Catering Sales Manager

Colonial Williamsburg; Williamsburg (VA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Williamsburg seeks a Catering Sales Manager to lead and manage banquet services, ensuring smooth execution of events while driving sales through effective communication and detailed planning. The ideal candidate will possess significant knowledge of hospitality and demonstrate strong management skills, accommodating various client needs in a historic setting.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• In-depth knowledge of hotel operations.

Responsibilities

• Solicits and manages group and banquet business.
• Coordinates planning and execution of events.
• Acts as primary contact between clients and operations.

Skills

Communication

Project Management

Sales Techniques

Education

Degree in Hotel or Business Studies

Job description

Who We Are
Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.

Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 88 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.

Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.

About the Position

The Catering Sales Manager solicits and manages day group and banquet business to include luncheons, dinners, receptions, dances, business and club meetings, family reunions, Christmas parties, weddings and all meetings and food functions using 10 overnight sleeping rooms. Coordinate all aspects of planning. Solicit, book, plan and coordinate all associated events while maximizing the banquet space. Serves as the primary contact between clients and Colonial Williamsburg operations to ensure smooth execution of all functions in support of banquet activities. This position will oversee functions of all Colonial Williamsburg Company (CWC) hotel and facilities in all market segments regardless of seasonal fluctuations.

Essential Functions:

• Solicits, negotiates and secures new and repeat business through outside sales, sales calls, telemarketing, mailings, networking and other efforts.
• Serves as primary contact between clients and Colonial Williamsburg. Initiates contact with clients up to one year in advance and assists in planning and developing events.
• Plans, up sells and details functions with the client including space requirements, times, equipment, menus, themes, decorations, etc. Completes the contracts, prepares the appropriate paperwork, coordinates with the appropriate areas, resolves any issues, complaints and problems to ensure quality delivery of service and customer satisfaction.
• Monitors the use of contracted accommodations and conference function space to maximize profit and efficiency.
• Negotiates related food and beverage business, meeting space rental, audio visual services, and recreational activities. Market food, beverage, tavern and golf business.
• Coordinates execution of all CWC property services including accommodations, meeting rooms, audio visual, food and beverage and catering, recreational, special tickets, tours and activities, transportation, external support and external vendor services, package plans and billing.
• Develops and maintains working knowledge of cost factors and labor issues.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of corporate and hotel procedures and products and the competition’s products, strengths and weaknesses to continually improve sales strategies and the achievement of goals.
• Serves as on-site CWC-HG representative during execution of functions. Responsible and accountable for the successful operation of all activity related to assigned functions.
• Operates within a team concept; covers for others when needed while meeting individual performance goals.
• Continues professional development through educational offerings made via industry trade groups and educational institutions.

Qualifications:

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written; ability to work independently without direct supervision and to work under stressful conditions and deadlines
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
• In-depth knowledge of hotel operations and general knowledge of Colonial Williamsburg; generally gained through a two or four year degree in hotel or business related studies or two to four years of experience with increasing responsibilities in hotel or hospitality related fields.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends and occasional holidays as required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• In-depth knowledge of food and beverage preparation, presentation, catering service, and cost.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.