Group Sales Manager

The Group Sales Manager is a highly motivated, goal-oriented individual responsible for the generation, successful achievement, and future development of significant group & catering sales volume produced at established levels of profitability. Serving as the point person for Group SMERF (except Sports) room blocks (10 room minimum on peak) and their related catering events. This position requires exceptional organization and dedication to interpersonal communications to fulfill the numerous responsibilities of client relationships, industry involvement, business strategy, financial accountability, and team commitment.

Business Results

• Generate, achieve and develop targeted group & catering sales volume, reflecting budgeted levels of revenue generation and profitability
• Upsell/negotiate services to maximize revenue and profit
• Provide exceptional customer service through relationship development, strategizing account development and creating plans that fully exhibit commitment to the fulfillment of customer expectations
• Sell the Hotel creatively, utilizing a goals/benefits/features approach to securing business
• Assert comprehensive knowledge and keen awareness of the Hotel’s primary market, its surrounding areas and resources
• Assert knowledge and maximization of any Brand programs; sell strategy and brand-specific pricing techniques
• Maintain a working knowledge and awareness of the competition in current and changing conditions; frequently visiting facilities and reporting on the business climate as it relates to competitive advantage
• Support and implement the specific Group & Catering Sales actions outlined in the Annual Business & Marketing Plans to maintain the corporate direction
• Aggressively prospect, research and solicit new accounts
• Identify and develop new Group market opportunities and strategies, aggressively pursuing the appropriate mix and type of business that will best achieve the Hotel’s sales plan and direction
• Responsible for all planning, billing and reporting for Group Events booked
• Responsible for maintaining the integrity of Sales records and reports including the Booking database
• Responsible for the on-line RFP Management processes as applicable to brand or third party source, for securing corporate negotiated Accounts
• Actively participate in Revenue Strategy meetings with DOS, GM, Revenue Manager and other members of the leadership team
• Participate in team brainstorming sessions, Hotel staff meetings and client events as required for specific business situation, or as requested by Director of Sales or General Manager
• Conduct site inspections, menu tastings, escort client visits, actively entertain, and personally interact with customers, as appropriate for Group travel sales development
• Promote the Hotel through regular industry involvement and exposure at local and/or national events
• Liaison with appropriate Brand alliances (as applicable) to promote and generate group & catering business opportunities through joint sales trips, Familiarization tours, events, etc.
• Promote the City and the Hotel via planned sales calls and occasional sales trips to personally meet with clients outside of immediate area
• Maintain a high level of professional standards including appearance, demeanor, ethics and image of self
• Maintain positive employee relations in a supportive, team-oriented environment
• Actively support the development, training, mentoring of all associates and accept such responsibilities if assigned by the Director of Sales or General Manager
• Perform special projects or duties as requested by Director of Sales or General Manager

Guest Satisfaction

• Ensures a high level of customer satisfaction and builds long terms mutually beneficial customer relationships to support future revenue growth
• Coordinates and communicates verbally and in writing with customer regarding event details
• Follows up with customer post-event
• Makes presence known to customer at all times during this process, regardless of which hotel they sit at
• Greets customer during the event phase and hands-off to the Convention Services department for the execution of details
• Is available to solve problems and/or suggest alternatives to previous arrangements
• Displays leadership in guest hospitality and ensures consistent, high level service throughout all phases of hotel events
• Ensures products and services sold to the Event Planners meet or exceed their expectations, create loyalty and leads to increased market share
• Sets a positive example for guest relations
• Interacts with guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels. Effectively responds to and handles guest problems and complaints
• Reviews Guest Service Results with leaders
• Participates in the development and implementation of corrective action plans
• Emphasizes guest satisfaction during all departmental meetings and focuses on continuous improvement
• Utilizes Delphi or other hotel system to capture and manage customer information on a daily basis

Leadership

Applies broad business knowledge and balances both a short- and long-term perspective to generate strategies while leading the organization to achieve them

• Demonstrates commitment to Westmont Hospitality operating principles and philosophies
• Holds self and others accountable for achieving results
• Addresses conflict in a timely manner
• Contributes to team results
• Deals with change effectively
• Makes decisions, including employees/team and commits to a course of action

Building Relationships

Eliminates insular thinking by fostering a positive climate for work relationships and teams committed to achieving organizational goals and initiatives

• Treats people fairly, with dignity and respect
• Works to meet goals in a manner that does not disadvantage other employees or groups
• Demonstrates business ethics and personal integrity, i.e., is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual
• Listens and responds to others
• Is interested in other’s views even if they counter own views

Managing Work Execution

Proactively ensures that others have the accountability, authority and resources necessary to both manage work execution and drive for results

• Adheres to all standards, policies, and procedures
• Effectively uses sales resources and administrative/support staff
• Approaches work with a sense of urgency and purpose
• Allocates time and resources effectively when faced with competing demands
• Overcomes obstacles to accomplish challenging objectives
• Follows through on inquiries, requests, and complaints

Generating Talent

Proactively identifies and develops talent within the organization

• Discusses problems immediately with others before they are forgotten or get out of control
• Actively pursues self-development
• Explains own rationale and thought processes to help employees improve their skills

Organizational Learner

Actively pursues learning and self-development to enhance personal, professional and business growth; shares learning; demonstrates depth of knowledge in technical or specialized area

• Acts independently to improve and increase skills and knowledge
• Demonstrates an awareness of personal strengths and areas for professional improvement
• Shares learning, innovations, and best practices with others
• Is willing to learn from others
• Performs all technical/procedural requirements of the job

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Experience 

• One (1) year hotel sales or meeting planning management experience
• Brand experience preferred
• High School Diploma or equivalency

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong, comprehensive knowledge and keen awareness of the Hotel’s primary neighborhood, its surrounding areas, and resources
• Possess excellent selling and closing skills
• Ability to provide exceptional customer service through the creative development and fulfillment of proposals and Business Agreements
• Ability to achieve designated sales goal production
• Ability to research, price, strategically plan and negotiate on the Hotel’s behalf
• Ability to establish priorities, work independently, and accomplish timeline objectives
• Ability to solicit business: identify and develop new leads as well as uncover leads from existing accounts
• Ability to evaluate business trends and apply/modify strategies to maximize revenues and profitability
• Ability to develop, support and implement effective Sales Action Plans
• Skilled in prompt, assertive decision-making and problem-solving
• Possess excellent reading, writing, verbal communication, and listening skills to effectively communicate with clients, business partners and team members.
• Possess good math skills to cost out business opportunities, upsell and effectively manage financial responsibilities of revenue and profit in the booking process
• Ability to plan and facilitate personal sales calls, client entertainment, and site visits
• Ability to network at professional industry events and/or travel on the Hotel’s behalf
• Familiar with basic legality and compliance issues of contractual Agreements, as practiced within the hospitality industry
• Familiar with global distribution systems and general practices of the corporate travel environment including compliance issues, contractual Agreements, etc.
• Skill to use a personal computer with clear proficiency in Windows, all major Microsoft applications including Word and Excel, e-mail, e-data and World-wide Web
• Adept in learning new software applications, fully participating in a continuously changing technological environment
• Proficient in use of numerous Brand tools, reporting mechanisms and resources to support the group travel & catering sales environment
• Proficient in use of TravelClick Demand (Hotelligence) platform to analyze business and develop target plans for growing/maximizing business
• Knowledge of modern business communication including style and format of professional correspondence, e-mail, memoranda and reports
• Ability to work with visible self-confidence, energy and enthusiasm
• Ability to develop positive, productive relationships within the office environment as well within the local hospitality community

DoubleTree By Hilton Modesto, California