Catering/Wedding Manager

Millennium Hotels and Resorts is a Hong Leong subsidiary of Singapore-listed global real estate company City Developments Limited (CDL). Headquartered in Singapore, Millennium Hotels and Resorts is Singapore’s largest homegrown operator of international hotel brands spanning 4 continents and 80 strategic destinations. With a portfolio that includes timeless masterpieces to lifestyle properties, Millennium Hotels and Resorts comprises of the brands: The Biltmore, Grand Millennium, Millennium, M Social, Studio M, M Hotel, Copthorne and Kingsgate. The group also has a specially curated selection of uniquely inimitable properties under Leng’s Collection, which has been put together by our chairman, Mr. Kwek Leng Beng.

M Social Hotel is designed to be a landmark hotel for Millennium Hotels and Resorts. The project is being developed in conjunction with Lakeside Apartments along with a public park and lake that connect the two projects. The design of the hotel offers a visually striking refuge for travellers. The massing steps down towards the East for improved views, while allowing natural light into the core of the hotel. The first floor offers a restaurant, bar, lounge, pre-function space, multiple meeting rooms, two ballrooms, commercial kitchen, and a centrally located courtyard that connects the common areas. The hotel provides 263 keys and, in addition to the first floor, offers visitors a fitness centre and outdoor lounge. Sitting close to the 101 Freeway, the hotel will serve as a convenient option for travellers arriving from nearby San Jose Mineta International Airport.

M Social is a cocoon of experiences. Diversity is celebrated, bland is banned. It’s a safe space where guests can meet like-minded individuals and jump into a community away from home.

DESCRIPTION OF THE POSITION

As a Catering Sales & Events Manager, you will be responsible for developing new accounts, maintaining existing accounts, implementing sales and marketing strategies to maximize profits of the hotel while maintaining customer satisfaction, and meeting and exceeding forecasted and budgeted revenue goals.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage group and catering accounts to maximize business potential
• Negotiate catering business and contracts that meet or exceed hotel revenue goals
• Negotiate contracts, ensuring that all pertinent aspects of solicitation and closing are complete and documented
• Make on-site and field presentations to prospective clients
• Actively pursue new clients through creative/innovative sales techniques and aggressive prospecting
• Prospect and qualify all lead sources through cold calls, tele-prospecting and networking to generate new opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to up sell customer through food & beverage offerings, room upgrades, AV and lighting upgrades and spa faculties, if applicable
• Drive strategies to develop long term business relationships and repeat business
• Enthusiastically and proactively sale the Hotel concept to group and catering prospects in a way that best illustrates the identity of the brand as innovative and new
• Consistently identify new business and aggressively pursue new accounts by make prospecting calls, outside sales calls and attending trade shows
• Develop long term business relationships and consistently book repeat business
• Attend tradeshows, make on-site field presentations, and outside sales calls to prospective clients
• Conduct unique site inspections that create a WOW experience for the customer and M Social Brand.
• Create customized Wedding Packages, Menus, and proposals, etc.
• Respond to all customer inquiries within 24 hours or sooner
• Maintain accurate information on all bookings, specifically program details, client correspondence, traces and to-do lists
• Follow proper event management procedures for event execution to include but not limited to BEO creation, F&B forecasting, resume communication, amenity/VIP designation and room block management
• Produce and distribute accurate banquet/catering event orders, timelines, diagrams, and resumes within timeframe set by hotel
• Coordinates, plans and implements wedding related marketing tactics and events
• Provide client support to include processing client leads, investigating hotel and preferred guest program issues, and acquiring or sending collateral materials
• Provide hotel support to include following up on outstanding responses, calling, faxing and emailing clients with responses and answering requests. Report generation as needed
• Partners with Operations in providing a customer experience that exceeds the customer’s expectations
• Maintains liaison with other hotel departments to facilitate services agreed upon by the sales office and prospective clients
• Drive product quality and a unique guest experience at every opportunity
• Take pride in the overall look and feel of the hotel never walking past something out of place
• Maintain a refreshing attitude focused on positive friendly interactions with guests and staff
• Develop and maintain strong interdepartmental relationships and open communication lines to assure efficient transfer of information.
• Schedule meetings and business group activities at the hotel.
• Be familiar with all company policies and benefits.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Originate and carry out sales and catering campaigns.
• Create new ways of presenting information that will attract peoples’ attention.
• Frequently change from one activity to another, for example, writing a speech, giving a speech, and writing a report of progress.
• Understand how different kinds of people react to words, pictures and colour. Work with all kinds of people. Plan and organize the work of others.
• Must be able to speak, read, write and understand the primary language(s) used in the workplace.
• Must be able to read and write to facilitate the communication process.
• Requires excellent communication skills, both verbal and written with guests, department managers and talent.
• Must possess basic computer skills. Thorough knowledge of computer processing systems

SPECIFIC JOB KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• The individual must possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities and be able to explain and demonstrate that he or she can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities:
• Solid track record in selling and detailing both corporate and catering events
• California hotel experience preferred
• Strong client service orientation and operational execution
• Must be able to read and write to facilitate the communication process.
• Requires good communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Considerable knowledge of complex mathematical calculations and computer accounting programs. Budgetary analysis capabilities required.
• Extensive knowledge of the hotel, its services and facilities.
• Ability to analyse, forecast data, and make judgments to ensure proper payroll and production control.
• Ability to effectively deal with internal and external customers, some of whom will require high levels of patience, tact and diplomacy and collect accurate 
• 3-5 years Sales and/or Catering experience in the hospitality industry