Job Title: Catering Sales Manager 

Location: Hotel Nia, An Autograph Collection by Marriott. Menlo Park, CA

Reports To: Director of Catering & Convention Services 

Job Overview :

A day in the life of a Catering Sales Manager at the Hotel Nia, Autograph Collection has you involved in a variety of tasks and working with a number of team members and customers. While everyday has a routine, no two here are ever quite the same. 

If you’re outgoing, proactive, organized, detail-oriented, ready to learn, find joy in going above and beyond client expectations and passionate about building a career in hotel event management or catering sales, this is a fantastic opportunity for you.

 Benefits & Perks:

• Quarterly Incentive Program (uncapped potential)
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401(k) Retirement Program
• Paid time off (Vacation / Sick / Paid Holidays)
• HSA Spending Account
• Dependent Care Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life Insurance and AD&D (employer paid)
• Daily Employee Meals (employer paid)
• Monthly Parking (employer paid)
• Marriott Employee Discounts (Rooms and F&B)
• Cell phone reimbursement program

Essential Job Functions:

Essential Job Functions:

This position involves both aspects of the sales process: selling/closing the business and managing/executing the event logistics.  You will be part of a seasoned team that will support you and work with you to help ensure that events taking place in the hotel meet and exceed all expectations.

Sales Process

• Oversee all catering sales, targeted at existing and new corporate, weddings and social markets.
• Build and strengthen relationships with existing and new customers, industry organizations and Marriott network to enable future bookings. Activities include outside sales calls, entertainment, trade shows, participating in industry member organizations, conducting food tastings, site-inspections, etc.
• Develops and manages relationships with key stakeholders, both internal and external.
• Understands the overall market - competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, economic trends, supply and demand etc. and knows how to sell against them.
• Execute designated sales strategies to develop and solicit specific accounts to achieve revenue goals.
• Strives to achieve personal and hotel revenue goals.
• Closes the best opportunities for the hotel based on market conditions and hotel needs.
• Uses negotiating skills and creative selling abilities to close on business and negotiate contracts.
• Build a preferred vendors list to support unique clients’ needs, such as floral vendors, wedding planners, event planners, and cross- selling partners. 
• Maintains and grows business of existing accounts and identifies and develops new markets.
• Conducts creative, thoughtful, and impactful site inspections and internal planning meetings.
• Interact with guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels.
• Executes and supports Marriott’s Customer Service Standards and hotel’s Brand Standards. 
• Executes and supports the operational aspects of business booked (e.g., generating proposal, writing contract, customer correspondence).
• Executes exemplary customer service to drive customer satisfaction and loyalty by assisting the customer and ensuring their satisfaction before and during their program/event.
• Serves the customer by understanding their needs and recommending the appropriate features and services that best meet their needs and exceed their expectations.

Managing Event Logistics

• Executes and supports the operational aspects of business booked (e.g., draft BEO’s & event resume, billing, customer correspondence, etc.).
• Up-sells products and services throughout the event process.
• Works under the guidance of his/her supervisor to forecast event revenue (catering, room rental and audio visual) for his/her groups.
• Greets customer during the event phase and works closely with Banquet Event Operations for the execution of details.
• Ensures hourly associates understand expectations and parameters for event activities.
• Ensures billing accuracy and conducts bill reviews with the clients prior to processing the final bill in a timely manner.
• Identifies operational challenges associated with his/her group and determines how to best work with the property staff and customers to solve these challenges and/or develop alternative solutions. 
• Uses his/her judgment to integrate current trends in event management and event design.
• Conducts customer site inspections and food tastings
• Solicits feedback from the property departments to identify areas for improvement to enhance the Event Planner’s experience.
• Follows-up with customer post-event.

Experience:

• Minimum two years’ hotel experience is highly preferred (or related hospitality industry)
• Marriott hotel and CI/TY Sales System experience is preferred
• Luxury hotel experience is preferred

Work Environment and Context:

• Work schedule varies and will include working on holidays and weekends.
• Requires standing for extended periods, walking, pushing, lifting up to 25 pounds, bending and reaching, stooping, kneeling, or crouching.

What We Believe:

 People Are Our Capability – Hearts That Serve – Only Excellence – Stay Nimble - Own It