Group Sales & Events Assistant Manager

Department: Sales & Marketing

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Turkey - Istanbul

Description

Key Responsibilities

• Solicit existing and potential customers and follow up established accounts on regular basis by phone, by correspondence or by personal contact.
• Set up appointments and make personal sales calls, telemarketing and site inspections to all existing and potential accounts from corporate commercial accounts and agencies. 
• Follow up on lost business and bring information about them to the knowledge of the department superior.
• Negotiate with all customers and send out offers/contracts regarding catering and group business.
• Follow the sales results and propose corrective actions if needed.
• Explore industry related data, new developments in certain agencies’ structures, new assignments, industrial complexes, new business centers, new projects which all could be interest and benefit of the hotel and to distribute this information to his/her colleagues.
• Entertain decision makers of the Clients in the F & B outlets of the hotel and to take part in promotional activities with them.
• Keep close follow up on developments of the competitor hotels (occupancy, structural alterations, renovation, special campaigns, rate promotions, marketing efforts, theme events, catering and banquet offerings, etc.). Also explore and compare Group, and catering/event traffic (who is accommodating guests or hosting events in which hotel) amongst the competitors.
• Bring ideas and participate in the preparations of the promotional theme events, other promotional activities and invitation lists.
• Update customers with the latest developments in the hotel and informs hotel management of all changes in the customer profile. 
• Participate preparing the sales action plans, attending sales meetings, developing new ideas such as special packages, programs, promotional activities undertaken by sales department and/or F&B.  
• Take part in sales training programs, trade fairs / shows, sales blitzes and fam trips assigned by the Director of Sales / Senior Director of Sales. 
• Maintain the existence of an efficient customer database system (OPERA) which will be capable of identifying to report sales calls and other sales activities and to carry out updating exercise in certain periods of time.   
• On weekly basis, prepare an activity report which will cover sales call reports, site inspections, fam trips, new agencies, meetings, entertainment and other functions they participated in during the week and presents to Director of Sales / Senior Director of Sales.
• Cross selling other Kempinski Hotels in the Area and Globally.
• Follow up all inquiries within 24 hours of receipt and to trace and follow up all past, potential and current client files on a regular basis.
• Meet and exceed personal monthly, quarterly and/or annual sales goals and to assume partial responsibility for the creation of those goals.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Turkish nationality is must.
• Mininum BA or BS Degree preferably in a related field.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in a luxury hotel environment within a similar role.
• Excellent oral and written skills both in Turkish and English.
• Ability to work and communicate in a multinational environment.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, (Excel/PowerPoint/Word)
• Knowledge of Property Management Systems 
• To fill this position the candidate must have:
  • Planning/organisation
  • Adaptability
  • Flexibility
  • Initiative
  • Negotiation skills
  • Selling skills
  • Innovative ideas
  • Attention to details
  • Problem solving & decision making
• To fill this position the candidate must identify with the Kempinski core values, in addition they should be especially:
  • People Oriented
  • Passionate for European luxury
  • Entrepreneurial
  • Straightforward