Overview

The Event Sales Manager for catering & private events is responsible for booking both corporate and social private event revenue at the University of Kansas Social Club. The Event Sales Manager will solicit new, potential private event business with a high priority on establishing meaningful relationships resulting in multi-year event contracts. This position successfully manages the booking process from sale to service in cooperation with internal venue stakeholders to ensure successful implementation. 

This role will pay an annual salary of $55,000 - $65,000 and is commission eligible. 

Benefits for Full-Time roles: Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, 401(k) Savings Plan, 401(k) matching, and Paid Time Off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays).

This position will remain open until November 20, 2026

Responsibilities

• Prospect new business via previous contacts, networking, trade publications, resource guides, database companies, and cold calls.
• Target the local hospitality industry, i.e., event planners and corporate planners.
• Direct corporate-level decision makers to sell private events. 
• Develop and execute strategic sales plans to generate new corporate and social private event business and achieve established revenue and booking goals.
• Prospect new business through networking, referrals, cold calls, email outreach, industry contacts, databases, trade publications, and other targeted sales initiatives.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with corporate event planners, meeting planners, wedding and social event professionals, hospitality partners, and other key decision-makers.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of qualified sales opportunities, consistently following up with prospective clients throughout the sales cycle.
• Develop and deliver customized sales presentations, proposals, event packages, and pricing options that align with client objectives and venue capabilities.
• Conduct venue tours and client meetings, effectively communicating the facility's amenities, services, event capabilities, and unique selling points.
• Manage the complete sales process from initial inquiry and prospecting through negotiation, contracting, and turnover to the event operations team.
• Negotiate event details, pricing, packages, and contractual terms while protecting venue revenue and ensuring alignment with established business guidelines.
• Establish meaningful, long-term relationships with clients with a focus on repeat business, referrals, and multi-year event contracts.
• Partner closely with internal departments, including event operations, catering, food and beverage, culinary, finance, marketing, and guest services, to ensure seamless execution of contracted events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, hospitality, or a related field. 
• 3-5 years' experience in a corporate sales or marketing environment with evidence of solid business acumen and an understanding of how to manage sales opportunities. 
• Experience working in a convention center, sports and entertainment venue, or hotel in a hospitality sales function is preferred. 
• High level of integrity with a professional, business-oriented demeanor. 
• Creativity and ingenuity in developing successful sales strategies and a working knowledge of the industry or community events along with a pulse of industry opportunities. 
• Proven ability to initiate high-level contacts of prospective customers with strong persuasion and negotiation skills to close a sale. 
• Evidence of ability to establish and maintain effective business relationships. 
• Demonstrated effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate with various levels of business units and venues or prospective customers. 
• Detail-oriented with exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple, concurrent projects in a high-paced environment. 
• Demonstrated ability to analyze, formulate solutions and alternatives, and resolve issues in a timely manner. 
• Ability to work well in a team environment and effectively across business units. 
• Proven level of exceptional guest service. 
• Self-motivated with excellent time management skills and business/sales acumen/CRM skills. 
• Prior experience with customer relationship management databases. 
• Irregular and extended hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.