Conference Services Manager

HEI Hotels & Resorts; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Vacation time

Sick and Holiday programs

Pet insurance

Job summary

The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, managed by HEI Hotels & Resorts, seeks an experienced Convention Services professional to lead conference planning, client relationships, and team leadership.

You will coordinate events from planning to execution, work closely with banquet operations, and leverage strong sales and negotiation skills to maximize satisfaction and revenue.

Qualifications

• Prior experience in the field of hospitality with specific experience in catering sales is essential.

Responsibilities

• Understand monthly forecasting and annual budget process.
• Raise meeting planner evaluation scores and implement methods to ensure satisfaction.
• Optimize room rental charges.
• Re-book repeat business through long-term client relationships.
• Participate in industry organizations (NACE, MPI).
• Demonstrate strong selling and closing skills, plus negotiation skills.
• Conduct site inspections and client presentations.
• Collaborate with Chef on pricing specialty menus and creative set-ups.
• Coordinate with banquet department on operations and event execution.
• Provide direction and evaluation of convention services operations and banquet event orders.
• Operate Audio/Visual equipment as a profit center.
• Maintain proficiency in Word, Excel, and Delphi.
• Monitor group room blocks and prepare detailed resumes for operating departments.
• Coordinate with outside vendors to ensure client satisfaction for events.

Skills

Hospitality experience

Catering sales experience

Hotel operations understanding

Sales skills

Delphi

Excel

Word

Budget forecasting

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Tools

Delphi

Microsoft Word

Excel

Job description

About Us

Escape to The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and discover the "Venice of America." Enjoy spectacular views of the ocean and Intercoastal Waterway and let the sound of lapping waves soothe your senses, day and night. Our associates love working here, and we think you will too! We offer free employee lunches, free parking, and monetary incentives based on Trip Advisor and GSS mentions, among other perks. Come find your home away from home and join the Westin team today!

Compensation

Tipped/Service Charge Eligible? No

Discretionary Performance Bonus Eligible? No

Overview

Create the desired conference and meet clients' needs through active communication, planning, and team leadership.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• An understanding of both monthly forecasting and the annual budget process.
• Understand the importance of raising the meeting planner evaluation scores and implement effective methods to ensure exceeding meeting planner satisfaction.
• Optimize room rental charges.
• Consistently participate in the re-booking of repeat business by having a track record of long-term client relationships.
• Actively participate in industry related organizations (NACE, MPI).
• Thorough knowledge of sales techniques including strong closing skills as well as negotiating skills.
• Comfortable with hotel site inspections and client presentations.
• Excellent creative skills to provide innovative set-ups, menus, and functions for groups. Ability to generate creative and innovative menus while working closely with Chef on pricing specialty menus.
• Work closely with banquet department on operations and event execution, ability to quickly evaluate alternatives and decide on a plan of action.
• Provide overall direction, coordination, and ongoing evaluation of operations. Detailed execution of all banquet event orders generated by the Convention Services Department.
• Experience providing Audio/Visual equipment and operating Audio/Visual as a profit center.
• Excellent knowledge of computers, specifically Delphi, Word, and Excel.
• Monitor group room blocks and pick up, generate detailed resumes for the operating departments.
• Ability to work with outside vendors to ensure client satisfaction for all events/groups.
• Comply with attendance rules and be available to work on a regular basis.
• Perform any other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications And Skills

• Prior experience in the field of hospitality with specific experience in catering sales is essential.
• Minimum of one year within the Hospitality Industry required.
• Must have experience at a similar size and quality hotel.
• Must possess computer skills, including, but not limited to, use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Delphi.
• Knowledge of sales skills, revenue management, training, and motivation of peers.
• Knowledge of hotel features, benefits, and competing hotels within the market.
• Ability to execute appropriate action plans.
• Knowledge of hotel operations, including marketing plans, security and safety programs, personnel and labor relations, preparation of business plans, repairs, maintenance, budget forecasting, quality assurance programs, hospitality law, and long-range planning.
• Ability to work effectively under time constraints and deadlines.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills. Ability to adapt communication style to suit different audiences, such as effectively communicating with supervisors, coworkers, public etc.

Benefits

HEI Hotels and Resorts is committed to providing a comprehensive benefit program that offers you choices for your physical, mental and financial wellness, creating value in your most important investment - you!

For your physical and mental wellness we offer competitive Medical and Dental programs through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as Vision insurance programs through EyeMed. Our Vacation, Sick and Holiday programs are available for you to rejuvenate with time off. HEI also provides pet insurance through the ASPCA. For your financial wellness, HEI provides a wide array of coverage, including Supplemental, Spousal and Child Life insurance as well as Short and Long-Term Disability plans. Our 401(k) Savings Plan with matching funds, and discounts through our 'YouDecide' and Hotel Room Discount programs provide additional incentives for choosing HEI as the employer of your future. Specific details and eligibility of these programs vary by location and employment status.

HEI Hotels and Resorts is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.