Senior Conference Services Manager

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF POSITION:

The Senior Conference Services Manager is responsible for the establishment of, adherence to and execution of key processes to ensure group logistics are planned accordingly and properly communicated to operational departments. This individual works closely with the DOSM, Director of Catering and Conference Services Manager to ensure events are executed at a luxury experience level—developing VIP sets, working with A/V company to fully understand technology offerings while liaising with clients to deliver personalized experiences for meeting/event attendees. This individual works closely with the Director of Group Sales to ensure that group food and beverage contribution is in alignment with budgeted expectations. 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND JOB DUTIES:

Primary:

1. Planning and organization
   1. Contributes to the overall strategy and planning of conference services by maximizing resources (diagrams, menus, a/v, etc.) to enhance upsell efforts.
   2. Partners with the conference services manager to develops a comprehensive upsell program (food and beverage, meeting room rental, amenities, etc.) to ensure budgeted banquet and catering sales revenues are achieved.
   3. Works with the Executive Chef / Director of F&B, Director of Catering and Director of Banquets to develop a plan to launch a minimum of two new initiatives (substantial in scope—F&B offerings, service enhancements, etc.) each year.
   4. Proactively addresses challenges and opportunities to ensure flawless event execution.
   5. Identifies, locates and secures the people/assets (i.e. marketing) to achieve the event logistics required.
2. Account Management
   1. Works with the conference services manager to develop and execute an annual rebooking sales plan to facilitate group rebookings.
   2. Partners with the Director of Catering and conference services manager to forecast revenue projections, market segmentation analysis, guest cover projections and meal period pricing to ensure total banquet budget is achieved.
   3. Partners with group sales associates to develop customized group experiences in alignment with organizational objectives.
   4. Oversee processes associated with pre-convention meetings, post-convention meetings, increased capture of meeting event surveys, etc.
3. Market Intelligence (works with DOSM, Director of Catering and Conference Services Manager to fully understand competitive set).
   1. Financial performance
   2. SWOT analysis
   3. Menu analysis completed on a regular basis with catering lead
   4. Meeting/event trends
   5. Market conditions that may impact purchasing patterns/industry trends
4. Customer Relationships
   1. Establishes, enhances and maintains productive quality working relationships with key internal and external customers.
   2. Keeps Hotel information relating to customer requirements, interests and market activities up to date.
   3. Develop relationships with customer base to determine new opportunities for account penetration and share information with appropriate disciplines (i.e. catering sales, group sales, transient sales).
   4. Contributes ideas to improve the products and services offered.
   5. Responsible for the creation of marketable and cutting-edge offerings (i.e. themed breaks, unique events, etc.).
5. Team Leadership
   1. Directs, monitors and evaluates the upsell results of c.s. team to ensure sales revenue targets are met.
   2. Shares departmental and individual objectives with team—reviewing and updating considering changes in the business, implementing corrective action if necessary.
   3. Communicates regularly and on-time verbally and non-verbally, providing individual team members with prompt and specific feedback on performance.
   4. Creates an atmosphere that motivates and encourages people to perform to the best of their ability, minimizing conflict when/if it occurs.
   5. Collaborates with key internal stakeholders such as DOC, Executive Chef/ Director of F&B and Director of Banquets for implementation of best practices and innovations.
   6. Has the ability to identify potential challenges and solve problems through collaboration with key stakeholders.
6. Additional Duties
   1. Responsible for the team utilizing Amadeus Advanced to the fullest and completing all the tasks on a day-to-day basis.
   2. Responsible for developing team members to reach their full potential in order that they may be able to take on greater levels of responsibility (see also secondary duties).
   3. Ensures team members adhere to the policies and procedures of the hotel.

Secondary:

1. Develop Individuals and Teams
   1. Coaches and develops people to enhance performance and meet current and future departmental needs.
   2. Assists in the recruitment of C.S. candidates.
   3. Produces training and development plans for the department and related areas.
   4. Regularly reviews and evaluates the impact training has on performance at departmental, team and individual levels.
   5. Coaches and counsels team members to optimize their performance.
   6. Additional responsibilities and/or special assignments may be required at the request of management.
   7. Maximizes opportunities for revenue at all client contact points while providing a sophisticated food and beverage offering and ensuring fair market price and value
   8. Monitors banquet event changes; ensure that all information is complete and accurate and distributed on a timely basis.
   9. Establish upselling guidelines and strategy and ensure sales and catering team is informed of overall catering sales strategy.

EDUCATION REQUIRED:

Bachelor’s Degree preferred; however, any combination of education and training within hotel sales may also be considered.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 3 years in a senior conference services role and two years of supervisory experience. In the absence of such experience the candidate will have a proven track record of leading project teams to achieve goals. 

LICENSES OR CERTIFICATES:

No special certificates or licenses required.

SPECIAL SKILLS REQUIRED:

• The Senior Conference Services is a self-motivated individual with a desire to advance in their role. This individual is a seasoned conference services manager who has demonstrated a thorough knowledge of event execution, food and beverage and a basic understanding of revenue management and space optimization to drive banquet revenue. 
• This individual is proactive, taking advantage of untapped business opportunities (adding on additional meals, breaks, meeting rooms/rental) maximizing existing ones.
• The Senior Conference Services Manager leads by example, in alignment with the qualities one would expect from a luxury five-star hotel.
• This individual has strong interpersonal skills that allow her/him to collaborate with key stakeholders such as the DOSM, Director of Group Sales, Director of Catering, Executive Chef / Director of Food and Beverage, Director of Banquets and Conference Services Manager.

SALARY RANGE:

$90,000-$100,000/annually

BENEFITS INCLUDED FOR FULL TIME-COLLEAGUES:

• Vacation Pay and Sick/Personal time (in accordance with Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick Leave Law)
• Paid Holidays
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your family (employee paid partial premiums)
• Basic Life Insurance, AD&D, and Short-Term Disability (company paid)
• Long Term Disability, Additional Life Insurance, Child Life, Spouse Life, Pet Insurance, ID Theft Protection Coverage, Prepaid Legal, Critical Illness, Hospital Care, Accidental Injury Supplemental Plans (available for purchase)
• 401k plan with Roth option and employer match
• Free meals while on duty
• Uniforms and cleaning of uniforms (for applicable positions)
• Free and discounted hotel stays
• Discounted parking
• Guidance Resources – company paid benefit for personal counseling

EOE, Including Disability/Veterans

About Langham Hospitality Group

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eagle Holdings, Langham Hospitality Group (LHG) comprises a family of distinctive brands, including The Langham Hotels and Resorts, Cordis Hotels and Resorts, Eaton Workshop and Ying’nFlo. With over 40 hotels and residences in operation or development, LHG has a global footprint that extends across Asia, Europe, North America, Australasia and the Middle East.

Majestic views of the cityscape, the Chicago River, and Lake Michigan. All housed in a skyscraper designed by renowned architect Mies van der Rohe. Situated in downtown Chicago, our hotel is mere minutes from the Loop, Grant Park, Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park, and Navy Pier. Discover the perfect blend of convenience and stylish comfort only at The Langham, Chicago.

For more information about the property, please visit: https://www.langhamhotels.com/en/the-langham/chicago/