Director of Catering

Company: Westin Chicago Northwest
Location: Addison
Posted on: November 25, 2022

Job Description:

Spend a little time getting to know Prism Hotels & Resorts and you'll quickly find we aren't your typical hotel management company.

Prism Hotels & Resorts is the best place to start, grow or advance your career in the hospitality industry. Whether your interest and expertise lies in management, accounting, sales or engineering, you'll find a home at Prism--where dedication, hard work and a commitment to the best results can move you quickly up the career path of your choosing. Because we believe in mentoring, nurturing and promoting from within our talented organization, with the experience and support provided to you by Prism, the sky's the limit! Founded as a hospitality investment and management firm in 1983, Prism Hotels & Resorts has grown to a company that successfully manages over nine thousand rooms in twenty-two states. Our properties range from urban city center airport hotels to historic properties to exclusive retreats and resorts.

We maintain a constant focus on our associates and on creating the best work environment out there, one in which you can develop your skills, further your career goals, and enjoy a balance between work and home life. And while we take our commitment to success very seriously, we believe in an atmosphere of growth, development and fun! Our ability to succeed is based largely on the people we hire and an unwavering commitment to their personal and professional fulfillment. We go to great lengths to find the best person to fill a position, with as much value placed on a friendly and engaging personality as on a great resume. If you also value and demonstrate a high degree of integrity, compassion, personal leadership and resourcefulness, please apply on line!

Scope of Position:

The Director of Catering is responsible for coordinating, supervising, and directing all aspects of the Catering Department, with dotted line responsibility for the Banquet Department. The Director maintains profitable operations and high quality products and service levels. He/she is expected to maximize revenues and exceed budgeted revenues, and to develop and implement strategies to increase business. Must act as a liaison between client and operating departments to ensure a successful meeting and to generate repeat business.

Job Responsibilities:

--- Approach all encounters with guests and team members in a friendly, service-oriented manner.

--- Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Prism standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.

--- Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, which includes proper dress and correct nametag when working.

--- Comply at all times with Prism standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.

--- Must, at all times, be attentive, friendly, helpful and courteous to all guests, managers, and other team members.

--- Must be able to work with and understand financial information and data, and basic arithmetic function including hotel-billing systems.

--- Direct the activities of the hotel catering sales team, providing leadership and motivation necessary to implement effective sales and marketing strategies and to maximize the generation of hotel catering sales/revenues.

--- Develop and maintain relationships with key clients in order to produce group and/or convention business, to include room sales, food & beverage sales, catering/banquet services.

--- Develop and manage the departmental budget and monitor sales activities/ performance to ensure actual sales meet or exceed established revenue plan and to accurately report variances/projections.

--- Direct the scheduling of conventions and group activities at the hotel and coordinate with other hotel-level departments to facilitate services agreed upon by the catering and sales office and prospective clients.

--- Develop hotel-level tactical sales and marketing plans to support overall system-wide sales plans/strategies and programs.

--- Develop and maintain good relationships with officials and representatives of local community groups and companies.

--- Assist General Manager in the development and update of the hotel-level business plan to include input on sales goals and plans that support the overall business and sales strategies of the company.

--- Recruit, hire, train, and provide career development for all catering sales personnel; conduct performance evaluations and provide feedback to employees using company hiring standards and guidelines.

--- Follow company policies and procedures and is able to effectively communicate them to subordinates.

--- Ensure hotel is in compliance with all federal, state and local laws, including OSHA, EEOC, Wage Hour and Health laws.

--- Assist in coordinating and monitoring all phases of Loss Prevention in the Banquet and Catering areas.

--- Prepare and submit required reports in a timely manner.

--- Monitor the quality in Banquets to ensure guest satisfaction.

--- Know meeting room set-ups and capabilities.

--- Know sleeping room configuration and types and total inventory of type.

--- Have comprehensive knowledge of all operational departments within the hotel; guest services, reservations, housekeeping, audio-visual, switchboard, accounting, restaurants, bars, and engineering.

--- Manage booking pace and set pace goals for Catering Managers.

--- Handle inquiry calls and outside sales calls, ensuring follow up within 24 hours.

--- Develop core list of preferred vendors that exhibit standards above normal.

--- Establish solicitation goals with Catering Managers, and monitor all Catering Managers to ensure that revenue goals and solicitation goals are met or exceeded.

--- Re-solicit past local accounts, generate new business.

--- Maintain pricing integrity and propose upscale menus for clients.

--- Manage existing accounts and follow up with client re-solicitation to capture future business.

--- Manage space and adjust in order to ensure maximum potential revenue.

--- Comply with weekly and monthly forecasting procedures.

--- Participate in MOD program as deemed necessary by management.

--- Develop Catering sales tools, new menus, themes, decorations and ideas by keeping abreast of the competition's products' strengths and weaknesses and customer comments to continually improve the hotel's services.

--- Perform other duties as requested by management.

--- Attend and/or conduct any training/meetings as required by management.

Keywords: Westin Chicago Northwest, Naperville , Director of Catering, Executive , Addison, Illinois