Sales and Catering Manager

Early Bird Night Owl; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Durham Hotel is seeking a Sales & Catering Manager to lead group business, from initial contact through final execution of events. This role blends sales strategy with detailed event management to drive revenue and exceptional client experiences.

Ideal candidates bring at least two years in sales with catering/event experience, strong communication skills, and familiarity with F&B planning. Local travel and site visits are expected to support client relations.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years of sales experience, one year of catering sales/event management experience; independent hotel experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead sales and catering efforts to secure group business.
• Solicit, negotiate, and confirm new and repeat group and catering business.
• Coordinate function details including space, AV, menu, and billing.
• Prepare contracts and banquet event orders to ensure quality delivery.
• Develop and implement sales strategies to reach individual goals.
• Maintain client relationships and ensure customer satisfaction throughout the process.

Skills

Sales experience

Event management

Relational selling

F&B knowledge

Communication skills

Writing and speaking

Problem solving

Teamwork

Customer service

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Sales & Catering systems

Property Management System

Job description

REPORTS TO: Director of Sales & Catering

Position Summary:

The Durham Hotel is a 53-room independent, boutique hotel located in the heart of downtown Durham. We arehumble ambassadors of our namesake city, we prioritize quality, kindness, and inclusivity so all feel welcome.We value and support the community; believing relationships are the cornerstone to a successful, sustainable sales effort.

The Durham Sales & Catering Manager (S&CM) is a key position to the hotel’s success and unique in that this individual will manage both the sales and events detailing phases of their booked business. The S&CM will respond and solicit group businessthrough direct sales efforts, relational selling, marketing, and toursand events that enable the hotel to meet and/or exceed sales and revenue goals. They will also be the group’s main point of contact throughout the sales process and responsible for selling group room blocks, catering, detailing banquet event orders, and seamlessly communicating the customer’s needs to the operations team. The S&CMgenerates top-line group rooms and catering revenue, build/strengthen client relationships, and provide service excellence.

Overall Responsibilities:

• Live out and advocate the core values of Inspire Wonder, Foster Hospitality, Pursue Excellence, Demonstrate Intentionality, and Cultivate Community.
• Advocate service excellence, professionalism, teamwork, and an environment to have fun, learn and succeed.
• Handle inquiries, solicit, negotiate, and confirm new and repeat group, meeting, and catering business through mining new & existing accounts, lead follow-up, referrals, prospecting, etc.
• Monitor direct and indirect lead channels responding appropriately and timely to all sales & catering leads.
• Schedule site visits and give assistance to walk-in clients providing them with an informative and positive experience.
• Hotel-customer liaison ensuring customer satisfaction throughout the entire sales process.
• Follow the established sales process standards and policies.
• Plan, up-sell, and coordinate function details with client to include function space requirements, meeting/event times, equipment, audio visual, menu, and billing, etc.
• Prepare and execute sales contracts, banquet event orders, and group resumes to ensure quality product delivery and customer satisfaction.
• Develop and implement creative sales strategies to achieve individual sales goals by analyzing historical, current, and future hotel/market/industry trends.
• Develop and continually enhance relationships with key clients.
• Maintain accurate, legible records and files consistent with established sales and catering systems.
• Participate in training, tradeshows, community, industry, and professional organizations to maintain high visibility in support of the achievement of sales and revenue goals.
• Perform special projects and other responsibilities as assigned.
• Attend weekly internal meetings and provide business updates.
• Work effectively with a sense of urgency and focus.

Skills and Abilities:

• Proven knowledge and experience in sales & event management associated with the hospitality industry, specifically in the wedding and social segments.
• Firm understanding of sales processes and relational selling.
• Familiarity with food and beverage service, menu planning and meeting arrangements.
• Ability to effectively communicate with guests, management, and co-workers.
• An ability to creatively resolve guest concerns or challenges using business acumen skills and discretion.
• A minimum of two years of sales experience, one year of catering sales/ event management experience; independent hotel experience is preferred.
• Excellent writing and speaking skills.
• Possesses computer skills & knowledge of, including, but not limited to Microsoft Word, Excel, Sales & Catering, and Property Management System(s).
• Ability to actively listen and desire to continually learn.
• Comfortable working both independently and as a team.
• Demonstrates self-confidence, energy, and enthusiasm.
• Ability to solve problems quickly, think creatively, and provide customer excellence.
• Collaborator that works well with counterparts from various functions/departments.
• Desire to serve people.

TRAVEL & SCHEDULE:

Local travel. Mixture of weekdays & weekends based on customer needs and demand.