This role reports to the Theatre Manager and is responsible for securing function, event, and wedding bookings at Leas Cliff Hall. The Conference & Sales Executive will be part of the venue functions team, working with the Events & Conference Manager to deliver high-level functions for our bookers across all venue spaces. From large-scale conferences and corporate events to banquets and weddings, the Conference & Sales Executive is the main venue contact for people enquiring about holding their event at Leas Cliff Hall. They are the person who not only goes out and secures new business but also nurtures our existing customers to develop the number of events taking place at Leas Cliff Hall. From the initial enquiry, to costing an event, arranging viewings of the venue, and arranging the invoicing, the Conference & Sales Executive sees the booking process through from initial enquiry and arranging viewings through until they hand over to the Events Manager.
Key responsibilities:
Sales Development
• Take the lead in working alongside external partners, businesses, and local community organisations to drive function hires from visitors, travel trade clients, and the tourist market as applicable.
• Plan Customer Relationship Management strategies for specific customer segments, including group functions and corporate hire clients.
• Identify underrepresented function hire groups and work to redress through short- and long-term strategies.
• Liaise with venue hirers post-event to obtain feedback on their experience.
• Deliver first-class customer service in client relationships, management, and event fulfilment
• Concept planning and presentation of all bookings
Sales / Finance
• Secure agreed sales targets for the venue’s function facilities, manage agreed budgets, and measure the effectiveness of sales strategies
• Compile function sales reports and disseminate information as directed
• Maintain excellent long-term relationships with suppliers and secure effective return on investment
• Working with the Theatre Director, update pricing schedules for facilities hires to reflect the costs incurred to deliver events and deliver profits in line with set budgets.
• Take full ownership of the events and local hire income stream and margin management
• Produce event invoices on a weekly basis and chase outstanding payments as required.
• Ensure accurate and timely completion of all post-event records and reports
• Produce accurate event records for inclusion in the period-end accounts
• Negotiating sub-contractor and hirer contracts to ensure the best cost efficiency for the venue and customer
Sales Communications
• Support and assist in the project management of sales and marketing campaigns for the venue's function spaces and Main Hall as required.
• Be responsible for the creation of seasonal and event-specific materials, and the timely implementation of these across different media with the marketing team
• Engage a significantly increased function hire customer base through the creation and distribution of digital content
• Attend and represent the venue at weddings and other trade fairs to secure new business
• Be responsible for the creation of sales brochures and other promotional materials for the function facilities at Leas Cliff Hall.
• Assist the Head of Marketing & Communications in developing digital sales and PR initiatives with a specific focus on social media, alongside traditional communication, to improve customer knowledge of the venue's function offer.
Hospitality
• Oversee Leas Cliff Hall’s Christmas party offer to include menu options, overseeing promotional artwork production, compiling menu choices, upselling drinks packages, and seeking post-event feedback.
• Upselling drinks and food packages to deliver venue targets.
• Work on existing concepts, hen-do, wakes, weddings, etc., as well as developing new opportunities for the use of the venue to generate income.
Sponsorship & Partnerships
• Identify and approach companies and individuals who may be interested in sponsorship opportunities.
• Ensure that all such opportunities are in the long-term interests of ATGE
• Develop a suite of partnership opportunities, which will include: - Ticket packages for hotels and restaurants that they can sell tickets as part of their marketing and therefore increase our ticket sales while reaching a new audience. - Promoting the opportunities at all our venues for staff and client entertainment and event hosting
• Develop group sales from the local business community
• Take the lead in working alongside external partners to drive sales from the tourist market and other visitors to the area
General Activity
• Maintain good relationships with other venues, including strategic collaboration as well as cross-promotional tactical activity
• On occasion, work with the Conference and Events Manager on functions.
• Work closely with Folkestone & Hythe DC as required and support their team with delivering their allocated use days.
• Maintain positive client relationships
• Some evening and weekend work will be required
• Any other duties as reasonably requested
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