Group Sales & Events Assistant Manager

Kempinski Hotels; Fatih; On-site; TRY 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Kempinski Hotels in Istanbul seeks a Group Sales & Events Assistant Manager to drive catering and group bookings, managing residential group requests and corporate accounts.

You will negotiate contracts, build client relationships, and assist the Director of Sales in achieving targets. The role requires Turkish nationality, a BA/BS, and at least 2 years in a luxury hotel environment, with strong English and MS Office skills.

Qualifications

• Turkish nationality is required.
• Minimum BA/BS degree.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in a luxury hotel environment.
• Excellent English and Turkish communication skills.
• Strong MS Office and PMS knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Solicit and manage group and catering enquiries for existing and new accounts.
• Negotiate contracts, prepare offers, and follow up on proposals.
• Develop and maintain relationships with clients and agencies.
• Assist Director of Sales in achieving department targets and plans.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity to drive revenue.
• Maintain accurate client data in the Opera system and report weekly.
• Coordinate site inspections, presentations, and promotions with F&B.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure successful events and group bookings.

Skills

Turkish nationality

Excellent English

Negotiation skills

Selling skills

Planning/organisation

Initiative

Problem solving

Attention to details

Adaptability

Flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel/PowerPoint/Word)

Opera Property Management System

Job description

Group Sales & Events Assistant Manager

Department: Sales & Marketing

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Turkey - Istanbul

Description

SCOPE

Group & Events, Assistant Sales Manager is primarily responsible for managing and driving Catering (banquet/events) and Group bookings. The role encompasses handling residential group requests, catering/meeting events, managing corporate and travel agency accounts, achieving budgeted revenue targets, and taking handover files from Group Sales/Catering departments.

The incumbent in the position is responsible for managing accounts which includes developing new business, negotiating contracts and maintaining good relations with actual clients in order to meet and exceed the targets set.

Assisting and cooperating with the Director of Sales in reaching the targeted goals as defined in the Sales Department Plan.

Key Responsibilities

• Solicit existing and potential customers and follow up established accounts on regular basis by phone, by correspondence or by personal contact.
• Set up appointments and make personal sales calls, telemarketing and site inspections to all existing and potential accounts from corporate commercial accounts and agencies.
• Follow up on lost business and bring information about them to the knowledge of the department superior.
• Negotiate with all customers and send out offers/contracts regarding catering and group business.
• Follow the sales results and propose corrective actions if needed.
• Explore industry related data, new developments in certain agencies’ structures, new assignments, industrial complexes, new business centers, new projects which all could be interest and benefit of the hotel and to distribute this information to his/her colleagues.
• Entertain decision makers of the Clients in the F & B outlets of the hotel and to take part in promotional activities with them.
• Keep close follow up on developments of the competitor hotels (occupancy, structural alterations, renovation, special campaigns, rate promotions, marketing efforts, theme events, catering and banquet offerings, etc.). Also explore and compare Group, and catering/event traffic (who is accommodating guests or hosting events in which hotel) amongst the competitors.
• Bring ideas and participate in the preparations of the promotional theme events, other promotional activities and invitation lists.
• Update customers with the latest developments in the hotel and informs hotel management of all changes in the customer profile.
• Participate preparing the sales action plans, attending sales meetings, developing new ideas such as special packages, programs, promotional activities undertaken by sales department and/or F&B.
• Take part in sales training programs, trade fairs / shows, sales blitzes and fam trips assigned by the Director of Sales / Senior Director of Sales.
• Maintain the existence of an efficient customer database system (OPERA) which will be capable of identifying to report sales calls and other sales activities and to carry out updating exercise in certain periods of time.
• On weekly basis, prepare an activity report which will cover sales call reports, site inspections, fam trips, new agencies, meetings, entertainment and other functions they participated in during the week and presents to Director of Sales / Senior Director of Sales.
• Cross selling other Kempinski Hotels in the Area and Globally.
• Follow up all inquiries within 24 hours of receipt and to trace and follow up all past, potential and current client files on a regular basis.
• Meet and exceed personal monthly, quarterly and/or annual sales goals and to assume partial responsibility for the creation of those goals.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Turkish nationality is must.
• Mininum BA or BS Degree preferably in a related field.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in a luxury hotel environment within a similar role.
• Excellent oral and written skills both in Turkish and English.
• Ability to work and communicate in a multinational environment.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, (Excel/PowerPoint/Word)
• Knowledge of Property Management Systems
• To fill this position the candidate must have:
  • Planning/organisation
  • Adaptability
  • Flexibility
  • Initiative
  • Negotiation skills
  • Selling skills
  • Innovative ideas
  • Attention to details
  • Problem solving & decision making
• To fill this position the candidate must identify with the Kempinski core values, in addition they should be especially:
  • People Oriented
  • Passionate for European luxury
  • Entrepreneurial
  • Straightforward