Catering Sales Manager

Overview

The Oasis Hotel & Convention Center is currently seeking career driven individuals who are committed to providing a memorable experience to our guests.

Our award winning hotel is a full service property, offering 173 guest rooms along with over 30,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. Housed within the Oasis, you will find Fire & Ice Restaurant & Bar, featuring Springfield’s only ice bar.

The Oasis Hotel & Convention Center is a property structured upon our core values…

Passion- Passionate about who we are and what we do

Respect- Mutual respect and appreciation for our associates and guests

Extreme Service- We strive to be proactive and go above and beyond for our guests to have a positive and memorable experience.

Family & Community- All associates and guests are in the family. We desire to give back to the community and to each other.

Innovation & Uniqueness- We desire to be a true oasis in the region and embrace our identity.

Honesty & Integrity- We believe in being truthful and transparent, while maintaining professionalism, to our associates and guests in all situations, even when the situation is difficult.

Responsibilities

Oasis Hotel & Convention Center has an immediate opening for a highly motivated, innovative and aggressive Catering Sales Manager. In an industry where relationships are key, candidate will spend majority of time in face to face meetings.  The Catering Sales Manager must solicit group business that enables the hotel to meet and/or exceed revenue goals in room and food and beverage through telephone solicitation, outside sales calls, site inspections and written communications.

Job and Technical Requirements:

• Prospect for new business using a wide variety of methods including phone calls, outside sales calls, trade shows, attending community functions, blitzs, internet prospecting, supplier partnerships, etc.
• Prompt handling and follow-up of all inquiries for meetings/events with or without guestrooms. Follow up on leads either by phone or in person qualifying the customers' needs and dates for the event to determine if the business is a good fit for the property.
• Negotiation as well as accurate and timely completion of contracts and banquet event orders (BEO).
• Identify and price out customers’ needs for the event, up-selling where possible, and closing the sale with the customer by collecting the customer's deposit and signature on the contract and/or BEO.
• Communicate group details/changes to all hotel departments, coordinating the customers’ needs with other property business and activities to ensure the customer's expectations are met and the property operates as efficiently as feasible.
• Enforces hotel policies.
• Present potential business at Sales Meetings to determine the best mix of customers for hotel to attain budgeted revenues.
• Finalize and detail catering plans for groups
• Conduct pre-and post-conference meetings with client and hotel staff to insure each event meets client's expectations.
• Completely orchestrates these functions whether they are on-site or off-site. Empowered to do whatever it takes to solve problems.
• Constant monitoring of blocked rooms to insure group is meeting their contractual obligation. Initiate release of blocked space on cut-off date to allow sale of these rooms to other customers.
• Accurate maintenance of all account files in sales and catering system, thereby insuring all communication is accurate between client and hotel staff.
• Maintain or exceed budgeted sales and profits in all areas.
• Maintain close client relationships with in-house groups.
• Actively participate in community/civic activities to maintain awareness within community and to create booking opportunities.
• Excellent creative skills to provide innovative options for groups in all aspects of the hotel.
• Evaluate each piece of catering business to ensure business can be properly serviced.
• Re-book business before they leave.
• Providing A /V equipment and operating A/V as a profit center.
• Optimize group rates and meeting room rental charges.

Qualifications

Managerial Requirements:

• Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to sell concepts and ideas to management, peers, and employees.
• Maintain a good working relationship with guests, groups, and personnel from other departments.
• Instill a calm, organized approach in all situations.

Business Skills:

• Excellent time management skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Good knowledge of computers.
• Strong customer service orientation and skills.
• Excellent listening skills.
• Exceptional detail and follow-up.
• Follow/enforce company policies and procedures.
• Create courteous, friendly, professional work environment.
• Creative problem solving skills.
• Ability to quickly evaluate alternatives and decide on a plan of action.
• Think creatively.
• Solid skills selling and negotiating programs/projects.
• Consistently call on new customers and develop new business.
• Involved with local community to develop business.

Physical Requirements

This position requires being able to sit and remain focused and motivated for long periods of time. Being able to multitask between the computer, phone, and different projects is required. . Candidate must be able to lift and carry up to 5lbs

Performs other duties as assigned by Director of Sales