Le Meridien ★ 3.8

POSITION SUMMARY
Increases revenues for all property food and beverage outlets and lounges by managing and coordinating outlet private events. Assists in the creation of private event sales goals. Develops leads, up-sell events, and book restaurant/lounge private event functions. Works with clients and stakeholders within the parameters of established guidelines. Communicates client specifications to outlet managers and chefs to promote proper implementation of client specifications. Provides appropriate revenue and sales reports as required. Updates and maintain outlet web-site information. Follows up with clients after functions and network re-booking of any events for future business. Manages restaurant/lounge/event space and availability use according to established guidelines to promote room to space ratios and event profitability. Maintains and demonstrates strong knowledge of food, beverage and general trends within the hospitality industry. Inspects assigned functions prior to event to verify they adhere to all client specifications.

CRITICAL TASKS
Managing Sales Activities
•Manages sales efforts for the hotel including local corporate and social catering.
•Works collaboratively with off-property sales channels to ensure sales efforts are coordinated, complementary and not duplicative.
•Responds to incoming catering opportunities for the hotel.
•Identifies, qualifies and solicits new catering business to achieve personal and hotel revenue goals.
•Designs, develops and sells creative catered events.
•Maximizes revenue by up-selling packages and creative food and beverage.
•Executes and supports the operational aspects of business booked (e.g., generating proposal, writing contract, customer correspondence).
•Increases revenues for all property food and beverage outlets and lounges by managing and coordinating restaurant private events.
•Assists in the creation of private event sales goals.
•Develops leads, up-sell events, and book restaurant private event functions.
•Works with clients and stakeholders within the parameters of established guidelines.
•Communicates client specifications to outlet managers and chefs to promote proper implementation of client specifications.
•Updates and maintains outlet web-site information.
•Follows up with clients after functions and network re-booking of any events for future business.
•Manages restaurant space and availability use according to established guidelines to promote room to space ratios and event profitability.
•Maintains and demonstrates strong knowledge of food, beverage and general trends within the hospitality industry.
•Inspects assigned functions prior to event to verify they adhere to all client specifications.
•Drive in-house capture ratio by working closely with the Marketing Communications department to establish promotions.
•Actively be around in hotel public areas to engage with guests and generate additional business.
•Develop, plan and execute all Food & Beverage promotions with the operations and communications departments for both internal and external communications related promotions.
•Be an ambassador for Club Marriott, communicate and support the sales team by driving sales and obtaining feedback on the program.
•Explores opportunities of hosting social events such as birthday parties, secretary parties and networking events in order to maximize revenue.

Building Successful Relationships
•Coordinates with out-of-market account leaders to coordinate in-market pull through of business in order to grow account share. (e.g., visiting local offices, reviewing solicitation list of opportunities, reader board research, etc.).
•Develops relationships within community to strengthen and expand customer base for restaurants sales opportunities and hotel networking events
•Builds and strengthens relationships with existing and new customers to enable future bookings. Activities include in house promotions, sales calls, entertainment and an active involvement in restaurant service during peak hours.
•Visits neighborhood targets and local small business accounts and coordinates follow up efforts.
•Coordinates with Sales Leader to understand needs and priorities of stakeholder hotels to identify focus areas.
•Work with the hostess team to control and monitor restaurant reservation system and maintain restaurant database.
•Handles customer care issues and as necessary, refers them to the appropriate owner.
•Provides excellent customer service consistent with the daily service basics of the company.
•Performs other duties, as assigned, to meet business needs.

Providing Exceptional Customer Service
•Interacts effectively with sales, kitchen, vendors, competitors, local community, catering associations and other hotel departments in order to ensure guest satisfaction.
•Services our customers in order to grow share of the account.
•Meets with guests on an informal basis during meals or upon departure to obtain feedback on quality of food and beverage, service levels and overall satisfaction.
•During peak hours helps to execute service delivery in outlets to ensure excellent service from point of entry to departure (e.g., greeting from hostess, speed of order taking and food and beverage delivery, fulfillment of special requests, collection of payment & invitation to return)
•Executes exemplary customer service to drive customer satisfaction and loyalty by assisting the customer and verifying their satisfaction before and during their program/event.
•Sets a positive example for guest relations.
•Interacts with guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels.
•Serves 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 the company.
•Handles guest complaints and disputes following the instant pacification procedures.
•Develops a close working relationship with operations to ensure execution of strategies at the hotel level.

Using Knowledge of Market Trends and Target Customer Information to Maximize Revenue
•Identifies new restaurant business opportunities to achieve personal and property revenue goals.
•Understands and creates awareness of promotional activities of competition.
•Monitors same day selling procedures to maximize restaurant revenue