Area Catering Sales Manager

Job Description Summary

The Area 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 Area Catering Sales Manager is responsible for maximizing Catering Corporate and Social revenues and profits for the three Chicago Royal Hotels – The Royal Sonesta Downtown, The Allegro Royal Sonesa Chicago Loop Hotel and The Royal Sonesta River North Hotel.

The Area Catering Sales Manager will uncover new business opportunities, foster client relationships, and ensure the successful execution of events. This position will be based out of The Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown and report to the Area Director of Catering.

The person in this role works mostly in a sales environment, with some office time reserved for service/administrative tasks.

Principle duties and responsibilities (Essential Functions) include:

• Achieve personal and team goals as assigned
• Prospect, solicit, negotiate, and book new and repeat social and corporate business to ensure maximization of revenue to achieve budgeted revenue goals.
• Establish client base of individuals, organizations, associations, social, and/or corporate businesses through direct outside and inside selling
• Negotiate guest room rates (when appropriate), meeting room rental, function space, and/or hotel services within approved booking guidelines
• Monitor and handle inquiry calls and provide client proposals in accordance with established departmental policies and procedures
• Arrange and conduct special events, site inspections, and off-site presentations for potential clients
• Based on business levels, will assist Area Event Services Manager by detailing the meeting/event specifications for each group and communicating those needs throughout operations of the hotel to effectively execute the event
• 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.
• Perform any other job-related duties as assigned

• Responsible for ensuring success through the eyes of employees, guests, and owners
• Utilize and collaborate with resources across different departments and corporate office
• Capable of influencing employees to perform to their highest standard and establishing a trusting environment to enrich the culture
• Focus on the mission and well-being of the department, hotel, and company as a whole
• Lead by example and operate with integrity and respect
• Inspire your team to embrace and demonstrate our values and GUEST People Standards

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• High school degree or equivalent required. Bachelor's Degree preferred
• 2 years of hotel-related sales experience required. Catering sales and/or Conference services experience is preferred
• 1 year of catering sales experience in a 4‑Diamond hotel with 2,000+sqft of function space is preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to prioritize and organize work assignments
• Delphi and Opera PMS experience a plus
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software

Pay range is $30.00 to $36.00.

Sonesta recognizes that benefits play a vital role in helping ensure the health and financial security of employees and their families. We offer a variety of benefits to our employees including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

• Health Savings Account with Company Match

• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match

• Paid Vacation and Sick Days

• Sonesta…