Catering Sales Manager

Areas of Responsibility:

• Process Execution
• Client Relationships
• Industry Knowledge, Business Acumen and Brand Reputation
• Client and Enterprise Communication
• Management and Leadership
• Purpose, Vision, and Values

Job Summary:

The Catering Sales Manager is responsible for managing a team of Catering Executives to meet or exceed catering sales targets through promotion and solicitation of SMSC's gaming, hotel, food, entertainment, brand and other amenities. This role will drive profitable business growth for the enterprise through managing the catering sales process, support the negotiating and closing sales and direct and indirect sales channels with focus on weddings, galas and other social short-term events. Design, develop, sell, manage creative catered events, ensure that profit/revenue goals are met, and established standards of quality and service are maintained. This is an active selling position in the social market segment while serving as the key contact for business of the SMSC community. The Catering Sales Manager will assist in developing occupancy and revenue-maximizing strategies for the property through forecasting, report analysis, labor and cost controls and competitive research. Primary Duties: Process Execution

• Understand contract requirements to ensure CE and supporting departments execute the contractual commitments.
• Ensure all information relevant to the successful execution of the contracted event is clearly communicated to supporting departments.
• Ensure the client invoicing is accurate and presented to the client in a timely manner.
• Ensure open communication with the accounting department to support timely payment.

Client Relationships

• Responsible for maintaining and developing client relationships to support and establish hotel occupancy while increasing brand awareness throughout the community and meetings and events industry.
• Responsible for driving guest loyalty by delivering excellent service throughout each guest experience.
• Develop and maintain relationships with current and prospective clients to produce group and/or convention business, to include room sales, food & beverage sales, catering/banquet services and other ancillary revenues.
• Ability to maintain a professional and positive relationship with client regardless of challenging circumstances that may arise during the planning and execution of event.
• Ability to guide client in decisions that are appropriate for the attendees as well as the Enterprise.

Industry Knowledge, Business Acumen and Brand Reputation

• Ensure information is distributed to all departments regarding needs and requirements of catering events. Coordinate with multiple departments including Banquets, Hotel, Food & Beverage outlets, Casino etc.
• Knowledge of market trends and competition with the ability to support Catering Sales Executives to share/shift business.
• Develop and promote casino/hotel brand awareness by traveling to and attending industry events, tradeshows, and feeder markets to find and secure business.
• Ability to prepare cost estimates, resumes, reports, diagrams, BEOs as well as train team members in these areas.
• Understand and ability to guide and train team members to successfully execute large conventions, tradeshows and meetings that require multiple room changes and extensive food and beverage.
• Knowledge of menu creation, pricing and food and beverage trends.
• Budget and forecast.

Client and Enterprise Communication

• Proactively, effectively, and professionally communicate within and across all departments to strengthen relationships between team members and support a collaborative and positive working environment.
• Influence clients and sell the features of the Gaming Enterprise through polished and professional verbal and written communication as well as formal presentations.
• Consistently apply and live the Purpose, Vision, and Values (PVV) in every interaction.

Management and Leadership

• In partnership with the HR Business Partner, execute on people leader responsibilities including interviewing and hiring, training and development, and performance management.
• Provide leadership to the day-to-day operations of the Sales department, while maintaining focus on the business goals.
• Demonstrate leadership skills with strong acumen to guide and train team members to identify business, create compelling proposals, sell, contract, close and execute events to deliver exceptional guest experience that supports budget goals.
• Guide and train team members to successfully execute large and logistically complex events.
• Assist with budget and forecast and create reports.

Purpose, Vision, and Values

• Consistently apply and live the Purpose, Vision, and Values (PVV) in every interaction.

Job Requirements:
Reflects MINIMUM EDUCATION, TRAINING, CERTIFICATION and EXPERIENCE required in order to meet the expectations of this job:

• 7 or more years of any combination of post-high school hospitality education and catering sales experience, including one year of supervising catering sales staff. Bachelor's degree in Business, Sales/Marketing, or related preferred.
• 5 or more years of advanced Microsoft Office products and catering software management experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including exceptional verbal and written communication with ability to interact with a diverse group of people.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to work independently and prioritize and manage multiple projects.
• Knowledge of safety and fire codes as well as other regulatory and compliance necessary for group and convention center events.
• Valid driver's license may be required with good driving record and reliable transportation.