About the position
The Catering Sales Manager at Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center is responsible for generating top-line catering revenue for the hotel by maximizing all revenue potential and up-selling additional events and amenities whenever possible. This role involves handling inquiries for small meetings and events, both with and without guestrooms, and following up on leads to qualify customer needs and event dates. The Catering Sales Manager will negotiate contracts and banquet event orders (BEO), ensuring that customer needs are identified and priced appropriately, while also closing sales and collecting deposits and signatures on BEOs. In addition to sales responsibilities, the Catering Sales Manager will communicate group details and changes to all hotel departments, coordinating customer needs with other property business and activities to ensure that customer expectations are met and the property operates efficiently. The role requires presenting potential business at Driver Meetings to determine the best mix of customers for the hotel to attain budgeted revenues. Conducting meetings with clients and hotel staff is essential to ensure that each event meets the client's expectations, and finalizing and detailing catering plans for groups contracted by the assigned sales manager is a key function of this position. The Catering Sales Manager is empowered to solve problems and must prospect for new catering business using various methods, including phone calls, outside sales calls, trade shows, community functions, blitzes, and internet prospecting. Monitoring blocked space to ensure groups meet their contractual obligations and initiating the release of blocked space on cut-off dates to allow for the sale of these rooms to other customers is also part of the job. Maintaining account files in the software system is crucial for ensuring accurate communication between clients and hotel staff, along with performing other duties as assigned.
Responsibilities
- Handle and follow up on inquiries for small meetings/events with or without guestrooms.
- Follow up on leads by qualifying the customer's needs and dates for the event.
- Negotiate contracts and banquet event orders (BEO).
- Identify and price customer needs for the event, up-selling where possible, and closing the sale with the customer.
- Collect the customer deposit and signature on the BEO.
- Communicate group details/changes to all hotel departments, coordinating customer's needs with other property business and activities.
- Present potential business at Driver Meetings to determine best mix of customers for hotel to attain budgeted revenues.
- Conduct meetings with client and hotel staff to ensure each event meets client's expectations.
- Finalize and detail catering plans for groups contracted by assigned sales manager.
- Completely orchestrate these functions on-site or off-site.
- Prospect for new catering business using a wide variety of methods.
- Monitor blocked space to ensure group is meeting their contractual obligations.
- Initiate release of blocked space on cut-off date to allow sale of these rooms to other customers.
- Maintain account files in software system, ensuring accurate communication between client and hotel staff.
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in Business, Management, Marketing or related field.
- Minimum 2 years catering sales experience, or 2 years in hotel Catering/Convention Services, Banquet, Hotel Sales or Culinary Arts; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Must possess a valid driver's license and reliable transportation to drive to appointments.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience with brand specific property Management System(s).
- Familiarity with Delphi and Meeting Matrix or similar systems.
