Catering Manager

Driftwood Hospitality; Florida; On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Driftwood Hospitality is seeking an experienced Event Sales Manager to drive revenue for the Cocoa Beach property. This role combines sales prospecting with event services, negotiating contracts, and coordinating with clients to ensure flawless execution.

The ideal candidate has 2+ years in hotel catering or events, strong English communication, and proven ability to close deals while delivering outstanding guest experiences.

Qualifications

• 2+ years in hotel catering or events is required.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.
• Strong organizational and closing skills; ability to persuade and negotiate.

Responsibilities

• Solicit new accounts and maintain existing ones to meet revenue goals.
• Prepare and initiate Banquet Event Orders and coordinate with culinary and F&B teams.
• Attend sales meetings and coordinate with Revenue Manager for room availability and rates.
• Lead and participate in site tours, client meetings, and post-event follow-ups.
• Develop knowledge of market trends and effective revenue/yield management strategies.

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: 445 - Cocoa Beach Hilton - Cocoa Beach, FL, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: Undisclosed, JOB SUMMARY

This 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 business

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Business Results

• Solicit 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 Satisfaction

• Ensures 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.
• Lists 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 area
• Acts 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.

Qualifications: KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Experience

• 2 or more years of hotel catering experience or similar industry
• Proven track record of a consistent ability to provide quality service
• Previous leadership experience preferred

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong verbal and written English communication skills
• Knowledge of the Hotel, Westmont and brand policies and procedures
• Knowledge of the catering, food & beverage with banquet knowledge
• Skills needed to manage the people and variables encountered in the development and implementation of major functions
• Computer literate in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Computer literate with Delphi preferred or other system used in hotel
• Strong communication skills (verbal, listening, writing)
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Strong customer and associate relations skills
• Strong presentation and platform skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong "closing skills"
• Strong 'persuasion' skills
• Ability to use standard software applications and hotel system
• Effective decision-making skills
• Effective influence skills

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Frequent walking, standing, sitting, hearing, talking, smiling. Lifting, pushing and pulling of objects weighing up to ten (10) pounds.