Wedding Sales & Special Events Executive

Horwood House Hotel; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Horwood House Hotel is seeking a proactive Weddings & Special Events Sales professional to respond to enquiries, qualify client needs, and manage the entire enquiry-to-booking process. You will prepare tailored proposals, secure bookings, and ensure pricing aligns with the hotel’s selling strategy.

The role includes conducting engaging showrounds and driving revenue across events and related services. You will build strong client relationships, coordinate with departments, and support a seamless

Qualifications

• 1+ year experience in weddings/events hotel industry or venue.
• Strong sales and negotiation skills with a proactive approach to targets.
• Excellent relationship-building and customer service abilities.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple events and deadlines.
• Proactive, positive and solutions-focused attitude.

Responsibilities

• Respond promptly and professionally to wedding and special event enquiries.
• Qualify client requirements including budget, dates and decision-making process.
• Maintain accurate records of enquiries, communications, proposals and bookings.
• Follow up with clients to maximise conversion and upsell opportunities.
• Prepare tailored proposals and quotations while protecting commercial interests.
• Ensure quoted rates align with hotel and company selling strategy.
• Conduct engaging showrounds to showcase facilities and upsell across services.
• Attend client meetings to discuss event details, menus and room requirements.
• Create detailed event sheets and distribute to relevant departments.

Skills

Sales & negotiation

Client relationship

Customer service

Attention to detail

Multitasking

Job description

Wedding & Special Event Enquiries

Respond promptly and professionally to all wedding and special event enquiries received via the hotel website, email, telephone, preferred listings and other sales channels.

Qualify enquiries effectively to understand the client's requirements budget, preferred dates and decision-making process.

Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all enquiries, client communications, proposals, bookings and event details.

Manage the enquiry pipeline proactively, following up with clients at appropriate stages to maximise conversion.

Prepare and issue tailored proposals and quotations that reflect the client's requirements while protecting the commercial interests of the hotel.

Ensure all rates quoted are in line with the hotel and company selling strategy.

Showrounds & Conversion

Conduct engaging and professional wedding and event showrounds, creating an excellent first impression and showcasing the hotel, facilities, accommodation and event spaces.

Tailor each showround to the individual client and their event requirements.

Confidently communicate the hotel's wedding and event offering, packages, facilities and unique selling points.

Identify opportunities to upsell and maximise revenue across accommodation, food and beverage, room hire, upgrades, enhancements and other event requirements.

Proactively manage follow-up after showrounds and proposals to maximise conversion.

Negotiate and close business within agreed commercial guidelines.

Ensure contracts are completed accurately and within the required timescales.

Secure deposits and ensure all booking documentation is completed correctly.

Special Event Planning

Take responsibility for the planning of confirmed special events from booking through to the day of the event.

Build strong relationships with clients throughout the planning process, acting as a key point of contact and providing a professional, reassuring and proactive service.

Meet with clients to discuss and confirm event details, future requirements, timings, menus, bedrooms, suppliers, set-up requirements and any additional services.

Maintain accurate and comprehensive event records, ensuring all client requirements and agreed details are captured.

Identify additional sales and upselling opportunities throughout the planning journey.

Manage agreed deadlines and ensure outstanding information, payments and decisions are followed up with clients.

Create detailed event/function sheets capturing the client's final requirements and ensure these are accurate and distributed to the relevant hotel departments.

Work closely with all relevant Heads of Department to ensure the event is fully understood, planned and operationally ready.

Ensure any changes to the event are communicated accurately and in a timely manner to all relevant teams.

Where appropriate, be present or available on the day of key weddings and special events to support the client journey and ensure agreed requirements are delivered.

Handle client feedback professionally, including both positive and negative feedback, and ensure it is recorded and communicated appropriately.

Commercial & Business Development

Take responsibility for achieving agreed wedding and special event sales targets and budgets.

Manage the event diary effectively to maximise occupancy, revenue and overall commercial return.

Upsell at every appropriate opportunity while ensuring recommendations are relevant to the client.

Develop creative ideas and initiatives to generate additional wedding business, particularly during off-peak periods.

Identify opportunities to increase the number and value of special events held throughout the year.

Monitor wedding and events market trends and competitor activity, including regular competitor calls and research into pricing, packages and availability.

Provide relevant market and competitor insight to support the hotel's sales and commercial strategy.

Represent the hotel at key wedding fairs, showcases, exhibitions and other relevant events, promoting the venue to the local and wider wedding market.

Develop positive relationships with clients, wedding professionals, suppliers and other relevant contacts to generate future business opportunities.

Skills & Experience Required

Minimum of 1 year's experience within the weddings and events hotel industry/venue

Strong sales and negotiation skills with a proactive approach to achieving targets.

Excellent relationship-building and customer service skills.

Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple events and deadlines simultaneously.

Proactive, positive and solutions-focused attitude.