Event Manager

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Chicago, IL

Accommodation

About the position

As an Event Manager at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, you will play a pivotal role in enhancing the guest experience through effective sales and operations management of the catering and private dining departments. Your primary focus will be on direct selling, where you will act as a liaison between the restaurant and the hotel, as well as between clients and banquet operations. This position requires you to stay current on industry trends and creatively infiltrate markets and accounts to drive business growth. You will be responsible for maintaining a balanced approach to account maintenance and prospecting for new business, ensuring the development of profitable relationships with clients. In addition to direct sales, you will produce a marketing plan and assist in developing the annual sales budget in collaboration with the restaurant team. Implementing a monthly action plan to meet and exceed budgeted sales goals will be a key part of your responsibilities. You will also be tasked with completing various production reports, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, as well as sales activity reports. Working closely with the Director of Catering, you will develop specific goals and strategies for your assigned territory to positively impact revenues. Your role will require a detailed knowledge of the property, including its space, capacities, concepts, and food styles. You will review and update menus, packages, and upgrades as needed to satisfy client needs and maximize revenue. Familiarity with the hotel's competitive set and shared accounts will be essential, as will the ability to cross-sell with sister restaurants and hotels for referral business. You will maintain accurate and detailed notes and traces for accounts within the PMS and Catering Database, join and attend appropriate market organizations, and adhere to the "Sundown Rule" for all client correspondence. Occasionally, you will supervise the execution of banquets, ensuring that all aspects of the event meet the high standards expected by our guests.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for sales and operations of the catering and private dining departments.
• Spend primary time on direct selling.
• Act as a liaison between the restaurant and the hotel, and between the client and banquet operations.
• Maintain appropriate balance of account maintenance and prospecting for new business.
• Build profitable relationships with clients.
• Produce marketing plan and assist in developing the annual sales budget with the restaurant team.
• Implement a monthly action plan to meet and exceed budgeted sales goals.
• Complete weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual production reports, as well as weekly and monthly sales activity reports.
• Assist the Director of Catering in developing specific goals and strategies in assigned territory to positively impact revenues.
• Maintain detailed knowledge of property, space, capacities, concept, and food style (menus).
• Review and update menus, packages, and upgrades as requested to satisfy client needs and maximize revenue.
• Familiarize with the hotel's competitive set and shared accounts.
• Cross-sell with sister restaurants and hotels for referral business.
• Communicate a clear sense of strategic direction and goals for assigned territories and markets.
• Maintain accurate and detailed notes and traces for accounts within the PMS and Catering Database.
• Join and attend appropriate market organizations.
• Adhere to the 'Sundown Rule' for all client correspondence.
• Supervise execution of banquets on occasion.

Requirements

• 2+ years of hospitality experience, ideally within a restaurant or related banquet setting.
• Previous structured sales training course is a plus.
• Strong sales and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication skills both internally and externally.
• Professional phone etiquette and writing skills.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Well organized and detail-oriented with excellent follow-up skills.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in a leadership role within hospitality.
• Familiarity with event planning software.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Paid holidays and vacation time.
• Employee discounts on hotel stays and dining.