Catering Sales ExecutiveThe Inn & Conference Center UMUCReq #766629

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The Inn & Conference Center, University of Maryland University City, located at 3501 University Blvd. East in Hyattsville, MD is currently hiring for a CATERING SALES EXECUTIVE.

Responsibilities include:

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES

The Catering Sales Executive has overall responsibility for achieving andor exceeding the hotel catering sales revenue goals. Overall, the position is accountable for the following:

Sales and Marketing Leadership

Manage the sales efforts for the hotel including local corporate and social catering.

Work collaboratively with off-property sales channels (e.g., Sales Office, Area Sales, EST) to ensure sales efforts are coordinated, complementary and not duplicative.

Respond to incoming catering opportunities for the hotel. Identify, qualify and solicit new catering business to achieve personal and hotel revenue goals.

Proactively solicit affiliate business associated with citywide events from approved affiliate list provided by Citywide Sales Executive.

Understand the overall market - competitors strengths and weaknesses, economic trends, supply and demand etc. and know how to sell against them.

Close the best opportunities for the hotel based on market conditions and hotel needs.

Use negotiating skills and creative selling abilities to close on business and negotiate contracts.

Work with the management team to create and implement a catering sales plan addressing revenue, customers and market.

Design, develop and sell creative catered events.

Maximize revenue by up-selling packages and creative food and beverage.

Manage catering sales revenue and operation budgets, and provide forecasting reports.

Develop menus which drive sales.

Assist with selling, implementation and follow-through of catering promotions.

Interact effectively with sales, kitchen, vendors, competitors, local community, catering associations and other hotel departments in order to ensure guest satisfaction.

Execute and support Marriotts Customer Service Standards and hotels Brand Standards.

Execute and support the operational aspects of business booked (e.g., generating proposal, writing contract, customer correspondence).

Participate in and practice daily service basics of the brand (i.e., MHR Spirit to Serve Daily Basics, RHR Savvy Service Basics, Courtyard, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn Basics of the Day, Residence Inn Daily Huddle, or TownePlace Suites Morning Meeting).

Execute exemplary customer service to drive customer satisfaction and loyalty by assisting the customer and ensuring their satisfaction before and during their programevent.

Serve the customer by understanding their needs and recommending the appropriate features and services that best meet their needs and exceed their expectations, while building a relationship and loyalty to Marriott.

Gain understanding of the hotels primary target customer and service expectations; serve the customer by understanding their business, business issues and concerns, to offer better business solution both prior to, and during the programevent.

Develop a close working relationship with operations to ensure execution of strategies at the hotel level.

Perform other duties, as assigned, to meet business needs.

Hotel Performance

Ensure that the property implements a seamless turnover from sales to operations and back to sales while consistently delivering high level of service.

Monitor the effective resolution of guest issues that arise as a result of the sales pr