Oversee the Event Planning function and related staff to ensure the planning and delivery of successful hotel events.
Develop a flexible sales strategy to reflect the achievement of hotel budget commitment and which responds to local market conditions.
Ensure products and or services provided by Event Planning meet or exceed guest expectations and build customer loyalty through product and or service excellence
Take a proactive sales approach and in line with strategy, adapt sales solutions to meet client needs and expectations
Competitor analysis to be completed and recorded on a regular basis including: Promotions, pricing, availability, test calls and conference boards.
Ensure efficient management of enquiries, turn down and lost business to create future pipeline and repeat business
Manage the daily operation of Event Planning to achieve or exceed budget expectations. Ensures accuracy of Forecast and Pace reports and works to provide excellent critiques for departmental performance on a monthly basis
Develop relationships with local clients, direct bookers and agency bookers to ensure a strong base of new and regular repeat business and to ensure confidence in the hotel and booking process
Accurately identify customer needs, draw up well-presented and customised proposals in line with brand policies and standards of presentation
Pro-actively manage BOB against Budgeted target and identify need periods and undertake comprehensive program of sales activity to secure new and ad hoc business minimizing the impact of low activity periods
Supervise the billing – Payment guarantees, Credit Policy and Deposits
Qualifications
Proven experience as an Event Sales Manager or in a similar commercial role preferably in a large, fast paced luxury hospitality setting.
Strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
Results-oriented with a proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets.
Fluency in verbal and written English is essential – an additional language would be an advantage.
Must be a highly capable user of Opera, Microsoft office programs including Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook.