world. We welcome all, regardless of race ethnicity, country of origin, sexual orientation, gender, disability, spiritual beliefs, or any other component of identity. Virgin Hotels celebrates diversity and welcomes teammates from all backgrounds. We are proud to be an inclusive and Equal Opportunity Employer