Events Manager

Unclassified - Rosemont, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Rosemont, IL

About the position

The Executive Meeting Manager at Hilton Rosemont/Chicago O'Hare Hotel is a pivotal role within the Sales department, reporting directly to the Director of Sales. This position is responsible for prospecting and soliciting corporate markets to generate new catering and group business, ensuring that monthly and annual sales goals are met. The Executive Meeting Manager will plan and administer all catering and group events, ensuring that all duties are accomplished both personally and through subordinates. This includes maintaining established customer relations while also generating new relationships through consistent outreach efforts such as phone calls, emails, and local outside sales calls. In this role, the Executive Meeting Manager will handle account details meticulously, ensuring that all pertinent aspects of solicitation and closing are complete and well-documented. The position requires conducting property tours and preparing information for site inspections, as well as competitive set site tours to build relationships and gain referrals. Attendance at industry-related meetings and events is also a key responsibility, along with conducting local outside sales calls to promote the hotel and review competition to develop leads. The Executive Meeting Manager will be tasked with meeting budgeted sales catering goals, which include food, beverage, room rental, and audio/visual services. Monthly forecast reports will be a part of the responsibilities, along with managing time and workload with a keen attention to detail. The role demands responsiveness to sales leads within 24 hours and conducting weekly sales calls to build on existing relationships while soliciting new opportunities. Working closely with clients to determine their specific needs and designing programs to fit those requirements is essential. The Executive Meeting Manager will also be responsible for detailing all events, creating Banquet Event Orders (BEO), and ensuring all details are followed through with the Banquet Supervisor, banquet staff, and clients. The position may require working events to welcome group contacts upon their arrival to ensure satisfaction, with responsibilities subject to change to best meet the needs of the hotel.

Responsibilities

• Prospect and solicit corporate markets to generate new catering/group business.
• Maintain established customer relations and generate new relationships.
• Consistently solicit new clients through phone calls, emails, and local outside sales calls.
• Handle account details to ensure all pertinent aspects of solicitation and closing are complete and documented.
• Conduct property tours and prepare information for site inspections.
• Conduct competitive set site tours and build relationships with the competitive set to gain referrals.
• Attend industry-related meetings and events.
• Conduct local outside sales calls to promote the hotel and review competition to develop leads.
• Meet budgeted sales catering goals for food, beverage, room rental, and audio/visual services.
• Prepare monthly forecast reports.
• Manage time and workload with attention to detail.
• Respond to sales leads within 24 hours.
• Conduct weekly sales calls to build on existing relationships and solicit new opportunities.
• Work with clients to determine specific needs and design programs to fit those requirements.
• Detail all events and create Banquet Event Orders (BEO).
• Follow through on all details with the Banquet Supervisor, banquet staff, and clients.
• Work events as required to welcome group contacts upon arrival to ensure satisfaction.

Requirements

• Must be able to speak, read, write, and understand the primary language(s) used in the workplace.
• Requires good communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to work independently or in a team environment, acting as a team leader.
• Basic computer skills are required.
• Knowledge of hotels and competitive markets is essential.
• Ability to ensure guest satisfaction is consistently obtained and maintained.
• Ability to make decisions with only general policies and procedures available for guidance.