Catering Sales Manager - Dollywood Resorts - Exempt

Overview

Dollywood Parks & Resorts creates memories worth repeating at Dollywood Resorts, which include over 600 rooms and 15 Food & Beverage outlets in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Future plans include growing the resort footprint to over 1200 rooms across five resorts  are seeking a Catering Sales Manager for Dollywood Resorts who will embody the heart and soul of our mission of creating memories worth repeating while caring deeply about our brand.

We want to work alongside someone who acts as an extension of our mission, values, and culture. This individual is driven to create meaningful experiences for our hosts, guests, and community while ensuring the success and profitability of our unique offerings. They bring fun, authenticity, collaboration, creativity, and genuine hospitality to their life and work, and can bring the vision of the resorts to life.

The right Catering Sales Manager will be a curious learner, innovator, administrator, detail driver, mentor, and motivator.

In this role, you will be accountable for the overall catering sales success across the Dollywood Resorts campus, currently Dream More Resort & Spa and Heart Song Lodge & Resort. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of two (2) years of catering sales for upscale hotel & resort properties, preferably with large meeting and event facilities.

• Prospect, negotiate and generate definite business through hospitality channels, including phone calls, sales system data base on past business/existing maintenance accounts, daily follow up with RFP requests through CVENT and direct internal channels, referrals, event follow up, and other means to find qualifying business for the resorts
• Plan, execute and manage all details for each meeting/event booked
• Finalize BEOs and resumes; attend weekly BEO meetings with operational departments
• Attend hospitality-related industry events to identify new potential business
• Plan and conduct site visits with clients to showcase our resorts and brand
• Engage with industry organizations to generate leads for the resort
• Daily communication with key accounts and decision makers to identify future business for both resorts; build relationships for ongoing follow-up
• Respond to inquiries promptly and ensure exceptional client care
• Assist with development of key action plans aligned with core values and sales goals
• Attend daily, weekly and monthly department meetings and participate in resort core culture events
• Prepare weekly reports on sales activities and review with the team; track monthly production toward quarterly catering sales goals
• Understand resort facilities & amenities and communicate the full brand experience to potential clients; conduct property tours and host on-site visits as appropriate
• Access and utilize internal sales systems (Delphi.
  
  FDC and Salesforce)
• Maintain knowledge of the competitive set and market changes to position the resorts effectively
• Collaborate with the catering and sales team to develop marketing plans, budget analysis, and menus
• Coordinate with marketing on wedding websites and social media updates with photos, testimonials, and promotions
• Conduct post-event evaluations to identify improvements for future events

• Minimum two (2) years of upscale hotel and resort catering sales preferred but not required
• Good working knowledge of Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and CRM systems
• Strong communication, listening, facilitation and problem-solving skills, computer skills and financial acumen
• Able to analyze, forecast data, and make judgments to ensure proper business is booked
• Driver's license and an acceptable driving record required

• Must display Lead with Love qualities rooted in the Dollywood Company culture: patient, kind, humble, respectful, selfless, forgiving, honest, and committed
• Able to make a friendly impression when speaking with guests, vendors, and employees
• Reflect Dollywood’s image by being genuinely friendly and caring and taking pride in work
• Self-motivated and disciplined; able to prioritize and complete work on time
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise judgment with privileged information
• Commitment to continuous improvement; professional appearance and hygiene
• Promote a team environment and support co-workers
• Productivity in a fast-paced environment; dependable attendance and flexibility for overtime, evenings, weekends and holidays
• Respect guest needs and act within company guidelines to meet them
• Effective communication, problem solving, conflict management and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work with others to resolve problems; comprehend instructions; retain information
• Ability to work in varying temperatures and outdoor environments; tolerate weather conditions
• Complete a background check including motor vehicle record and pre-employment drug screen; meet physical demands of the job

• Lifting up to 50 lbs with safe lifting practices
• Mobility: prolonged sitting, standing…