Catering SALES & Conference Service Manager

Catering Sales Manager

Hotel Verdant is a boutique lifestyle hotel in downtown Racine, WI, offering modern accommodations, locally inspired dining, and curated event spaces. We pride ourselves on delivering personalized service and memorable experiences for our guests, whether they're here for a board meeting, wedding celebration, or community gathering.

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Catering Sales Manager to join our Sales & Events team. This role is the primary contact for all social event inquiries (weddings, showers, galas, celebrations) and is responsible for maximizing catering revenue by selling, detailing, and executing successful events. Once sleeping rooms and event space are contracted by the Director of Sales, the Catering Sales Manager takes the lead in building menus, upselling enhancements, and managing Banquet Event Orders (BEOs).

This is an excellent opportunity for a hospitality professional who enjoys blending sales skills with event planning expertise in a collaborative boutique hotel environment.

Customer Service Focus

You should champion this culture in every touch point of our business from our associates, guests, owners and communities. The service and courtesy you extend and promote daily will ensure a healthy and productive culture of serving others with excellence.

Essential Responsibilities

• Solicitation, prospecting and direct-selling in the local, Corporate and Social Catering market.
• Discuss all event details with planner including: Room setup, food and beverage, audio visual. Communicate this information clearly and through respective hotel department heads via a catering/meeting banquet event orders.
• Prepare proposals, contracts, and other client-requested documents.
• Event planning and detailing for booked events.
• On-site contact for group and standalone events.
• Plan, organize and effectively communicate on-site events including Employee of the Month, internal meetings, etc.
• Conduct property tours and convey new service offerings helping to establish new customer relationships in the community.
• Maximize Catering and Banquet revenues wherever possible and minimize erosion of check averages from price-sensitive groups.
• Communication of function-arrangement to all responsible hotel departments via weekly BEO meetings, as well as via email and direct paper & digital communication.
• Communication with clients prior to events to initiate, negotiate, and close contracts for all catered functions.
• Creation of profitable menus and distribution of client expectations to Food & Beverage Departments.
• Participate in networking events both on-site and off-site. This may include charity and community events as well.
• Physically double-check all function arrangements against specifications of client. Correct where necessary.
• Effective communication and follow-up to ensure repeat bookings.
• Update and increase client prospects through active prospecting.
• Maximize revenues for the hotel through up-selling techniques.
• Seeking a self-starter who is goal oriented, highly detailed and a strong communicator.
• Other duties as assigned by Director of Sales.

Competencies

Strategic Skills

Proficient in position required job skills and knowledge. Intelligent in grasping and integrating new information. Is an active learner with a strong sense of curiosity. Has natural instincts and insight for finding the best solution to unclear situations, issues and problems. Considers multiples resources and methods for analyzing problems. Makes great decisions.

Operating Skills

Is effective in prioritizing work; consistently manages time and processes to create maximum efficiency with minimum disruption or redundancy. Is time sensitive, understands how work and processes fit in with other departmental or business priorities and objectives. Can adjust work to accommodate expected and unexpected changes. Can gauge progress with respect to overall impact and results.

Courage

Can think and act independently with confidence. Has personal fortitude and integrity when faced with challenges.

Energy & Drive

Energetic and takes initiative. Is pro-active and persistent in pursuing and completing tasks. Strives to exceed expectations and goals.

Personal & Interpersonal Skills

Welcoming and warm personality. Able to engage easily and actively connect with others. Is genuinely caring and compassionate; visibly demonstrates desire to understand others. Creates confidence and trust with others, is socially aware of self and others and is known for communicating the right message at the right time. Utilizes a variety of approaches and communication techniques tailored to each situation. Is comfortable in conversing with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and at all organizational levels. Is direct yet tactful and considerate of audience. Positively accepts and provides feedback.

Knowledge/Skills

• High School Diploma or Equivalent required.
• College degree preferred.
• Minimum of 1 year hotel sales/catering experience.
• Knowledge of the operations of the hotel industry.
• Dynamic, enthusiastic, creative leader who thrives under pressure and is able to perform multiple functions and troubleshoot when needed.
• Command of the English language both written and verbal, with the ability to demonstrate warmth and empathy when engaging with others.
• Must have proven selling, negotiating and presentation skills.
• Requires knowledge of intermediate sales techniques.
• Highly developed customer service skills with strong attention to detail.
• Proficient computer skills including but not limited to Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, and Outlook. Event Temple and/or Opera Cloud experience preferred.
• The ability to delegate, effectively train and coach.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends and holidays.

This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. May perform other duties as assigned.