Catering Sales Manager

Who We Are

The CRVA works to deliver experiences that uniquely enrich the lives of our visitors and residents. Through leadership in destination development, marketing and venue management expertise, the CRVA leads efforts to maximize the region’s economic potential through visitor spending, creating jobs and opportunities for the community. Brands supported by the CRVA include the Charlotte Convention Center, Spectrum Center, Bojangles Entertainment Complex, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte Film Commission, Visit Charlotte and Visitor Info Centers.

Job Summary The Catering Sales Manager is responsible for booking short term meetings/ catered events/ and repeat accounts at the Charlotte Convention Center. Detailing all food and beverage requirements for events at Convention Center and joint citywide NASCAR Hall of Fame coordinating with clients, F&B team, and operations on a successful event execution. Job Responsibilities

• Essential Job Duties
• Responds to and books short term inbound inquiries for CC that come via repeat customer, phone, walk-in, websites, hotels and referral; communicating dates, rates and space; utilizing Momentus, appropriate proposal templates, opportunities, traces and contracting procedures.
• Qualify history on new event opportunities for the Convention Center. Includes contacting other facilities for data, internet search to confirm legal entity and visit previous event websites.
• Work closely with the culinary and operations team to develop menus to ‘WOW’ clients and guests while simultaneously maintaining operational feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and event appropriateness for venue facilities.
• Conducts site visits for potential clients to showcase what the convention center has to offer.
• Participate in planning sites when requested; coordinates and conducts tastings to upsell.
• Work with contracted clients on Food & Beverage needs; using Momentus to create Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) detailing the client’s menu selections and service requirements. Get client signature in accordance with deadlines.
• Facilitates weekly BEO meetings to discuss upcoming events with Kitchen, Banquet, and Operations teams to convey the details of each event and ensure the client’s expectations will be met.
• Attain final guarantees from clients.
• Assist accounting to ensure timely payment is achieved with deposits and final billing.
• Onsite during events to ensure catering event rooms are set properly, food is prepared as ordered and delivered on time per customers’ expectations. Handle communication of pop-up needs or last-minute changes to BEOs.
• Manage client relationships to set expectations and drive positive event experience.
• Contacts client after event to ensure event was a success, and initiate rebooking. Send follow-up client surveys.
• Participates in targeted sales and marketing initiatives when called upon by Visit Charlotte (ie. client FAM, entertainment).
• Forecasts event revenues in Momentus UDF and participates in annual budgeting account profile review.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule which will consist of nights, weekends and possibly holidays.
• Attends weekly meetings as scheduled.
• Source and procure specialty items.
• Maintain and update catering database in Momentus
• May perform other duties as required.
• Consistently deliver the best in customer service. Represent our city by setting the standard in Southern hospitality. By applying the CRVA Service Standards, ensure customers’ needs are met and offer an authentic closing with appreciation by offering personalized and complete solutions that exceed expectations, to deliver memorable customer experiences.
• Champion CRVA’s mission, vision and core values and comply with organizations policies and procedures.

Scope of Responsibility

• This job has no budgetary responsibilities.
• This job will have periodic access to confidential data including financial statements, company records and/or minutes, customer quotes, and company plans, designs, and programs

Supervisory Responsibility

• This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Demonstrate ability to effectively interact with people of diverse backgrounds
• Excellent analytical, problem solving, critical thinking and decision-making skills.
• Self-motivation that drives individual results while being a strong team player.
• Effective in providing exceptional customer service
• Ability to improve the bottom line
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills
• Creative and Innovative
• Keen eye for detail
• Excellent time management skills, ability to multi-task.
• Passionate, Enthusiastic, Flexible, Energetic
• Project Management experience
• Ability to anticipate customer needs.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Builds positive relationships with customers and vendors, goes the extra mile to satisfy and exceed customer needs.
• Experience working on major events is preferred.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree (B. A.) or equivalent from four-year college or technical school; and four to five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite.

Physical Demands

• The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to handle or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk.

Work Environment

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Travel Required

• This job has no travel requirements.

What We Offer

• Education Reimbursement
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus other great benefits.
• 457 Plan
• NC Retirement System plan
• CRVA University
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Employee 1st Culture
• CORE Values

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Our “employee first” culture requires engagement and engagement can’t happen without the voices of many talented individuals charting our direction.