Assistant Meeting and Events Manager

Oatlands Park Hotel is urgently hiring for an Assistant Meeting and Events Manager to join the Sales Team. This is a fast-paced, full-time permanent role working 40 hours per week Monday to Friday, working in the Sales office. Do you have existing corporate hospitality or events experience? Are you ready to bring your energy and best self to work? Then continue reading!

Company Description

Oatlands Park Hotel is a luxury 4-star historic Grade II listed hotel built on the grounds of the Oatlands Estate, which has roots dating back to the Tudor era. Now one of Surrey's most dynamic and premium conference and events venues, we welcome a mixture of corporate and leisure guests throughout the year. With stunning meetings, events and wedding spaces, and 157 well-appointed bedrooms, the hotel is ideally located just 8 miles from Heathrow Airport in the town of Weybridge, in Surrey.

We are on a drive to set the standards of excellence in the luxury hospitality sector. We understand that every guest is unique and our team strives to create truly special, individual moments of service excellence. Each member of our team is an ambassador of our Company values: teamwork, mutual respect, honesty, passion for service and continual improvement.

Role Description

You will enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, delivering at pace with attention to detail to create truly special experiences. The successful applicant will report to the Meetings and Events Sales Office Manager.

Your Responsibilities

• Proactively sell the hotel and convert enquiries into confirmed businesses and ensure the maximisation of the hotel facilities.
• Maximise revenue and Key Performance Indicators, guest and employee satisfaction and financial performance of Meetings and Events.
• Assist in the achievement of budgeted revenues in conference and banqueting in keeping with the annual budget and marketing plan.
• Receive telephone enquiries and take the appropriate follow up action necessary to convert the call to then generate a ‘sale’.
• Attend all function sheet meetings.
• Be involved in sales activities to ensure the continued business success of the hotel.
• Ensure effective communication with other hotel departments to enable the smooth operation of in-house functions.
• Assist in managing the Meeting & Events team in the execution of their role and delegate effectively to ensure that departmental duties are efficiently executed.
• Co-ordinate with Conference & Banqueting Operations to ensure the smooth running of events.
• Work within the departmental budget figures, maximizing revenue and minimizing expenditure.
• Assist in the overall sales effort to achieve goals for the Meeting & Events segmentation.
• Assist in the production of departmental forecasts as required and communicate figures to the team to aid their understanding of the business and the importance of their contribution to the business success.
• Assist in ensuring the team prepares all quotations, proposals and contracts according to clients’ requirements and the hotel standards, and there is a follow up after mailing to convert business.
• Assist in managing all Meeting and Events reservations, contacting all Events and follow up on enquiries and implementing the credit policy.
• Meet prospective clients, show and sell the hotel facilities over a seven-day basis, as required by the client.
• Attend pre and post client meetings and sales meetings as appropriate.
• Work closely with the Sales Office Manager to ensure rate strategies are adhered to and business opportunities maximised.
• Gather information on a regular basis on competitors and market trends and be aware of what facilities and packages these hotels offer.
• Source and liaise with suppliers to ensure the best quality and price for additional services, equipment etc.
• Work closely with accounts to ensure that credit details on clients are appropriate to ensure monies are paid in a timely manner following an event.
• Use your knowledge of the hotel facilities and additional services to create packages to suit the client needs which will create a ‘unique’ experience for our guests and maintain their loyalty and repeat business.
• Ensuring the effective use of diary management letting policies and monitoring competitor performance to maximise Conference and Banqueting revenue.
• Attend and represent the hotel at work related exhibitions, trade shows etc. to generate business and build contact lists for additional services.
• Assist in ensuring that the team is constantly improving their product knowledge to maximize revenue and the service provided.
• Help the office Manager create an environment which promotes good employee morale and encourage the team to have a high level of commitment.
• Assist in ensuring that all new starters are effectively inducted into your department as well as the hotel.
• Assist in coaching and leading the team in such a manner that our guests receive an exceptional level of service and want to return.
• Encourage the team to work flexibly, which will develop their knowledge and assist in the event of absence cover, and allow service standards to be maintained.
• In the absence of the Manager, take responsibility for the department.
• Assist other departments as requested.