Senior Catering Sales Manager

We’re People People. Are you? We’re Sonesta International Hotels—the 8th largest hotel company in the U.S. (and growing fast ). With a dynamic mix of full-service and focused hotels across major cities, our diverse portfolio of owned, managed, and franchised properties means we’re everywhere our guests need us to be. But here’s the thing—we’re not just in the business of hotels, we’re in the business of people.

We bring service with passion, loyalty with purpose, and create experiences that genuinely connect—delivering quality, value, and memorable stays across 1,000+ properties in eight countries (and counting).

The Catering Sales Manager sets the tone for Sonesta’s Culture of Caring. We expect leaders to focus on creating amazing moments for guests, planners, and team members and dig deep to find ways to create success for their team. The Catering Sales Manager is responsible for maximizing Catering Corporate and Social revenues and profits for the hotel. The Catering Sales Manager will uncover new business opportunities, foster client relationships, and ensure the successful execution of events.

Prospect, solicit, negotiate and book new and repeat social and corporate business to ensure maximization of revenue in order to achieve and/or exceed budgeted revenue goals. Establish client base of individuals, organizations, associations, social, and/or corporate businesses through direct outside and inside selling to secure business for the hotel. Work with each client in menu planning, food and beverage coordination, table arrangements, decorations, traffic flow room set-up, group room blocks, and VIP services etc.

Prepare and distribute all Banquet Event Orders (BEO). Ensure all BEO paperwork is completed in a timely and accurate manner. Attend BEO meetings. Achieve personal and team goals as assigned. Coordinate functions and activities with other department heads as appropriate and communicate the Meeting/Event planner’s needs to appropriate staff. Negotiate guest room rates, meeting room rental, function space, and/or hotel services within approved booking guidelines.

Accurately produce and/or review all sales contracts, rate agreements, and/or banquet/catering event orders. Monitor and handle inquiry calls and provide client proposals in accordance with established departmental policies and procedures Check function/Event room setups prior to guest client arrival, ensuring all details are in agreement with client’s requirement and hotel standards. Ensure deficiencies are corrected by the appropriate personnel. Arrange and conduct special events, site inspections, and off-site presentations for potential clients.

Attend sales, revenue, and department meetings. Assist the Director of Sales & Marketing and Director of Catering & Convention Services with Budget and Forecast and complete special projects and assignments as designated. Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming. Perform any other job-related duties as assigned.

Develop key focus areas and markets for sales solicitation/prospecting. Develop personal sales campaigns and promotions in order to generate leads, promote hotel and increase visibility. Produce monthly sales-related reports and sales forecasts for assigned areas of responsibility. Attend and represent hotel at trade shows and conventions. Develop and maintain knowledge of market trends, competition, and customers.

Up-sell client events and manage function space and room block inventory as assigned. Use strong negotiation skills Aggressively and appropriately upsell hotel services and products Make sound decisions based on the best use of the hotel facilities…