Event Sales Manager

Do you find creation connections with people to be effortless?  Do you love helping people plan events and celebrations? Do you believe the best events happen with great food and drinks? Are you a driven sales manager looking for an exciting new opportunity?

Boqueria® Restaurant

Boqueria Restaurants is seeking a talented, creative, and driven Multi-Unit Event Sales Manager with an aptitude and love for sales and a proven track record of success to build our private events business!

This position will support our locations in West Hartford and Boston.

Pay range is between $70,000 - $75,000 plus commission

As an Event Sales Manager, you will actively solicit new clients and build guest relationships to generate event sales and own the process of event contracting, planning and execution. This role is responsible for planning and executing all private dining and large party events. You will be  responsible for building business for the restaurant through direct and indirect sales initiatives, including promotion and marketing at the restaurant level. This role will be required to develop and maintain business relationships inside and outside of the restaurant. 

This position will support our locations in West Hartford and Boston.

You’ll thrive in this position if you are:

• Organized: Plan, organize, schedule and budget in an efficient, productive manner
• Persistent: Tenacity and willingness to go the distance to get something done.
• Proactive: Act without being told what to do.
• Genuinely interested in others: A genuine interest in understanding others’ needs, perspectives and motivations.

Responsibilities:

Here’s the kind of work you’ll get to do: 

• Solicit, negotiate, and secure new group event business to meet or exceed sales goals.
• Send proposals, contracts, facilitate billing and food and beverage arrangements.
• Nurture existing contacts and relationships to maximize revenue while also taking a proactive approach to finding new business.
• Review event sales budget with Area Director of Operations, along with monthly sales objectives to achieve sales goals.
• Handle contracts, negotiations, deposits, and final payment of events including account reconciliations after events.
• Develop event menus and packages that are compelling to guests, help sell events, and generate sales.
• Coordinate and complete banquet event orders (BEOs) and update BEOs as needed, and communicate with FOH and BOH management teams
• Review menu and wine/beverage selections with GM, CDC, and Beverage Manager to ensure food and beverage are orders made.
• Be responsible for all on and off-site catered functions from organization to execution, including delegation and responsibilities.
• Build a steady client base and interact with the community to facilitate bookings and be able to prospect accordingly.
• Be Boqueria’s ambassador in delivering local market love (churro drops, happy hours, etc.) to local business, organizations, and drivers of customers to the restaurant.
• Orchestrate the execution of special events on and off-site in partnership with GM and Home Office marketing team (e.g. Food Festivals, Seasonal Press Dinners). 

Qualifications

What we’re looking for:

• A minimum requirement of 4 years of special event sales experience growing sales.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented in planning all aspects of catered events.
• Experience with CRM software and applications necessary to prepare planning documents, budgets, and reports.
• Knowledge of food and beverage safety and permit laws as they apply to offsite catering.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and customer service skills.
• Intuitive understanding of restaurant service.
• Guest recovery skills
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and plan ahead.
• Experience in B2B selling.
• Ability to work independently while staying committed to the brand.
• Experience marketing a consumer product or service within an industry that demands speed, flexibility, and fast turnarounds.
• Ability to work weekends, nights and holidays as needed.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent preferred.
• Knowledge of Spanish cuisine and wine.
• Ability to speak Spanish.
• Minimum of 5 years in a similar position or in the restaurant business.

Why Boqueria?

• Work with great people who love hospitality
• Competitive pay based on experience paid weekly
• Flexible scheduling
• Full- and part-time availability
• Benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and supplemental options
• Paid time off and Discounted Meals
• A strong company culture with high standards
• Be part of growing an upscale restaurant group

Who is Boqueria®?

Boqueria® is one of the leading Spanish tapas restaurant groups on the East Coast, with 10 locations in NYC, DC, Chicago, Nashville, Boston & West Hartford, and an 11^th opening in Atlanta in Fall 2024. Boqueria is a lively tapas bar, inspired by the buzzy atmosphere and great food of the Barcelona "Kioskos" surrounding the renowned food market "El Mercado de la Boqueria."

At Boqueria®, the open kitchens turn out tempting versions of classic Spanish tapas and small plates inspired by the season's best products. Designed for easy sharing, Boqueria® has become a go-to destination for friends, family and co-workers to connect over the sharing spirit of tapas and Spanish food.

How we're committed to your safety:

Your health and wellbeing are always our top priority. Where allowed, we require all team members to be vaccinated. Boqueria® has partnered with Zedic® to guide our managers and team in managing COVID-19 risks.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We do not base our employment decisions on an applicant's race, sex, sexual orientation, age, color, national origin, citizenship, disability, handicap, veteran status, or any other factor prohibited by local, state, or federal law.

Salary : $70,000 - $75,000