Catering Manager

Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront; Florida; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront is seeking an experienced EMM to drive event sales and service excellence. This role negotiates contracts, handles lead follow-up, site inspections, and ensures smooth execution of Banquet Event Orders with the banquet, F&B, and catering teams.

You will collaborate with the Revenue Manager and Director of Sales & Marketing to optimize room blocks and revenues, manage client relationships, and deliver memorable events across guestrooms, meetings, and audiovisual

Qualifications

• 2+ years catering or events experience in hotels.
• Proven sales and negotiation results.
• Leadership experience preferred.
• Excellent English communication; written and verbal.

Responsibilities

• Solicit new accounts and maintain existing ones to meet revenue goals.
• Prepare Banquet Event Orders and coordinate with departments.
• Attend sales meetings and work with Revenue Manager to set rates.
• Ensure guest satisfaction and post-event follow-up.

Skills

English communication

Relationship building

Closing skills

Persuasion

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Leadership

Tools

Delphi

MS Office

Hotel systems

Job description

JOB SUMMARYThis position both sells and services events. This person will solicit, negotiate and contract new and repeat business through various efforts (lead follow up, telemarketing, direct mail, referrals, internet prospecting, etc.) to maximize revenues to meet/exceed revenue goals in guestrooms, banquet food & beverage, Audio Visual, meeting room rental, and ancillary hotel revenues. The EMM will prepare and execute sales contracts, event orders, group resumes, program execution, and work with accounting on final invoicing. Most importantly our EMM will collaboratively work interdepartmentally coordinating all function details with the hotels clients to ensure quality product delivery, customer satisfaction, and repeat businessESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONSThis description is a summary of primary responsibilities and qualifications. The job description is not intended to include all duties or qualifications that may be required now or in the future. The Hotel operates 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, so operational demands require variations in shift days, starting times, and hours worked in a week.Business ResultsSolicit new and maintain existing accounts to meet/exceed revenue goals through telephone solicitation, outside sales calls, site inspections, and written communication.Details, prepares, and initiates Banquet Event Orders to the client’s specifications and in conjunction with the Banquet Department, F&B Director, and Executive Chef.Participate in daily Sales Stand-up meetings, attends weekly sales meeting and other meetings as directed.Works with the hotel Revenue Manager and DOSM to determine room availability and rates.Develop/maintain knowledge of market trends, competition, and customers.Practice effective revenue/yield management strategies to include wise negotiation and booking function space, focused solicitation during soft occupancy periods and effective rate and price negotiation.Consults with customers to plan details such as number of persons expected display space desired, and food service schedule.Meets with customers during an event to insure proper delivery of hotel services.Have a comprehensive understanding of the property and its offerings.Comprehensive knowledge of market position, banquet and food and beverage revenues, pricing and rate structures, sales strategies, yield management, booking trends, and future hotel planning.Be fully knowledgeable of the capabilities and limitations of the hotel and departments that may impact sales strategies.Conduct site tours for potential clients.Achieve and exceed individual and team annual goals as established by the annual Marketing Plan.Achieve budgeted revenues and expenses and maximize profitability related to the sales department.Promptly respond to and resolve guest requests, complaints, or questions in a courteous and timely manner.Must possess strong computer skills, including, but not limited to, accounting programs, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and hotel sales system.Follows the sales strategy as specified by the Director of Sales & Marketing.Understands and achieves team and individual goals.Perform special projects and other responsibilities as assigned.Due to the nature of the business the individual may be required to do other duties and special projects as assigned by the DOS or other leadership.Guest SatisfactionEnsures a high level of customer satisfaction and builds long terms mutually beneficial customer relationships to support future revenue growth.Coordinates and communicates verbally and in writing with customer (internal and external) regarding event details. Follows up with customer post-event.Makes presence always known to customer during this process, regardless of which hotel they sit at. Greets customer during the event phase and hands-off to the Convention Services department for the execution of details. Is available to solve problems and/or suggest alternatives to previous arrangements.Displays leadership in guest hospitality and ensures consistent, high-level service throughout all phases of hotel events. Ensures products and services sold to the Event Planners meet or exceed their expectations, create loyalty and leads to increased market share.Sets a positive example for guest relations.Interacts with guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels. Effectively responds to and handles guest problems and complaints.Reviews Guest Service Results with leaders. Participates in the development and implementation of corrective action plans.Emphasizes guest satisfaction during all departmental meetings and focuses on continuous improvement.Utilizes Delphi or other hotel system to capture and manage customer information daily..Leadership…applies broad business knowledge and balances both a short- and long-term perspective to generate strategies while leading the organization to achieve them.Holds self and others accountable for achieving results.Addresses conflict in a timely manner.Contributes to team results.Deals with change effectively.Makes decisions, including employees/team and commits to a course of action with available information.Building Relationships…eliminates insular thinking by fostering a positive climate for work relationships and teams committed to achieving organizational goals and initiatives.Treats people fairly, with dignity and respect.Works to meet goals in a manner that does not disadvantage other employees or groups.Demonstrates business ethics and personal integrity, i.e., is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual.Listens and responds to others.Is interested in other’s views even if they counter own views.Managing Work Execution…proactively ensures that others have the accountability, authority and resources necessary to both manage work execution and drive for results.Adheres to all standards, policies, and procedures (SOPs, etc.).Effectively uses sales resources and administrative/support staff.Approaches work with a sense of urgency and purpose.Allocates time and resources effectively when faced with competing demands.Overcomes obstacles to accomplish challenging objectives.Follows through on inquiries, requests, and complaints.Organizational Learner…Actively pursues learning and self-development to enhance personal, professional and business growth; shares learning; demonstrates depth of knowledge in technical or specialized areaActs independently to improve and increase skills and knowledge.Demonstrates an awareness of personal strengths and areas for professional improvement.Shares learning, innovations, and best practices with others.Is willing to learn from others.Performs all technical/procedural requirements of the job.KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIESExperience2 or more years of hotel catering experience or similar industryProven track record of a consistent ability to provide quality servicePrevious leadership experience preferredSkills and KnowledgeStrong verbal and written English communication skillsKnowledge of the Hotel, Westmont and brand policies and proceduresKnowledge of the catering, food & beverage with banquet knowledgeSkills needed to manage the people and variables encountered in the development and implementation of major functionsComputer literate in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPointComputer literate with Delphi preferred or other system used in hotelStrong communication skills (verbal, listening, writing)Strong problem-solving skillsStrong customer and associate relations skillsStrong presentation and platform skillsStrong organizational skillsStrong “closing skills”Strong ‘persuasion” skillsAbility to use standard software applications and hotel systemEffective decision-making skillsEffective influence skillsPHYSICAL DEMANDSFrequent walking, standing, sitting, hearing, talking, smiling. Lifting, pushing and pulling of objects weighing up to ten (10) pounds.