Director of Culture & Entertainment

JOB SUMMARY

Assists in establishing and implementing operational, service, and sales strategies for property bars, restaurants, events and all hotel entertainment.  Networks with high profile clientele and creates non-traditional selling and Public Relations events that generate high revenues.  Creates an atmosphere that represents and enhances the EDITION brand presence. Orchestrates events that create awareness, understanding and interest through distinctive use of social networking media and coverage in lifestyle publications that target high-profile and high-end clientele.  Implements the brand’s service strategy and applicable brand initiatives in all aspects of the sales and service process and focuses on building long-term, value-based customer relationships that enable achievement of sales objectives. Develops and leverages local networks to bring the right business to the bars, nightclub venues, restaurants and event spaces, as well as, establishes and maintains high levels of exposure and visibility for the property. 

CANDIDATE PROFILE 

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED; 6 years’ experience in the related professional area.OR

OR

• 2-year degree from an accredited university in Food Service Management, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Hospitality, Business Administration, or related major; 4 years’ experience in the food and beverage, culinary, event management, or related professional area.

Preferred:

• 4-year degree from an accredited university in Food Service Management, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Hospitality, Business Administration, or related major. 
  
   
• 4-year bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Sales, Marketing, or related major;  2 year experience in Hospitality Sales, Spa Sales or a comparable professional area
• Familiarity with the entertainment industry and demonstrated ability to make connections with high-profile clientele. 

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES

Driving Entertainment and Restaurant/ Bar/ Event Sales and Marketing Strategy Development and Execution:

• Develops and executes a comprehensive Entertainment program leveraging knowledge of entertainment concepts to create a memorable and unique customer experience. 
• Develops pre-opening sales and marketing goals and strategies, business positioning of the bar and night club, and other outlets, and ensures alignment with the brand business strategy.
• Develops sales, marketing and public relations (PR) goals and strategies that maximize revenues and market penetration and are consistent with the brand business strategy.
• Verifies sales and marketing strategies focus on high profile leisure sales, high value events, and targets “high-profile” guests and companies.
• Executes the sales strategy and ensures bar/night club goals are met for both self and employees.
• Assesses market position and recommends product and service needs and changes necessary to meet sales and marketing objectives consistent with brand goals.
• Directs and manages sales to maximize profits.
• Develops and implements marketing policies, plans and procedures.
• Assists in establishing and implementing operational, service, and sales strategies for property bars, restaurants, events and entertainment..
• Creates an atmosphere that represents and enhances the EDITION brand presence.

Directing Restaurant/ Bar/ Event Entertainment Marketing and Public Relations Activities:

• Makes final decisions related to bar and nightlife activities and events.
• Identifies ”high profile" guests and companies, and determines the best way to communicate and market to them.
• Leverages traditional communications and social networking media (e.g., Twitter, blogs, phone texting) to build and maintain relationships with clientele. 
• Partners with the corporate EDITION brand team and brand ‘partners’ to determine and develop marketing communication strategy and tactics.
• Creates and sustains public relations, advertising, and promotional programs.
• Coordinates and executes sales presentations, customer meetings, property tours and site inspections prior to key events, as required.
• Develops strong partnerships with local public relations and media firms to further increase brand/product awareness.
• Identifies public relations opportunities and coordinates activities to augment the overall marketing communication strategy.
• Contributes to the development of innovative marketing ideas for the bars/night clubs/ property to establish and maintain high levels of exposure and visibility for the hotel to grow market share.
• Identifies, develops, and evaluates marketing strategy, based on knowledge of established objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors.
• Works with the corporate EDITION team for approval and guidance on all guest facing marketing (mostly direct mail/econnects) and major PR events.
• Networks with high profile clientele and creates non-traditional selling and Public Relations events that generate high revenues.
• Orchestrates events that create awareness, understanding and interest through distinctive use of social networking media and coverage in lifestyle publications that target high-profile and high-end clientele. 
• Develops and leverages local networks to bring the right business to the bars, nightclub venues, restaurants and event spaces, as well as, establishes and maintains high levels of exposure and visibility for the property.

Development of Marketing Strategy

• Develops overarching marketing strategy including marketing plans and property email strategy to marketing budgets for the hotel they support to align with business priorities, in consultation with General Manager(s).
• Oversees execution of all marketing initiatives, projects and collateral production to verify that sales and marketing objectives are achieved and that revenue opportunities are maximized. 
• Cultivates partnership and active participation in demand generation strategy development (SMR).
• Reconciles marketing plan monthly with accruals, forecast in conjunction with Director of Finance.
• Serves as the hotel brand guardian / liaison, verifying all marketing reflects brand voice.  Leads the strategic pull-though of continent and brand promotions and campaigns.
• Runs, reviews, analyzes and clearly articulates to stakeholder’s and owners the key marketing reports with the ability to quickly adapt and adjust strategy accordingly.
• Manages internal and external partners to verify deliverables are executed to support hotel strategy.
• Develops and sets the digital marketing plan, and overarching partnership and marketing strategies to maximize hotel revenue production and align with hotel positioning.  
  
   

Development and Execution of Communications and Partnerships 

• Maintains frequent, active engagement with Ministries to communicate overall recommendations and actionable next steps based on identified findings, best practices, and overall digital trends.
• Sets overarching Public Relations strategy for hotel, outlining goals, pitch angles and target segments.
• Manages Public Relations agency, if applicable, or manage PR messaging.
• Effectively measures and clearly communicates success of campaigns and digital performance using relevant reports tools.
• Creates strong relationship management and negotiation skills; demonstrates ability to develop and maintain relationships (e.g. GMs, Sales and Revenue Leaders, Regional Team, Hotel Marketing Team, media representatives, etc.).

Providing Exceptional Customer Service:

• Communicates critical information to the Bar, Restaurant, and all operations departments employees regarding events
• Executes and supports EDITION’s Customer Service Standards. 
• Participates in and practices the values, ideals, and ethos 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.
• 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 EDITION.
• Gains understanding of the hotel’s primary target customer and service expectations; serve the customer by understanding their business, business issues and concerns, to offer better business solutions both prior to, and during the program/event.
• Implements the brand’s service strategy and applicable brand initiatives in all aspects of the sales and service process and focuses on building long-term, value-based customer relationships that enable achievement of sales objectives.

Managing Talent:

• Partners with Human Resources to attract, hire, develop, and retain the right people in order to support the strategic priorities of the market. 
• Ensures effective structures, processes, jobs and performance management systems are in place. 
• Sets goals and expectations for direct reports using the Leadership Performance Process (LPP), align performance and rewards, appropriately address performance issues and hold employees accountable for successful results.
• Forecasts talent needs and manage department talent acquisition strategy with HR to minimize lost time due to turnover. 
• Keeps an active list of the competition’s best sales people and execute a recruitment and acquisition plan with HR.
• Supports tools and training resources to educate sales employees on winning catering solutions. 
• Champions leadership development and workforce planning priorities by assessing, selecting, retaining and developing diverse, high-caliber talent that can lead the organization today and strengthen the leadership bench for the future; work with HR to anticipate future talent needs based on business growth plans.
• Utilizes all available on the job training tools for employees.

Analyzing and Reporting on Financial and Sales Data:

• Provides customer intelligence in evaluating the market and economic trends that may lead to changes in sales strategy to meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Reviews the STAR report, competitive shopping reports and uses other resources to maintain an awareness of the bar’s/night club’s market position.
• Researches competitor’s sales team strategies to identify ways to grow customer base.
• Verifies successful performance by increasing revenues, controlling expenses and providing a return on investment for the owner and EDITION International. 
• Monitors period-end reports and provide feedback to Executive Committee.
• Manages operating budget and forecasting to enable specific campaigns, promotions and collateral to drive revenue and meet bar/night club objectives.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Informs and/or update the executives, the peers and the subordinates on relevant information in a timely manner.
• Provides information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Analyzes information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Order and purchase equipment and supplies.

Other

• Works with Human Resources, Engineering and Security to ensure compliance with local regulation and requirements.

MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES

Leadership

• Adaptability – Develops strategies and identifies resources to implement and manage change; models flexibility in adjusting priorities; and communicates the need for change in a positive way that encourages commitment. 
• Communication - Actively listens and uses appropriate communication styles to deliver complex information in a clear concise way and influences others to accept a point of view, gain consensus, or take action. 
• Problem Solving and Decision Making - Models and sets expectations for solving complex problems, collecting and comparing information to evaluate alternatives, considering their potential impact before making decisions, involving others to gain agreement and support, and guiding others to implement solutions.
• Professional Demeanor - Exhibits behavioral styles that convey confidence and command respect from others; makes a good first impression and represents the company in alignment with its values.

Managing Execution

• Building and Contributing to Teams - Leads and participates as a member of a team to move the team toward the completion of common goals while fostering cohesion and collaboration among team members.
• Driving for Results - Focuses and guides others in accomplishing work objectives.
• Planning and Organizing - Gathers information and resources required to set a plan of action for self and/or others; prioritizes and arranges work requirements self and/or others to accomplish goals and ensure work is completed.
• Building Relationships
• Coworker Relationships - Develops and uses collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals.
• Customer Relationships - Develops and sustains relationships based on an understanding of customer needs and actions consistent with the company’s service standards. 
• Global Mindset - Supports employees and business partners with diverse styles, abilities, motivations, and/or cultural perspectives; utilizes differences to drive innovation, engagement and enhance business results; and ensures employees are given the opportunity to contribute to their full potential.

Generating Talent and Organizational Capability

• Organizational Capability - Evaluates and adapts the structure of organizational units, jobs, and work processes to best fit the needs and/or support the goals of an organizational unit.
• Talent Management - Provides guidance and feedback to help individuals develop and strengthen skills and abilities needed to accomplish work objectives.
• Learning and Applying Professional Expertise
• Applied Learning - Seeks and makes the most of learning opportunities to improve performance of self and/or others. 
• Business Acumen - Understands and utilizes business information (e.g., data related to employee engagement, guest satisfaction, and property financial performance) to manage everyday operations and generate innovative solutions to approach business and administrative challenges.
• Technical Acumen - Understands and utilizes professional skills and knowledge in a specific functional area to conduct and manage everyday business operations and generate innovative solutions to approach function-specific work challenges.
  • Food and Beverage Marketing - Knowledge of local and internal marketing efforts to drive revenue. Develops and executes marketing plans using relevant information as appropriate such as feedback gathered from customers. 
  • Bar Concepts - Promotion of beer, wine, and spirits to drive awareness and sales; marketing restaurant and bar concepts and events; knowledge of industry trends in food, beverage, and design to maintain competitive.
  • Bar - Knowledge of general bar operations including local and state liquor regulations; liquor, beer, and wine brands; inventory management for bar operations; preparation and presentation of drinks; management of banquet bar operations; knowledge of Training in Intervention Procedures in the Service of Alcohol or equivalent programs to ensure fluency in safe service of alcohol.
  • Media Communication - The ability to represent the property effectively to the media and in public forums through verbal or written communications such as news releases, background statements for media, and responses to media inquiries. This includes the knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods, including alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  • High-Profile Connections - Knowledge of and ability to establish relationships with "high-profile" customers and networks (celebrities, public officials, corporate executives, well-known and influential companies and organizations). 
  • Local Knowledge – Knowledge of local attractions, special events, and venues.
  • Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
  • Devising Sales Approaches and Solutions - Trying different and novel ways to deal with sales challenges and opportunities; taking courses of action or developing sales solutions that appropriately consider available facts, constraints, competitive circumstances, and probable consequences.
  • Sales Ability - Persuasiveness - Using appropriate interpersonal styles and communication methods to gain acceptance of a product, service, or idea from prospects and clients.
  • Sales Opportunity Analysis - Understanding and utilizing economic, financial, industry, and organizational data; accurately diagnosing customers’ business strengths, weaknesses, and key issues that can inform sales strategies and plans.
  • Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies, including safety standards, governmental regulations, and applicable civil laws to promote effective operations for the protection of people, data and property.
  • Property Events - The ability and willingness to locate and retain up-to-date information on daily property functions, group activities, and special events.  This includes knowledge of the names and locations of meeting/banquet rooms.

• Basic Competencies - Fundamental competencies required for accomplishing basic work activities. 
• Basic Computer Skills - Uses basic computer hardware and software (e.g., personal computers, word processing software, Internet browsers, etc.).
• Mathematical Reasoning - Demonstrates ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly, correctly, and in a way that allows one to solve work-related issues.
• Oral Comprehension - Demonstrates ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Reading Comprehension - Demonstrates understanding of written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
• Writing - Communicates effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. 

EDITION Hotels combine the visionary genius of boutique hotelier Ian Schrager, the service delivery of a world-class luxury hotel, and the global reach of Marriott International to create an entirely new experience in the world of hospitality. EDITION delivers the best of both worlds in a delicate balancing act – polish with personality, perfectionism with individualism, and comfort with charisma and charm. The brand targets sophisticated, knowledgeable consumers who understand quality, originality, design, and service excellence, but who want it without limitations – breaking the bounds of convention and demanding an attitude and a feeling wrapped in a package that showcases the exceptional.