What's in a day?
The thickness of your contacts book is crucial to this job, advises the team at Blend Recruitment. Certainly, how well you develop working relationships with event organisers at local companies will determine whether your hotel gets the meetings, annual dinners and functions bookings it needs to boost profits.
Key responsibilities:
- Building relationships and networking
- Selling conferences and events over the phone
- Overseeing your staff training and welfare
- Controlling the use of rooms
- Always on the lookout to increase turnover
What sort of hours will I work?
This is primarily a day job, but the hours can be long if you factor in the need to monitor conferences or events - and if you are a voracious networker.
What's the best bit about being a conference and events sales manager?
It's fast paced and perfect for those of you who enjoy the thrill of a sale and the stimulation of meeting people.
And the worst?
Unforeseen events such as natural disasters, world events and even national train strikes can affect your business without warning.
What skills do I need?
- A natural rapport with people to help you in your day-to-day dealings with the public
- Diplomacy when handling complaints
- Sound sales skills as it is your job to improve bookings for conferences and events
- Good telephone skills as you'll often be selling conferences and events to clients over the phone
- An ability to think laterally (Who is servicing your business at the moment and how could that be improved?)
- A cool head when world events look likely to impact on your business
What qualifications do I need?
There are no specific qualifications, so chances are you will reach this position through working your way up and taking advantage of your company's training programme. Otherwise, there are a number of vocational courses that will help boost your career prospects – for instance a degree, foundation degree or BTEC HNC/HND in events management, hospitality management, marketing, public relations or business studies.
Who would it suit?
"This is a fiercely competitive sector of hospitality so you need to be able to think on your feet," say the team at Blend Recruitment. You'll be taking prospective clients round the hotel and you need to be able to negotiate prices in a difficult market while being conscious of the hotel room rates for day and overnight delegates. And it goes without saying that you are the sort of person who is a Chamber of Commerce member so you can tap into the events manager market and bodies who have the power to book a hotel.
What sort of salary can I expect?
Generally a basic salary of £20,000-£35,000, usually with a bonus and benefits.
Where can I go from here?
Well, you could consider moving to a big events company – you'll certainly have gained enough knowledge. Or, if you can get your head around room sales you could move into the director of sales role within the hotel.
Look for conference and events sales manager jobs and events manager roles
