Event Executive - Fixed Term - 24 Hours - Meriden

Posting Date Jun 16, 2021
Job Number 21061383
Job Category Sales & Marketing
Location Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club, Maxstoke Lane, Meriden, WARWICKSHIRE, United Kingdom
Brand Marriott Hotels Resorts
Schedule Part-Time
Relocation? N
Position Type Non-Management
Located Remotely? N

Marriott International portfolio of brands includes both JW Marriott and Marriott Hotels.

Marriott Hotels, Marriott International's flagship brand with more than 500 global locations, is advancing the art of hosting so that our guests can travel brilliantly. As a host with Marriott Hotels, you will help keep this promise by delivering premium choices, sophisticated style, and well-crafted details. With your skills and imagination, together we will innovate and reinvent the future of travel.
JW Marriott is part of Marriott International's luxury portfolio and consists of more than 80 beautiful properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations around the world. JW believes our associates come first. Because if you're happy, our guests will be happy. It's as simple as that. Our hotels offer a work experience unlike any other, where you'll be part of a community and enjoy a true camaraderie with a diverse group of co-workers. JW creates opportunities for training, development, recognition and most importantly, a place where you can really pursue your passions in a luxury environment. Treating guests exceptionally starts with the way we take care of our associates. That's The JW Treatment.

The Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel offers its associates a competitive salary, gym membership, staff meals, car parking and generous global hotel discounts for you, your friends and family. An exciting opportunity is available to start your Marriott journey in our Sales team at this four star hotel where you can receive long term development and career opportunities. The Forest of Arden is part of an exclusive collection of Marriott country clubs and is located in the heart of the West Midlands, located between Solihull and Coventry with easy access to the M6, M42 and M40, just four miles from Birmingham NEC, Airport and International Train Station. Facilities of the Forest of Arden include our AA rosette-awarded restaurant, Cast Iron Bar and Grill, two golf courses including our championship Arden course, a driving range and the Golf academy.  There is our relaxing Spa with 8 treatment rooms, outdoor tennis courts and a fully equipped fitness centre.

JOB SUMMARY

The Fixed Term Event Executive is mainly responsible for billing, incoming enquiries, from conversion through to seamless transition to operations for event execution and back to sales.  The Event Executive provides excellent customer service through every element of the event or group enquiry, utilizing strong selling skills.  Prepares all event documentation and coordinates with all relevant hotel departments and the customer to ensure consistent, high level service through pre -event, during event and post event. Recognizes opportunities to maximize revenue, conversion and drive repeat business. The Event Executive takes personal responsibility to adhere to sales and event brand standards for enquiry handling, event planning, pre & post-event.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Experience 

• Background in customer service role, sales, event management ideally within an hotel environment preferred

Skills and Knowledge

• Effective sales skills
• Knowledge of meetings & event management
• Effective communication (verbal, listening, writing) and negotiation skills
• Strong customer development and relationship management skills
• Strong organization skills
• Knowledge of contract management and legalities
• Knowledge of menu planning, food presentation and banquet and event service operations
• Knowledge of event technology products and services
• Knowledge of current trends in event management and event technology
• Knowledge of overall hotel operations as they affect department
• Ability to execute against an agreed event and group strategy
• Ability to use Microsoft Office software applications and hotel system applications
• Strong problem-solving skills; encourages new innovative solutions when appropriate
• Effective influence skills
• Effective decision making skills

Education or Certification

• High School Diploma or equivalent required; Bachelor's Degree preferred

Leadership Competencies

Attach the Leadership Competencies template that corresponds to the career band for the position.

Specific Duties

• Ownership for the management and conversion of assigned enquiries
• Coordination of all customer requirements, including communication and completing verbally and in writing with the customer the details of an event up to handover to operations on the day of event execution.
• Expertise in menu planning, food presentation, meeting room set ups, audiovisual and banquet service standards. Cooperate with Banqueting Operation and Kitchen team to develop new F&B concepts according to the Meetings Imagined.com purposes
• Correct use of systems process to ensure booking integrity, consistency & accuracy.
• Sells to a pre-determined event and group strategy
• Works within brand standards & systems processes
• Generate incremental revenue and deliver excellent guest service.
• Effectively manages bedrooms blocks and meeting space inventory for assigned groups
• Conducts compelling show rounds to win the business
• Execution of Meetings Made & Memories Made across all events
• Execution of MSA
• Proactively resolicits previous customers and event bookers for future opportunities
• Training and execution of BDRC and Sandown enquiry standards, continually review and agree improvement actions to ensure benchmark percentage is exceeded

Guest Satisfaction

• Sets a positive example for guest relations.
• Interacts with guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels.  Effectively responds to and handles guest problems and complaints.
• Provides excellent customer service.  Ensures all associates involved in and event or booking understand expectations and parameters.
• Observes service behaviors of associates and provides feedback to individuals; continuously strives to improve service performance.
• Conducts pre- and post-event meetings as required to review/communicate group needs and feedback.
• Actively solicits feedback from the hotel departments to identify areas for improvement to enhance the Event Planner's experience.
• Emphasizes guest satisfaction during all departmental meetings and focuses on continuous improvement.

Sales and Revenue Management

• Delivers a compelling sales experience to drive conversion and repeat business
• Provides appropriate feedback to overcome obstacles to selling, including pricing, inventory availability and event execution
• Effectively up sells products and services throughout the event process.
• Participates in customer site inspections and assists with the sales process when necessary.

• Effectively manages customer budgets to maximize revenue and meet customer needs.
• Accurately forecasts group sleeping rooms and event revenue (catering and audio-visual) for his/her groups.

Other

• Performs other duties as assigned to meet business needs.