The Manager, Sports Experiences, will be responsible for contracting, managing and reconciling hotel reservations associated with our Housing Event Team, where we manage hotel reservations for large sporting events of 600-6,000 rooms per night. 

The Manager will partner very closely with our clients to provide winning travel solutions and experiences for their events. The Manager will negotiate contracts with hotels and travel vendors to offer the lowest rates and best terms for our client, their programming and their guests. There will be daily communication with our client’s key stakeholders and our hotel partners leading into an event. The Manager will negotiate all hotel agreements, oversee and confirm all program needs, while also compiling and reconciling all relevant data post event.  This position will require strong communication, negotiation, relationship building, data management and attention to detail skills. This is a fast-paced, computer-based role that will require handling multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, regular scheduled client/hotel communication and consistently meeting deadlines to ensure our clients specific programming needs are met for every event.  
 

The Manager will report to a Director on our team, working within an established program focusing on negotiating and executing hotel agreements with excellence to meet the needs of our client. The Manager will need to be process oriented and showcase strong leadership skills at all times. This position will also work with other Managers across other business lines to develop and drive consistent event processes, and leverage business opportunities when available. 

Key characteristics that this individual must possess include strong, persistent negotiation skills, strategic decision-making ability, organizational skills, ability to identify, suggest and implement process improvements, as well as strong communication, relationship building and customer service skills. Attention to detail and the ability to consistently meet or exceed key deadlines is critical. This person must possess the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects, anticipate event needs, discern work priorities, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision, while also being able to urgently address situations when they arise. Experienced, take-charge professionals that work well under pressure, have impeccable attention to detail, and handle a crisis with a steady hand are essential key characteristics for success in this position. 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of the employee's activities, duties, or responsibilities for this job. Duties, obligations, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications and Skills

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish regular communication with key internal stakeholders to confirm needs ant develop strategies to achieve best possible outcome
• Foster client relationships by maintaining regular contact with key partners to develop strategies for upcoming events. Identify specific needs and expectations that encourage repeat business
• Gain knowledge of all events to in order to effectively negotiate the best hotel contract and create the best possible experience for our client.
• Establish and meet key deadlines with internal stakeholders
• Utilize and update templates as necessary to ensure all needs are met and consistency across events  
• Manage and negotiate all vendor/hotel contracts, based on the requirements of the event and client’s needs 
• Build all contracts using appropriate template
• Establish strong relationships with key vendors to ensure delivery of contracted services
• Create and distribute event-related communications to applicable recipients including vendors, partners and internal stakeholders
• Log and save all contracting documents in appropriate location for review as needed
• Review post-event notes and client surveys to ensure brand quality standards are achieved
• Manage event budgets and measure post-event results
• Analyze and review financials relating to event expenses, payments, reconciliations, client reporting, and other reporting as requested.
• Regularly update reporting aimed at tracking spending and negotiated savings
• Work in conjunction with and communicate closely with other departments as it relates to contracting efforts to leverage opportunities

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

• Development, documentation, and implementation of specific event procedures and systems
• Analyzing existing processes and reporting for possible improvements
• Drive focus on continuous quality improvement
• Participate and lead Sports Experiences team meetings, as needed
• Assist with collection from vendors, as needed
• Participate in post-event review meetings regularly
• Conduct process review/improvement meetings regularly

Experience and Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, sports/event management or a related field
• Experience in a management position and at least 3+ years in the sports or travel/hospitality industry
• Exceptional interpersonal skills – a collaborative style and ability to communicate effectively at all levels with strong oral, written, and presentation skills