Groups & Events Executive Full Time

**About us**

Travel is a journey. We help make it a joy.
Starting with a warm, inviting welcome for all guests, whether traveling on business or for fun, enjoying a quick night or relaxing for the week. We thrive on making our guests stays brighter, helping them create memories that will last a lifetime. Irresistible smiles are our specialty. We should know, we've been on our journey since 1952. So, if you can help us spread the joy of travel to all, we'd love to give you a warm welcome to the Holiday Inn family.

**What's the job?**

The Groups & Events Executive will work under the guidance of the Director of Sales and assist in the operations of the reservations and events departments with a focus on Group Reservations. You'll make sure all our groups and events run smoothly - acting as both brand ambassador and trusted partner. Ensuring guest service standards are upheld, yield and occupancy management to achieve budget, managing group blocks effectively (both from a client perspective as well as accurate system management), communicating with all departments with regards to movement, arrivals and departures of guests and groups whilst being instrumental in the implementation of operational plans to meet the hotel sales and revenue targets, in conjunction with the departmental goals.
- Ensure the whole client experience is successful and memorable and act as the brand ambassador and key contact throughout their journey
- Build long term relationships with agency contacts and event planners to increase loyalty to the hotel and to the brand
- Manage rooming lists and ensure clear communication is distributed to relevant staff regarding upcoming groups and conference and events.
- Effective client management: resolve client requests / concerns and issues which may arise in a professional and sensitive manner working towards a sustainable solution.
- Prepare BEO's and participate in the weekly BEO meeting to ensure the hotel team have necessary information to deliver a successful event
- Submits a fortnightly forecast. Work with the Portfolio Revenue Director and Director of Sales, to help understand past and future trends, changes in market and key economic factors that may influence demand
- Meet and greet of key clients on site at arrival / departure as required.
- Conduct site inspections, attend competitor site inspections and monitor competitor activity.
- Actively participate in all training sessions and ensure that any pre and post course work is completed by the due date.
- Ensure all systems are updated and accurate.
- Conduct pre-event and post-event meetings with clients and catering colleagues to identify improvements to the guest experience
- Analyse and action against client satisfaction surveys to improve services
- Offer advice to clients to reduce waste, save energy and have a mínimal impact to the environment
- Other ad-hoc duties - unexpected moments when we have to pull together to get a task done
- Ensure timely payment of deposits for events
- Develop a thorough understanding of all processes and systems utilized by IHG to include but not restricted to Delphi, I-Know reporting, Meeting Broker and Sales Source
- Respond to group enquiries in accordance with IHG Guidelines - 24-hour response time
- Sell the IHG products and services using up-selling and suggestive selling techniques
- Process amendments to reservations such as extensions, early departures etc., accurately and in a timely manner
- Liaise with the Front Office team regarding rooms blocked and picked up/ no-shows and cancellations for all residential blocks
- Liaise with Sales & Marketing and Meetings and Events Teams regarding Out of Order room holds
- Record special billing arrangements for groups and conventions
- Understands the department's financial targets and works together with the Reservations Leader to meet them
- Ensure contracted deposits have been received on time
- Ensure invoices are sent to the client in the time defined by the Finance policy and ensure payments are received

**What we need from you**
- Must currently have the right to work full time, with no restrictions, in Australia
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent degree in Marketing, Business or Hospitality Management
- Minimum two years of work experience in a similar role or in hotel operations working in global brand hotels within Australasia
- Some knowledge of hotel systems such as Opera, and Delphi
- Proactive approach to developing and maintaining strong relations with clients and stakeholders at all organizational levels
- Strong business ethics and principles to strictly adhere to IHG policy related Responsible Business
- Confidence communicating information and resolving issues through diplomacy and negotiation
- Strong understanding of all aspects of sourcing new business and strategies for key account management
- Demonstrated ability to interact with customers, employees and third parties to reflect well on the Hotel, t