Restaurant Membership Sales

The Restaurant Development Manager is responsible for developing and nurturing relationships and driving membership sales within the restaurant membership segment. This role involves promoting the value of membership, providing exceptional customer service, and supporting the overall sales activities of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association (MRLA). The position requires the manager to effectively manage restaurant membership sales for the state of Michigan, achieve quotas and maximize coverage and membership growth.

• Meet or exceed membership sales goals within the restaurant segment, working to cultivate relationships, close sales, and provide excellent customer service.
• Identify and nurture potential restaurant businesses for MRLA membership using internal databases, online research, and publicly available resources.
• Reach out to prospective members through email, phone calls, and in-person meetings to communicate the advantages of MRLA membership.
• Attend networking events to expand reach beyond our current prospects.
• Finalize membership sales, process applications, generate invoices, and manage payment processing.

• Maintain accurate membership data within the MRLA’s database including updating demographic information and tracking sold properties or closed businesses.
• Maintain accurate prospect data within the MRLA’s database, including updating existing prospects, entering new prospects, and documenting contacts with prospects.
• Follow all SOPs including sales scrips, FAQs, and communication guidelines.

• Participate in industry trade shows and MRLA events to bolster sales initiatives and interact with both current and potential members.
• Promote attendance of prospects at MRLA events to encourage engagement.

• Health Insurance coverage for you and your dependents
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending and/or Dependent Care Accounts
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with matching funds available
• 2 days Personal Time per year
• 12 days Sick Time per year
• 2-weeks paid vacation per year
• 10 paid Holidays per year
• Paid parking
• Access to Hotel Employee Rate travel program

• Demonstrated ability to sell memberships and understand the dynamics of the hospitality market, including industry operations.
• Ability to present and promote membership benefits effectively.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to express the value of MRLA membership in a clear and compelling manner.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a warm and positive attitude.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Experience with CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, Hub Spot, Atlas) is required.

• Ability to respond to direction and manage time within general priorities and parameters of job
• Demonstrates positive interactions with employees, members, service providers and program participants; provides support and assistance willingly
• Demonstrates professional image, maturity, self-confidence and positive attitudes.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those individual encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work will be performed indoors in a generally comfortable office environment as well as some travel to potential and current members. Employees must possess the following physical requirements:

• Work will be performed in a hybrid environment, with three days in the office and two days remote.
• Able to communicate with staff on a telephone, and hear and speak clearly to members and others face to face
• Has vision sufficient to read printed documents, computer screens, forms, and other communications
• Able to sit or stand for long periods of time
• Able to reach above shoulder level to work, as well as bend, squat and sit, stand, stoop, crouch, reach, kneel, twist/turn, finger and feel
• Must have ability to travel locally and out-of-town for extended periods, using private or commercial transportation and staying in public accommodations
• Must have the physical ability to attend meetings, conventions, and other events, which may be held in large convention facilities with various accessibility, and maneuver through such facilities to perform a broad variety of duties