Catering Sales Manager

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation; Hilton Head Island (SC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

HSA with Company Match

401(k) with Company Match

Paid Vacation & Sick Time

Paid Parental Leave

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Educational Assistance

Hotel Discounts

Job summary

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation is seeking a Catering Sales Manager to drive catering revenue through proactive sales, client relationships, and expert event planning. You will manage the full sales cycle from lead generation to post-event follow-up, coordinating with Culinary, Banquets, Conference Services, and Operations to deliver exceptional experiences.

Ideal candidates have a Bachelor’s in Hospitality or related field and 2+ years in catering/hospitality sales, with strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Event Management, Marketing, Business, or related field preferred.
• 2+ years of Catering Sales, Hotel Sales, Event Planning, Banquet Sales, or Hospitality Sales experience.
• Strong knowledge of catering operations, banquet services, food & beverage planning, and event management processes.
• Proven ability to drive catering revenue, close sales opportunities, and build long-term client relationships.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills with a strong customer service mindset.
• Highly organized with attention to detail and ability to manage multiple events simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Drive catering sales revenue through proactive sales activities, client relationship management, and event planning initiatives.
• Manage the full catering sales cycle from lead generation through contract negotiation, event planning, and post-event follow-up.
• Respond to catering inquiries, prepare proposals, conduct site tours, and build customized event experiences for clients.
• Coordinate corporate meetings, social events, weddings, banquets, conferences, and special events within hotel event spaces.
• Partner with Culinary, Banquets, Conference Services, and Operations teams for seamless event execution and guest experience.
• Prepare BEOs, event timelines, room setups, catering menus, and operational notes with precision.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Presentation

Relationship-building

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management or related field

Tools

CRM systems

Event management software

Job description

We’re People People. Are you? We’re Sonesta International Hotels—the 8th largest hotel company in the U.S. (and growing fast ). With a dynamic mix of full-service and focused hotels across major cities, our diverse portfolio of owned, managed, and franchised properties means we’re everywhere our guests need us to be. But here’s the thing—we’re not just in the business of hotels, we’re in the business of people. We bring service with passion, loyalty with purpose, and create experiences that genuinely connect—delivering quality, value, and memorable stays across 1,000+ properties in eight countries (and counting).

Catering Sales Manager

As the Catering Sales Manager, you’ll be responsible for driving catering revenue while creating memorable events that guests genuinely love. This role is perfect for someone who thrives on relationship-building, event planning, sales strategy, and creating exceptional hospitality experiences. From corporate meetings and social events to weddings, celebrations, and group dining experiences, you’ll work closely with clients to turn ideas into seamless, unforgettable events. You’ll partner with Banquets, Culinary, Operations, and Sales teams to ensure every detail is executed flawlessly while maximizing catering revenue, guest satisfaction, and repeat business opportunities. If you’re energetic, organized, sales-driven, and passionate about hospitality and events — we’d love to meet you. Any other duties as assigned.

What you’ll be doing

• Drive catering sales revenue through proactive sales activities, client relationship management, and event planning initiatives.
• Manage the full catering sales cycle from lead generation and prospecting through contract negotiation, event planning, and post-event follow-up.
• Respond to catering inquiries, prepare proposals, conduct site tours, and build customized event experiences for clients.
• Coordinate corporate meetings, social events, weddings, banquets, conferences, and special events within hotel event spaces.
• Partner closely with Culinary, Banquets, Conference Services, and Operations teams to ensure seamless event execution and exceptional guest experiences.
• Prepare banquet event orders (BEOs), event timelines, room setup details, catering menus, and operational notes with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Identify upselling opportunities for catering packages, food & beverage enhancements, audiovisual services, and hotel accommodations.
• Build strong relationships with local businesses, event planners, vendors, and community partners to generate new business opportunities.
• Monitor catering revenue performance, booking pace, conversion metrics, and event profitability to support hotel revenue goals.
• Conduct client meetings, pre-event planning calls, walkthroughs, and post-event follow-ups to ensure satisfaction and repeat business.
• Maintain accurate sales activity, contracts, event details, and reporting within CRM and hotel sales systems.
• Stay informed on hospitality, catering, wedding, and event industry trends to bring fresh ideas and innovative experiences to clients.
• Any other duties as assigned.

What great looks like

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Event Management, Marketing, Business, or related field preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in Catering Sales, Hotel Sales, Event Planning, Banquet Sales, or Hospitality Sales.
• Strong knowledge of catering operations, banquet services, food & beverage planning, and event management processes.
• Proven ability to drive catering revenue, close sales opportunities, and build long-term client relationships.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills with a strong customer service mindset.
• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple events simultaneously.
• Experience working with hotel sales systems, CRM platforms, event management software, and banquet event orders (BEOs).
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced hospitality environment while maintaining professionalism and flexibility.
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to partner effectively across Operations, Culinary, Banquets, and Sales teams.
• A passion for hospitality, events, food & beverage experiences, and creating memorable moments for guests and clients.

Anticipated Pay Range & Additional Job Information

The Catering Sales Manager position is Bonus Plan Eligible

How we reward you

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with Company Match
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Paid Vacation & Sick Time
• Paid Parental Leave
• Company-Paid Life InsuranceCompany-Paid Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness & Accident Insurance
• Educational Assistance
• Sonesta Hotel Discounts (yes, you’ll want to use these)

Our Commitment to You

Sonesta is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

At Sonesta, we value our team members as individuals who enhance our guests’ experiences with their unique skills and contributions. We actively support professional growth and personal happiness in each of our employees at each of our hotels, resorts, suites and cruise ships. We seek out people who will eagerly partner with us to improve the overall Sonesta experience for our guests, and the overall Sonesta experience for their fellow colleagues. If you are interested in a career in some of the most impressive and beautiful surroundings in the world with generous benefits and perks, we hope you’ll get in touch with us.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.