Catering Sales Manager

Who We Are

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.

The Catering Sales Manager is responsible for soliciting, negotiating, contracting, detailing, and coordinating catering and banquet business for Colonial Williamsburg Resorts. While this position supports all catering market segments as business needs require, the primary focus is the wedding market, including ceremonies, receptions, rehearsal dinners, bridal luncheons, farewell brunches, anniversary celebrations, and other social events. Serves as the primary point of contact from initial inquiry through event execution, ensuring an exceptional client experience while maximizing revenue, banquet space utilization, and profitability.

Collaborates with internal departments and external partners to ensure the successful planning and execution of assigned events.

• Solicits, negotiates and books new and repeat business through outside sales, sales calls, telemarketing, mailings, networking and other efforts.
• Serves as primary contact between clients and Colonial Williamsburg. Initiates contact with clients up to one year in advance and assists in planning and developing events.
• Plans, up sells and details functions with the client including space requirements, times, equipment, menus, themes, decorations, etc. Completes the contracts, prepares the appropriate paperwork, coordinates with the appropriate areas, resolves any issues, complaints and problems to ensure quality delivery of service and customer satisfaction.
• Monitors the use of contracted accommodations and conference function space to maximize profit and efficiency.
• Negotiates related food and beverage business, meeting space rental, audio visual services, and recreational activities. Market food, beverage, tavern and golf business.
• Coordinates execution of all CWC-HG property services including accommodations, meeting rooms, audio visual, food and beverage and catering, recreational, special tickets, tours and activities, transportation, external support and external vendor services, package plans and billing.
• Develops and maintains working knowledge of cost factors and labor issues.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of corporate and hotel procedures and products and the competition’s products, strengths and weaknesses to continually improve sales strategies and the achievement of goals.
• Serves as on-site CWC-HG representative during execution of functions. Responsible and accountable for the successful operation of all activity related to assigned functions.
• Operates within a team concept; covers for others when needed while meeting individual performance goals.
• Continues professional development through educational offerings made via industry trade groups and educational institutions.

• Must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Demonstrated proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite at the intermediate level (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint)
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Must have…