Conference Services Manager

HEI Hotels & Resorts; New York (NY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental & Vision insurance

Paid time off

401(k) matching

Employee discounts

Job summary

HEI Hotels & Resorts, The Westin New York Grand Central, New York, NY is seeking a Catering Sales professional to lead corporate event sales, build long-term client relationships, and drive revenue growth.

You will plan, price, and coordinate banquet services, menus, AV needs, and coordination with culinary and events teams to ensure flawless execution across meetings and functions. Strong hospitality background, excellent communication, and proven forecasting skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Prior experience in catering sales within hospitality.
• Experience planning and executing events for corporate clients is essential.
• Strong understanding of revenue management and meeting planner needs.
• Proven ability to forecast and manage budgets for events and groups.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Familiarity with banquet operations and AV setup is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Create and manage conference and event planning, coordinating with banquet and culinary teams.
• Develop and maintain long-term relationships with repeat clients.
• Forecast monthly and annual budget for the events portfolio.
• Optimize room blocks and pricing to maximize revenue.
• Collaborate with vendors and partners to ensure client satisfaction.
• Provide direction and execution of all banquet event orders.

Skills

Catering sales

Hospitality experience

Budget forecasting

Sales skills

Communication skills

Tools

Delphi

Excel

Word

Job description

About Us

It's Your Moment to Rise. Start Your Journey with us at the The Westin New York Grand Central and discover a place where you're given a choice to not just get up and go to work, but rise. To feel empowered by career growth opportunities in a people-first environment. And to work together to enhance the well-being of our guests, our communities and each other. We are looking for dynamic people who are excited to join the team and ready to jump into any situation to give a helping hand. Discover our team spirit during Monthly Town Hall Celebrations, rejuvenation during all shifts with complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you're someone who is positive, adaptable and intuitive, and has a genuine interest in the well-being of others around you, we invite you to discover how at The Westin New York Grand Central, together we can rise.

Don't meet every single requirement of this job? At HEI we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still send in your information. You may be the perfect candidate for this or for other roles within our organization!

We value U.S. military experience and invite all qualified military candidates to apply.

Compensation

Salary Range: $80,000.00 - $85,000.00 AnnuallyTipped/Service Charge Eligible? NoDiscretionary 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 Dentalprograms through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield as well asVision 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.