Handles customer inquiries and acts as the on-property liaison for group sales within the pre-defined peak room parameters for Property Sales. Contracts and closes group business in addition to conducting site inspections. Verifies business is turned over properly and in a timely fashion for quality service delivery. Achieves group revenue goals by actively up-selling each business opportunity to maximize revenue opportunity.

Managing Sales Activities

• Achieves group revenue goals by responding to incoming group/catering opportunities for the property that are within the pre-defined peak room parameters.
• Understands the overall market (e.g., competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, economic trends, supply and demand etc.) and knows how to sell against them.
• Closes the best opportunities for the property based on market conditions and property needs.
• Uses negotiating skills and creative selling abilities to close on business and negotiate contracts.
• Achieves group revenue goals by actively up-selling each business opportunity to maximize revenue opportunity.
• Partners with the sales team to identify new group/catering business and achieve personal and property revenue goals.
• Acts as the on-property liaison for group events over the Group Sales peak room parameters of the Sales Office.
• Develops group sales revenue and operation budgets, and provides forecasting reports.        
• Works with the management team to create and implement a group sales/marketing plan addressing revenue, customers, and market.
• Assists with selling, implementation, and follow-through of group sales promotions.     
• Attends pre- and post-convention meetings to understand group needs, obtain feedback on quality of product, service levels, and overall satisfaction.
• Provides accurate, complete, and effective turnover to Event Management.
• Executes and supports River Cree Resort and Casino’s Circle of Service
• Conducts site inspections, as required.
• Monitors same day selling procedures to maximize room revenue and control hotel occupancy.
• Executes and supports the operational aspects of business booked (e.g., generating proposal, writing contract, customer correspondence).
• Verifies that the property implements a seamless turnover from sales to operations and back to sales while consistently delivering high level of service.
• Monitors the effective resolution of guest issues that arise as a result of the sales process by creating mechanisms to channel issues to property.  
• Performs other duties, as assigned, to meet business needs.

Building Successful Relationships

• Develops relationship with existing and new customers to enable future bookings through sales calls, entertainment, FAM trips, trade shows, etc.
• Develops relationships within the community to strengthen and expand customer base for group/catering sales opportunities.
• Partners with Event Management and/or Operations in providing a customer experience that exceeds the customer’s expectations.
• Implements the service strategy and applicable brand initiatives in all aspects of the sales process and drives customer loyalty by delivering service excellence throughout each customer experience.
• Gains understanding of the property’s primary target customer and service expectations; serves the customer by understanding their business, business issues and concerns, to offer better business solution both prior to, and during, the program/event.

Other

• To look out for the safety of yourself, co-workers and to follow all Health and Safety requirements in the workplace.
• All other duties as assigned

• High School Diploma or GED
• 4 years demonstrated experience in Hotel Sales and Marketing
• Currently working as a Sales Manager in an Edmonton Area Hotel
• Large group sales experience.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel
• Knowledge of scheduling
• Ability to meet deadlines in a rapidly changing business environment.
• Self-planning skills sufficient to schedule, organize, and carry out work assignments according to established work plans, adjusting work schedules according to changing priorities.
• Developed judgment and problem-solving skills sufficient to interpret and/or analyze factual and conceptual information with the ability to adapt general procedures or approaches when formulating responses to problems.
• Manages workload independently and works well in teams.
• Experience and proven success working with senior management and in a corporate environment.
• Must display leadership skills and the ability to multi-task.

This position is to report to work five (5) day per week and if required, may be instructed to work additional time due to any special events that may be occurring at River Cree Resort & Casino.

WE OFFER

•  A competitive wage and excellent benefits.
• Shuttle service from West Edmonton location.
• All associates participate in our “Circle of Service” program which rewards and empowers individuals who provide outstanding customer service.
• An opportunity to work within a progressive, exciting team environment.
• An opportunity to work with a skilled Management team.