What's in it for you...

• Insurance enrollment available from DAY 1!
• Paid time off available from DAY 1!
• Holiday pay available from DAY 1!
• 401(k) enrollment after 30 days!
• Hotel and travel discounts at worldwide destinations!
• Professional development and promotion opportunities!

About this job...

Essential Job Functions

• Actively prospect new catering and banquet business through:
• Outside sales calls
• Community and local business outreach
• Cold calling and email campaigns
• Networking events and site visits
• Conduct regular outside sales appointments with corporate planners, event planners, and local organizations to generate new catering leads.
• Solicit, negotiate, and book catering and banquet business, including corporate meetings, social events, SMERF, and association events.
• Respond promptly and professionally to all catering inquiries, leads, and referrals.
• Prepare proposals, menus, and pricing in accordance with the hotel's revenue strategy.
• Negotiate contracts within established pricing guidelines and approval thresholds.
• Upsell menu enhancements, bar packages, audiovisual services, décor, and other event add-ons.
• Maintain and grow repeat catering business while expanding the hotel’s presence in the local market.
• Meet or exceed monthly and annual rooms and catering booking goals.

Event Planning & Execution

• Act as the primary contact for assigned catering clients from contract execution through event completion.
• Conduct site tours, tastings, and pre-event planning meetings as required.
• Create, review, and distribute accurate Group Resumes and Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) in a timely manner.
• Ensure accurate client billing and system postings.
• Ensure clear communication of event details to Banquets, Kitchen, Front Desk, and all operational departments.
• Attend and oversee assigned events to ensure service standards and client expectations are met.
• Address and resolve on-site issues promptly and professionally.

Contracting, Forecasting & Systems Management

• Accurately input, update, and maintain catering events in the sales and catering system (e.g., Delphi).
• Ensure all contracts are executed in accordance with hotel policy and approval processes.
• Maintain clean and accurate traces, notes, and follow-up documentation.
• Forecast catering and banquet revenue, update pickup and pace, and manage wash factors as needed

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2–3 years of hotel catering sales or sales experience preferred.
• Proven ability to sell, plan, and execute multiple events simultaneously.
• Strong negotiation, organization, and time-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with hotel sales and catering systems (Delphi preferred).
• Ability to work flexible hours as business demands.

Performance Expectations

• Achievement of assigned catering revenue and booking goals.
• Accuracy and timeliness of contracts, BEOs, and system entries.
• Client satisfaction and repeat business performance.
• Effective collaboration with operations and leadership teams.

About First Hospitality...

Founded in 1985 and based in Chicago, First Hospitality is a forward-thinking hotel development, investment, and management company. First Hospitality’s strategic vision is to create value for all through excellence and an openness to doing things differently.

First Hospitality seeks to attract and retain a high-performing and diverse workforce in which employee’s differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the customers we serve. FH fosters an inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility, and fairness. Equal Opportunity Employer.