Now Hiring - The Edgewater - Group Sales Manager in Madison, WI

Full description of the position

Who We Are The Edgewater offers a proud revival of a historic hotel, committed to the trust and confidence we earn from our employees, customers, and partners. We are located in the heart of downtown Madison, next door to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and within walking distance of the Capitol Square and downtown. We offer 202 rooms and the finest in luxury hotel services and amenities right on the water's edge of Lake Mendota. You will see a wide variety of guests coming to stay with us for a few nights, joining us for a meal in one of our three restaurants, taking advantage of our salon and spa, or even just coming by to enjoy a special event. If you are looking to work at a hotel that is as welcoming and fun as the city of Madison itself, this is the place. * What We Accomplish Together If you have effective listening and verbal communication skills, initiative, and a passion for sales, the Group Sales Manager position may be the perfect fit for you. The Group Sales Manager will be responsible for the development of group market segments and solicitation of new group clients while maintaining existing relationships. The Group Sales Manager should maximize review and effectively negotiate guest room and meeting space rentals/F&B minimums. A great candidate will be able to keep abreast of latest trends in hotel, hospitality, sales, marketing and spa services and leverage information into strategic sales initiatives. As the Group Sales Manager, you must exercise good judgment and discretion, effective problem-solving skills, and display creativity and ingenuity while providing maximum exposure for our hotel and its offerings. * What We Have * Flexible scheduling including days, nights and weekends. * A comprehensive benefit package including Medical, Dental and Vision coverage as well as Paid Time Off, 401K contribution matching and voluntary life insurance. * Discounts to our 3 onsite restaurants. * Discounts to our onsite Spa's services and retail as well as discounted stays at affiliated hotels. * Discounted onsite parking for full-time team members, discounted off-site parking for part-time team members, or a supplied Madison Metro bus pass. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. * Develops and manages strong client and guest relationships. There will be a strong focus (50%+) on new business and client development (local and regional). * Works with Director of Revenue Management and Director of Marketing to formulate prospecting plan to generate additional revenue. * Attends community events and networking opportunities as routine prospecting exercise. * Works with client from start to final contract, including initial sharing of pricing, property tour, contracting and greeting the client on site at events (not all). * Ensures a timely response to client and guest inquiries with the expected response time of one business day or less. * Establishes follow-up communication on assigned finalized contracts, ensures the seamless transition from sales to execution phase of events. * Oversight of final invoicing and billings with the clients; dispute resolution. * Maintains accurate and complete files/paperwork while updating convention tracking systems. * Anticipates and resolves guest service concerns by providing solutions in a prompt and professional matters. * Acts as a liaison between Sales and the Guest while following-up and keeping all appropriate Team Members aware of pertinent informational changes or any irregularities. * Prepares, implements and compiles data for strategic sales plan, annual goals, forecasts and other reports as directed and/or required. * Follows Standard Operating Procedures and company policies, especially as related to event restrictions, collection of deposits, billings and collection of funds. * Has a flexible schedule including availability to work evenings, weekends and holidays. * Receives training and increase proficiency over time in Opera, Delphi and other programs necessary to complete the tasks. * Participates in hotel/company-wide committees, meetings and/or activities as requested by direct supervisor. * Other duties as assigned. * What You Have * Minimum three (3) years' experience in Hospitality Sales, Marketing or Revenue Management * Solid working knowledge of corporate, group and leisure segments * Proven track record of selling skills with good results and meeting/exceeding goals * A caring, positive attitude with a genuine interest in ensuring our customers have memorable experiences. * A team-oriented attitude and a detail-focused mind. * Excellent customer service skills with the desire to work in a team environment. * Previous experience in Opera & Delphi a plus * Be physically able to perform the duties required * Working Conditions This position operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. This position may require evening and weekend work, working outdoors, working with challenging clients, and minimal travel.