Erin Bahnesli
Toronto,Canada
Summary
Dynamic Senior Catering Sales Executive with Marriott International, adept at driving revenue growth through strategic prospecting and exceptional customer relationship management. Proven track record of exceeding sales goals and cultivating lasting client relationships, leveraging upselling expertise and effective contract negotiations to maximize profitability.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Catering Sales Executive
Marriott International, Westin Harbour Castle Hotel
Toronto, Ontario
06.2021 - Current
- Responsible for contracting the entire catering market (events up to 2000 people) representing 70,000 square feet of meeting space within a 4-diamond property.
- Achieved sales goals and increased catering market revenue year over year.
- Attended industry events and entertained clients to network and generate new leads consistently.
- Cultivated relationships with existing customers to encourage repeat business.
- Negotiated contracts and closed agreements to maximize profit.
- Collaborated with marketing teams to develop and implement promotional strategies and materials, such as gala and holiday promos.
Event Manager
Marriott International, Sheraton Center
Toronto, Canada
11.2016 - 03.2020
- Responsible for conducting onsite meetings, guiding clients through menu planning, and floor plan design, within 130,500 square feet of meeting space.
- Facilitating pre-event meetings to ensure proper communication between various departments of the hotel, to ensure that events go smoothly and are seamless for the clients.
- Leading the hotel planning for large multi-day conferences such as the CIBC HR Conference ($1.7 million in revenue), the Merck Pharmaceuticals Conference ($1.2 million in revenue), and the North American Refugee Conference ($300,000 in revenue).
- Maintained an outstanding 100% approval rating on Event Satisfaction Survey (ESS) scores over three years.
Catering Manager
Compass Group Canada, Estates of Sunnybrook
Toronto, Canada
04.2012 - 11.2016
- Successfully planned over 65 weddings and over 200 corporate events per year.
- Used superior client management, organizational, and communication skills to manage large volumes of events.
- Primary contact for planning catered events, including client meetings, menu development, room decoration, floor plan design, procuring rentals, and final billing.
- Managed the organization of open houses for prospective clients and industry specialists.
Director of Events/Owner/Operator
Penny Laines Catering
Toronto, Canada
02.2006 - 04.2012
- Planned and managed all details for over 40 weddings and 30 corporate events per year.
- Oversaw menu planning, floor plan design, vendor bookings, AV planning, final billing procedures, and staff scheduling for all events.
- Trained and mentored staff in customer service and safety protocols.
- Developed event budgets and managed vendor relationships effectively.
- Attended trade shows and networking events to keep up with current industry trends, establish business relationships with new clients and drive company sales.
- Prepared Request-for-proposals for Ontario Heritage Trust sites, adhering to legal and Ontario government procurement guidelines.
First Cook
The Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Whistler, Canada
12.2004 - 02.2006
- Line cook for The Chalet, the Château’s Fondue restaurant (Winter), food preparation, kitchen supervising and coordinating staff.
- Line Cook for Portobello restaurant (Summer), preparing a wide variety of dishes of up to 250 covers a night.
- Banquet team member preparing food and plating for events of up to 1000 guests.
Second Cook, Banquet Supervisor
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Jasper, Canada
02.2002 - 12.2004
- Pastries design, preparation, presentation and plating of upscale events for up to 500 guests.
- Prepared food in Garde Manger and Saucier for all restaurant buffets, outlets, and hotel events.
- Supervised in-cabin functions of up to 50 guests per event, coordinating staff and service delivery. Assisted in the development of staff training on customer service standards and event set up, trained staff on Microstm system.
British Royal Family Household
Balmoral Castle/Buckingham Palace
United Kingdom
06.2003 - 11.2003
- Event setup and housekeeping to ensure the highest standards of conduct and presentation for royal family events.
- Preparation of royal family cottages for guests of the Queen’s summer estate.
Education
WPICC Certification -
The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPICC) Inc.
01.2014
Gay Wedding Institute Certification (GWIC) -
14 Stories Gay Wedding Institute
01.2014
Food Handler Certification -
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
01.2011
Hotel and Restaurant Management Diploma -
Fanshawe College
London, ON01.2001
Travel and Tourism Program -
Fanshawe College
London, ON01.1999
Skills
- Customer relationship management
- Revenue generation
- Networking strategies
- Social selling
- Sales presentations
- Strategic prospecting
- Upselling expertise
- Cold calling
- Contract negotiations
Accomplishments
2023 Marriott U.S. and Canada Top Performer
Timeline
Senior Catering Sales Executive
Marriott International, Westin Harbour Castle Hotel
06.2021 - Current
Event Manager
Marriott International, Sheraton Center
11.2016 - 03.2020
Catering Manager
Compass Group Canada, Estates of Sunnybrook
04.2012 - 11.2016
Director of Events/Owner/Operator
Penny Laines Catering
02.2006 - 04.2012
First Cook
The Fairmont Chateau Whistler
12.2004 - 02.2006
British Royal Family Household
Balmoral Castle/Buckingham Palace
06.2003 - 11.2003
Second Cook, Banquet Supervisor
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
02.2002 - 12.2004
WPICC Certification -
The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPICC) Inc.
Gay Wedding Institute Certification (GWIC) -
14 Stories Gay Wedding Institute
Food Handler Certification -
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Hotel and Restaurant Management Diploma -
Fanshawe College
Travel and Tourism Program -
Fanshawe College