The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, Montana's only AAA Four Diamond resort, is seeking an Event Sales & Service Manager to join our Sales Team.

PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES AND POSITION PURPOSE:

The Event Sales and Service Manager is responsible for generating profitable revenues through identifying and developing new business opportunities and cultivating leads while upholding brand standards and identity. This position manages sales and coordination of wedding, wedding-related, and other group events for Averill Hospitality’s Whitefish properties and upsells food & beverage, resort services, and group recreation.

A key role for every Averill Hospitality Team Member is to serve as an ambassador of the company and its properties, positively engaging owners, guests, and the community at every opportunity.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Respond to client inquiries and nurture relationships in a timely and professional manner; provide general information and details specific to client’s inquiry, prepare and send proposals and supporting documentation, follow up in a timely and appropriate manner

• Convert leads to clients, create and manage room blocks in the reservation system, reserve venues in the event space calendar, accurately prepare group booking contract documents in accordance with company policies, secure signed contracts and deposits in established timelines

• Coordinate all aspects of client’s experience at the property (or properties), schedule and manage menu tastings, create room diagrams based on client’s preferences, create the banquet event order, and collect advance deposits and final payments in accordance with established policies.

• Assist client with planning and manage booking of recreational activities, transportation, entertainment, and other needs

• Effectively and proactively communicate contracted arrangements and client’s needs and preferences to property’s operations team for successful execution

• Schedule and manage pre-event meeting to review all aspects of the event with clients, their planner (if applicable), and the banquet manager or captain assigned to the event

• Day-prior & day-of wedding coordination; be present at the property in advance of and during client events (until dinner service or as needed) as the primary resource for client needs, vendor and wedding party coordination, and to support the operations team in fulfillment of contract

• Achieve revenue goals as established by the Director of Sales & Marketing

• Conduct site inspections and entertain qualified potential clients

• Occasional travel to key and emerging markets to participate in trade shows to promote the Averill Hospitality properties and services

• Active participation in networking organizations and activities to cultivate relationships and grow referrals.

• Create client accounts in Salesforce and Caterease, including required information as defined in SOPs.

• Document sales efforts and maintenance of client accounts in Salesforce

• Participation in weekly sales meetings to review sales efforts and strategies, weekly BEO meetings to communication client needs to operations team members, and leadership team meetings to participate in information exchange with peers

• Create and follow annual sales plan, adapting and modifying it as needed

• Participation in planning and execution of open house event(s) to showcase properties

• Administrative tasks as required in performance of role

The event sales and service manager role functions within the corporate Sales & Marketing team specifically, in addition to having a high degree of interaction with leadership and staff within the Averill Hospitality team generally.

The event sales and service manager is responsible for modeling Averill Hospitality core values and charges; contributing to the fulfillment of business objectives across the business unit; and collaborating with others in the fulfillment of our shared mission.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES:

• Strong written & verbal communication skills, comfortable with public speaking

• Treats people with respect and dignity, keeps commitments, inspires trust in others, works ethically and with integrity, upholds organization’s values

• Proficient in using Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, and Outlook. Experience using Salesforce, RDP, Social Tables, and Caterease is highly beneficial.

• Numerically literate, comfortable working with numbers and processing figures

• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of classified information

• Ability to tactfully and diplomatically deal with the public and staff

• Positive, can-do attitude and potential learn and grow

• Ability to follow policies and procedures and adapt to change

• Responds promptly to guests’ needs and takes ownership of the overall guest experience

• Reacts well under pressure and accepts responsibility for actions

• Preference for a 4-year degree in hospitality, business management, communication or related field

• A valid driver’s license

SUPPORTIVE FUNCTIONS

In addition to the performance of the essential functions, this position may be required to perform a combination of the following supportive functions, with the percentage of time performing each function to be solely determined by the Department Director or General Manager based upon the requirements of the company.

Provide coverage for Director of Events and Sales Managers as needed.

Participate in The Lodge at Whitefish Lake’s MOD Program.

This position is required to perform other and additional duties assigned.

QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

EDUCATION

• Preference for a 4-year degree in hospitality, event management, or related field.

EXPERIENCE/ LICENSES OR CERTIFICATES

• Two years of relevant hospitality experience and/or a hospitality degree is required.

• Valid driver’s license

SCHEDULE / HOLIDAYS/ PTO:

The Event Sales and Service Manager is expected to keep a 5-day-a-week schedule, adjusted as needed according to business demands, and be available in the event of an emergency. A requirement of 45 hours per week is expected, however, it can be more or less depending on the business needs. Working weekends and holidays may be required.

The Event Sales and Service Manager will typically be available during peak seasons, typically taking PTO and vacations during slower seasons. Generally, PTO will not be approved during June 15 - September 15 and December 15 – January 5.

The hospitality business functions seven (7) days a week, twenty-four hours a day. In addition, this is a hospitality business, and a hospitable service atmosphere must be projected at all times.

The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, part of Averill Hospitality, offers part and full time, year-round employment, competitive compensation, and a full benefits package including paid holidays, paid time off, insurance, and company discounts in Whitefish, Montana's premier leisure and outdoor activity destination on the shores of Whitefish Lake.

Averill Hospitality provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.