Gc&e Sales Executive

Job title: Groups, Conferences & Events Executive

**Reports directly to**: GC&E Manager

**Direct Reports**: n/a
Overall Job Purpose
- The Groups, conferences & Events Executive, as part of the reactive events team, will manage the client/customer relationship, converting customer enquiries into confirmed sales and to develop future and repeat business, contributing to the profitability of the hotel.
- Will reply directly to enquiries and allocating bookings whilst ensuring hotel response standards are always met. These enquiries will include, but are not limited to telephone, e-lead and walk-ins.
- Responsible for the planning stage of the event cycle, up
- selling, BEO's/Group Sheets, conducting pre-cons as well as post event billing and providing all relevant departments with the necessary information to deliver excellent customer service for medium sized groups/events.
- The role will interact frequently with customers and Guests to learn about their needs and develop relationships from which to earn repeat and expanded business.

Competencies
- Action orientated with a drive for results
- Engaging personality
- A people-person
- Very effective communicator
- Problem solver
- Positive approach

Qualifications, Skills & Experience
- Fluent in both Italian and English
- Strong understanding of MICE environment
- Have good organizational skills.

Education and Experience

Minimum 3-year experience in similar role in comparable property with sizeable rooms and meeting spaces.

Preferred:

- Has demonstrated the ability to always work on behalf of Guests
- Has demonstrated the ability to work with other Team Members
- The ability to proactively sense and take action on customer needs and opportunities

Principal Accountabilities
Managing Sales Activities
- Proactively promotes, sells and controls the conference and event spaces available in the hotel.
- Take ownership for the sales side, from client enquiry, qualifying all enquiries, negotiating, contracting, follow-up and rebooking, as well as handle addendums for medium sized bookings.
- On receiving new opportunities/enquiries, ensure that the clients are responded to within company guidelines and verify what space is being held in the events diary.
- To ensure that every client is contacted within 4 hours of the initial enquiry being received
- To ensure that every client with a confirmed booking has a signed Contract incorporating T&C’s detailing the agreement between the hotel and the client.
- To liaise with the clients on a timely basis in order to collect all relevant information to meet the client’s specific requirements.
- At all times present and maintain high standards of communication, both written and verbal, to the client.
- Ensures diary management systems are updated with all activities as appropriate and all enquiries are logged and input in as required.
- To effectively communicate, in a timely manner to all relevant departments any amendments or alterations.
- To liaise with Banqueting to ensure that the rooms/equipment have the correct setup as per BEO.
- To refer all bookings/enquiries we cannot accommodate, to the relevant alternative properties to ensure the business stays with Marriott hotels.
- Handling all new enquiries/opportunities to company standard, and upselling, in order to maximize business yield.
- To conduct both planned and walk-in site visits, as necessary, in a professional manner, demonstrating full knowledge of the product and services, tailoring the benefits to meet the guest’s needs.
- To have a sound knowledge and understanding of all hotel facilities e.g. meeting room capacities, menus, accommodation
- To ensure all diary entries are up to date with booking status, event details, forecast figures & activities.
- To establish and nurture a good relationship with regular bookers and high spend clients by joining Hotel familiarisation trips as required.
- To proactively promote Marriott Bonvoy and its benefits to existing and new members
- To pass possible sales leads to the Proactive Sales Team.
- Ensures to interact frequently with customers and Guests to learn about their needs and develop relationships from which to earn repeat and expanded business.
- Understanding of local market trends, competitors, and keep up to date with new market place trends.
- To be aware of the budgets / financial targets within the property both overall hotel and departmental. With this in mind constantly looking at methods to increase up selling and ideas to achieve
- Contribute to the strategy and planning activities of the GC&E department.
- Ensure the complete administration and execution of all planned conferences and events.
- When required attend events and relevant exhibitions.
- Cooperate with other departments in the hotel to create an exceptional Guest experience and build strong, comprehensive sales programs. Attention to detail and ensure accurate execution of work and system
- To ensure accurate and up to date b