Groups & Reservations Manager at Marriott International

Marriott International is a leading global Lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with more than 4,100 properties in 79 countries and reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. Its heritage can be traced to a root beer stand opened in Washington, D.C., in 1927 by J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott.

Marriott has more than 361,000 people working worldwide at managed or franchised properties and corporate offices. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 49M members.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Groups & Reservations Manager

Job Number: 21109382
Location: Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom
Job Category: Reservations
Brand: Four Points
Schedule: Full-Time
Position Type: Management
Functional Job Family: Reservations
Primary Job Family: Front Line Leader
Career Band: Red
Reports to: General Manager

Job Summary

• Responsible for managing of Groups & Reservations department. Manages and provides training and work assignments to Groups & Reservations staff.
• Actively up-sells each business opportunity to maximize revenue opportunity.
• Achieves personal and team related revenue goals. Responsible for driving customer loyalty by delivering service excellence throughout each customer experience.
• Provides service to our customers in order to grow share of the account on behalf of the company.
• Manages all reservation requests, changes, and cancellations received by phone, fax, or mail. Identify guest reservation needs, determine appropriate room type, and verify availability of room type and rate.
• Explain guarantee, special rate, and cancellation policies to callers. Accommodate and document special requests. Answer questions about property facilities/services and room accommodations.
• Follow sales techniques to maximize revenue. Communicate information regarding designated VIP reservations. Input and access data in reservation system.
• Respond to any challenges found for accommodating rooming requests by communicating with appropriate individual or department.
• Oversee accuracy of room blocks and reservations. Input group rooming lists using reservation systems, revise room blocks to maintain the required number of available rooms and keep organized files of all groups. Set-up proper billing accounts according to Accounting policies.

Core Work Activities
Understanding Markets & Maximizing Revenue:

• Identifies new groups and reservations sales business to achieve personal and property revenue goals.
• Understands the overall market, including competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, economic trends, supply and demand etc. and knows how to sell against them.
• Closes the best opportunities for the property based on market conditions and property needs.
• Monitors same day selling procedures to maximize room revenue and control property occupancy.
• Gains understanding of the property’s primary target customer and service expectations; serves the customer by understanding their business, business issues and concerns, to offer better business solution.

Conducting Daily Groups and Reservations Activities:

• Responds to incoming groups and reservations sales opportunities for the property that are outside parameters of the Event Booking Center.
• Uses negotiating skills and creative selling abilities to close on business and negotiate contracts.
• Uses sales resources and administrative/support staff effectively.
• Assists in monitoring group reservation forecast data.
• Coordinates with sales and Convention Services to process rooming lists and reservation cards.
• Executes and supports the operational aspects of business booked (e.g., generating proposal, writing contract, customer correspondence).
• Assists with monitoring accuracy of reservation sales orders within tracking systems.
• Tracks no-show reservations and processes charges as needed.
• Checks daily arrivals to ensure all necessary billing instructions are applied to reservations.
• Manages wait list and prioritizes order of wait list contacts to be made.
• Prepares work and maintenance orders.

Providing Exceptional Customer Service:

• Supports customer loyalty and property’s brand standards by delivering service excellence throughout each customer experience.
• Services our customers in order to grow share of the account.
• Provides excellent customer service consistent with the daily service basics of the brand.
• Executes exemplary customer service to drive customer satisfaction and loyalty by assisting the customer and ensuring their satisfaction before and during their program/event.
• Sets a positive example for guest relations.
• Executes exemplary customer service to drive customer satisfaction and loyalty by assisting the customer and ensuring their satisfaction before and during their program/event.
• Serves the customer by understanding their needs and recommending the appropriate features and services that best meet their needs and exceed their expectations, while building a relationship and loyalty to the company.
• Handles guest complaints and disputes following the instant pacification procedures.

Managing and Conducting Human Resource Activities:

• Monitors reservations sales agents while on phone calls.
• Develops, implements and maintains a departmental orientation program for employees to receive the appropriate new hire training to successfully perform their job.
• Utilizes all available on the job training tools for employees.
• Creates monthly labor scheduling for team.

Additional Responsibilities

• Utilizes applicable intranet for resources and information.
• Creates contracts as required.

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or GED; no work experience required.

Or

• 2-year Degree from an accredited university in Business Administration, Marketing, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or related major; 2 years experience in the sales and marketing, guest services, front desk, or related professional area.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.