Convention Service Manager

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 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 and Sick Days

Sonesta Hotel Discounts

Educational Assistance

Parental Leave

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Employee Perks and Discounts

Hospital Indemnity

Critical Illness Insurance

Accident Insurance

Job summary

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation in Austin, TX seeks a Convention Services Manager to coordinate meetings and events, aligning client needs with hotel operations.

You will negotiate F&B, space, and services; prepare BEOs and contracts; upsell events and manage room blocks. The role emphasizes guest-focused leadership and teamwork across departments in a busy hotel environment.

Qualifications

• 2 years of hotel-related sales experience required.
• Hotel events, sales and/or conference services experience is preferred.
• High school degree or equivalent required.
• Bachelor's Degree preferred.
• 1 year of catering sales experience in a 4-Diamond hotel with 8,000+sqft of function space is preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize and organize work assignments.
• Delphi FDC and Opera PMS experience a plus.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate food and beverage prices, function space, and hotel services within approved guidelines.
• Confirm group requirements via contracts, addendums, and banquet orders.
• Assist clients in menu planning, F&B coordination, table arrangements, and room setup.
• Work with sales staff to service and solicit new business.
• Upsell client events and manage function space and room blocks.
• Coordinate with hotel departments to fulfill client agreements.
• Prepare and distribute amenity request forms and secure approvals.
• Check function room setups against client requirements and standards.
• Welcome group contacts on arrival and ensure guest satisfaction.
• Ensure events are set up, refreshed, and broken down on schedule.
• Distribute all BEOs and contracts as designated by sales.
• Conduct facility tours and entertain qualified clients.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

Prioritization

MS Office

Fast-paced environment

Education

High school degree or equivalent

Bachelor's Degree preferred

1 year catering sales in 4-Diamond hotel with 8,000+ sqft space preferred

Tools

Delphi FDC

Opera PMS

Job description

We’re Sonesta International Hotels. The 8th largest hotel company in the U.S.—and growing fast. An epic blend of full-service and focused hotels in major cities, Sonesta’s uniquely diverse portfolio of owned, managed, and franchised properties makes us everywhere you want to be. Driven by the human side of hospitality, we deliver service with passion, loyalty with purpose, and experiences that truly connect. Together We Thrive—bringing quality, value, and amazing hospitality to every guest, every stay, across 1000+ properties in eight countries and counting.

Job Description Summary

The Convention Services Manager sets the tone for Sonesta’s Culture of Caring. We expect leaders to focus on creating amazing moments for guests and team members and dig deep to find ways to create success for their team.

Job Description

The Convention Services Manager is responsible for coordinating meetings, conventions and other special events that are booked through the sales department. The Convention Services Manager synchronizes the needs of the group contact planning the event and the staff of the hotel to effectively execute the event function. The ideal candidate has a passion for building and motivating teams that achieve results. Sonesta managers are guest-focused (both internal and external) and achievement-oriented leaders.

• Negotiate food and beverage prices, function space, and hotel services within approved departmental booking guidelines.
• Confirm in writing to the client and all affected hotel departments all group requirements via sales contract terms, addendums, confirmation of pricing, group resumes, and/or banquet event order.
• As needed, assist the client in menu planning, food and beverage coordination, table arrangements, decorations, traffic flow, room set-up, group room blocks and VIP services, etc.
• Work with sales staff to service and solicit new business.
• Up-sell client events and manage function space and room block inventory as assigned.
• Work closely with other hotel departments to facilitate services agreed upon by the sales office and prospective clients.
• Report and communicate Meeting event needs between the client and hotel.
• Prepare and distribute amenity request forms for specified clients.
• Obtain designated approvals and follow-up on delivery.
• Check function room set ups prior to guest arrival, ensuring all details are in agreement with client’s requirements and hotel standards.
• Ensure deficiencies are corrected by appropriate personnel.
• Welcome group contact upon arrival at function and ensure guest satisfaction.
• Monitor and ensure all functions are set up, refreshed, and broken down in compliance with scheduled times and departmental procedures.
• Work in a timely manner to executive and distribute all Banquet Event Orders (BEO) and contracts as designated by sales.
• Conduct hotel and banquet facility tours and entertain qualified clients in accordance with company and property policies.
• Follow up with clients regularly during and after departure to ensure satisfaction and secure future bookings.
• Promote teamwork and quality service through daily communication and coordination with other departments.

Key departmental contacts include all hotel departments.

Interact with outside contacts: Guests – to ensure their total satisfaction, Airlines, wholesalers, corporate accounts, travel agencies, ad agencies, etc. – to ensure repeat business, follow up on events, and generate new business, Other contacts as needed (Professional organizations, community groups). May perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications, Experience, Skills, Physical Demands:

• 2 years of hotel-related sales experience required.
• Hotel events, sales and/or conference services experience is preferred.
• High school degree or equivalent required.
• Bachelor's Degree preferred 1 year of catering sales experience in a 4-Diamond hotel with 8,000+sqft of function space is preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to prioritize and organize work assignments
• Delphi FDC and Opera PMS experience a plus
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software
• Must be able work in a fast-paced environment.
• Most work tasks are performed indoors.
• Ability to carry, lift or pull items weighing up to 50lbs and pushing and / or pulling approximately 200lbs.
• The person in this role will be frequently standing up, bending, climbing, kneeling and moving about the hotel.
• On-site position that may require days, nights, weekends and holidays as business and hotel needs dictate.

Additional Job Information/Anticipated Pay Range Benefits

Sonesta recognizes that benefits play a vital role in helping ensure the health and financial security of employees and their families.

We offer a variety of benefits to our employees including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account with Company Match
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Paid Vacation and Sick Days
• Sonesta Hotel Discounts
• Educational Assistance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Company Paid Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Various Employee Perks and Discounts
• Hospital Indemnity
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Accident Insurance

Sonesta is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Upon submitting your application, please ensure you complete a full application in addition to attaching a resume. Incomplete applications received will not be considered.

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.