Director of Catering
The Director of Catering will solicit large catering functions from the following market segments SMERF, corporate, non-profit and social events.
Job Responsibilities:
- Develop catering market segments and solicit new customer relationships while maintaining and growing existing relationships.
- Assist in the design and develop creative food and beverage menus to meet and exceed customer expectations.
- Focus on meeting and exceeding catering sales revenues and operation budgets
- Prepare and present weekly and monthly detailed catering sales reports generated from Sales system and those required by General Manager and hotel Management Company.
- Conduct conference calls and external sales presentations to groups and prospective customers in order to solicit, explain, negotiate and secure catering business.
- Proficient at negotiation of prices and services that maximize hotel revenue and profitability.
- Selling, implementation and follow through of catering promotions on quarterly basis.
- Proven track record in catering sales demonstrated by achievement of sales revenue and activity goals on a consistent basis.
- Executes and supports the operational aspects of booked business (e.g. generating proposal, providing client with standard hotel contracts and professional customer correspondence.)
- Host and entertain clients to grow strong client relationships in order to gain multiple bookings.
- Monitors the effective resolution of guest issues that arise as a result of the sales process by creating mechanisms to channel issues to the property leadership and/or other appropriate stakeholders.
- Interacts effectively with sales, kitchen, outside vendors, competitors, local community, and other hotel departments in order to monitor guest satisfaction.
- Works to have a continued understanding of the hotel property’s producing catering market segments and service expectations; serves the customer by understanding their business and business issues and concerns to offer better business solutions both prior to and during the event.
Qualifications:
- 5+ years hotel catering sales experience
- Experience in the hotel industry
- Proven track record of closing sales and exceeding budgeted catering revenue
- Must be flexible to work night and weekends dependent of events
- Must be available to work Tuesday through Saturday
Benefits:
- Medical/Dental/Vision insurance coverage
- Competitive salary and bonus program
- 401k w/ corporate matching program.
- Short/Long Term Disability
- Life Insurance
- Competitive Vacation package
- Paid Time off
- Paid Holidays
- Free employee parking
- Discounts at all branded hotels around the world
Please apply today to join the team!
Holiday Inn Gurnee Convention Center is an EEO employer - M/F/Vets/Disabled