Special Events Sales Manager

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

The Clift Royal Sonesta San Francisco, part of Sonesta International Hotels Corporation, seeks an experienced Special Events Sales Manager to lead private dining and event sales. You will work with culinary and operations teams to deliver exceptional guest experiences and drive revenue through strategic proposals and client partnerships.

You will manage inquiries, build relationships with corporate and social clients, and use Delphi to track opportunities while ensuring seamless handoffs to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business, Food & Beverage Management, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in Food & Beverage Operations, Restaurant Management, Hotel Operations, Banquets, or Hospitality.
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience in restaurants, hotels, bars, or hospitality environments.

Responsibilities

• Drive private dining and event sales for The Clift Royal Sonesta San Francisco, including receptions, dinners, cocktail events, and buyouts.
• Respond to inbound private event inquiries and prospect for new business in the San Francisco market.
• Develop relationships with corporate clients, event planners, destination management companies, local businesses, and other potential clients.
• Manage leads, accounts, opportunities, proposals, contracts, and related sales activity.
• Conduct site visits and showcase the Redwood Room to prospective clients, communicating venue capabilities.
• Develop proposals and event packages to maximize revenue while aligning with operational capabilities.
• Partner with the Director of F&B, Catering and Convention Services, Sales, and operations teams throughout the process.
• Maintain an active sales solicitation program and participate in networking events and client entertainment.
• Track sales activity, conversion, booked revenue, and forecast future opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem Solving

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Hospitality/Business/F&B

Job description

## Special Events Sales ManagerApply: The Clift , Royal Sonesta- San Francisco, CA: Full time: Posted 7 Days Ago: R-0074488**We’re People People. Are you?**We’re Sonesta International Hotels—the 8th largest hotel company in the U.S. (and growing fast ). With a dynamic mix of full-service and focused hotels across major cities, our diverse portfolio of owned, managed, and franchised properties means we’re everywhere our guests need us to be.But here’s the thing—we’re not just in the business of hotels, we’re in the business of people. We bring service with passion, loyalty with purpose, and create experiences that genuinely connect—delivering quality, value, and memorable stays across 1,000+ properties in eight countries (and counting). **What this role is all about** At Sonesta, food and beverage experiences are a huge part of what makes a stay memorable. As the Food & Beverage Manager, you’ll help lead the daily operations of our restaurants, bars, banquets, catering, and dining outlets — creating exceptional guest experiences while driving operational excellence, team engagement, and revenue performance. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a fast-paced hospitality environment and loves balancing people leadership, service excellence, operational strategy, and guest satisfaction. You’ll partner closely with Culinary, Banquets, Operations, and hotel leadership teams to ensure every dining experience reflects the quality, energy, and hospitality Sonesta is known for. If you’re service-driven, organized, collaborative, and passionate about hospitality and Food & Beverage operations — we’d love to meet you. **What you’ll be doing****What this role is all about**As the **Special Events Sales Manager**, you’ll be responsible for driving private dining and special event sales for The Clift Royal Sonesta San Francisco.Reporting to the Director of Food & Beverage and working closely with the hotel’s Sales and Catering team, you’ll manage private event inquiries, develop new business, conduct site visits, prepare proposals and contracts, and maintain sales activity using Delphi.This role will focus on building relationships with corporate clients, event planners, local businesses, and social clients to grow private dining, receptions, celebrations, and full or partial buyouts of the Redwood Room.**What you’ll be doing*** Drive private dining and event sales for the hotel, including receptions, dinners, cocktail events, corporate gatherings, celebrations, and full or partial buyouts.* Respond to inbound private event inquiries and actively prospect for new business within the San Francisco market.* Develop relationships with corporate clients, executive assistants, event planners, destination management companies, local businesses, and other potential clients.* Manage leads, accounts, opportunities, proposals, contracts, and related sales activity using Delphi and in accordance with hotel sales standards.* Conduct site visits and showcase the Redwood Room to prospective clients, communicating the venue’s food, beverage, entertainment, and event capabilities.* Develop proposals and event packages that maximize revenue while aligning with the operational capabilities and positioning of the Redwood Room.* Partner closely with the Director of Food & Beverage, Director of Catering and Convention Services, Sales team, and Redwood Room operations team throughout the sales and event-planning process.* Maintain an active sales solicitation program and participate in networking events, client entertainment, hotel events, and other opportunities to generate new business.* Track sales activity, conversion, booked revenue, and future opportunities and provide regular reporting and forecasts.* Identify opportunities to increase private dining revenue through strategic packages, partnerships, seasonal programming, and targeted outreach.* Maintain a strong understanding of the San Francisco private dining and events market, including competitive venues, pricing, and emerging opportunities.* Ensure a clear and organized transition from the sales process to the operational team so that client expectations and event details are accurately communicated.**What great looks like** * Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business, Food & Beverage Management, or related field preferred.* 3+ years of experience in Food & Beverage Operations, Restaurant Management, Hotel Operations, Banquets, or Hospitality Management.* Previous leadership or supervisory experience within restaurants, hotels, bars, resorts, or hospitality environments preferred.* Strong knowledge of restaurant operations, banquet service, catering, inventory management, labor management, and guest service standards.* Knowledge of food safety regulations, sanitation standards, HACCP guidelines, and alcohol service compliance requirements.* Strong leadership and team development skills with the ability to motivate and inspire hospitality teams.* Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced operational environment.* Ability to analyze operational performance, guest feedback, and financial metrics to drive continuous improvement.* Flexible availability including evenings, weekends, and holidays as required in hospitality operations.* A passion for hospitality, food & beverage experiences, guest satisfaction, teamwork, and operational excellence. **Anticipated Pay Range & Additional Job Information**Salary range for this role is $80 - $90K annually & is bonus eligible. Base pay offered may vary depending on various factors including but not limited to job related knowledge, skills and job specific experience/overall experience. **How we reward you**At Sonesta, we know showing up for our guests starts with showing up for our people. That means supporting your health, your financial future, and everything in between. Here’s a snapshot of what we offer: * Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance* Health Savings Account (HSA) with Company Match* 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match* Paid Vacation & Sick Time* Paid Parental Leave* Company-Paid Life Insurance* Company-Paid Short-Term & Long-Term Disability* Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness & Accident Insurance* Educational Assistance* Sonesta Hotel Discounts (yes, you’ll want to use these )* Additional Perks & Employee Discounts **Our Commitment to You** Sonesta is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. **Before You Apply** To be considered, please complete the full application in addition to submitting your resume. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.