Finally, I worked on this lead for 3 months!  He confirmed his site inspection for today and enjoyed a delicious lunch with me.  He loved the hotel.  Persistence worked!  I’ll be sending contracts out for 3 of their events and he even added one making it 4……over $120,000 in revenue.  I was pretty excited. 

Tomorrow is the last day for the Sales Opera Training.  I think it is going to be pretty easy once I can get in there and start using it.  The trainer will be back in 2 weeks….so we will have to enter in all of the Catering Events….oh my.  There is a lot.

The Catering Manager…I’m not sure what she is going to do.  They want to move her into Operations to replace the F & B Supervisor that they fired last week.  I really like her and I’m upset about the whole thing.

They fired the Reservation Manager today.  Like I said, you can’t mess around with this new Management Team.  Although my DOS says that I am doing a good job, I still feel like I’m walking on egg shells.  You never know.

I posted my resume on line yesterday and I had one call from a local hotel’s GM who found it.  I can’t tell you how bad I wanted to call right back but I couldn’t.  I did leave a message around 5ish once I was able to slip away and hide to call. Even though I am excited about a change, it still breaks my heart since I really do like my property.  But I am so tired of the constant interference that I go through every day….I simply want to sell. 

The Operation issues at the desk are still terrible.  I don’t know why people even come back.  Still many issues with posting, rates and god, everything.  They had tried to get me to take a couple shifts at the desk.  I wouldn’t mind but I can’t focus on Sales and work the front desk?   I help out as much as I can.

A couple of the new folks are now burnt out and wondering why they left their hotel to come to ours.  I keep telling that it is going to take time to build the team…they need to be patient. Build your team around you thus you will have more freedom.  I don’t know what to say to them? 

I have a busy day tomorrow….lots of trace calls to catch up on with this Opera Training and contracts to get out.  Not a dull moment.

Good luck selling tomorrow!

Pure Energy

Next week is National Housekeeping Week.  A lot of the chains get their staff involved in some appreciation and team building exercises.  This is the first year ever that they will be recognized at our hotel and the week celebrated.  The Housekeeping Staff has signed up like mad on the games and pie eating contests.  It’s nice to see them smile and talk about it all excited. 

Also next week is our all employee picnic…in between working.  They have rented a dunking well and some of the Manager’s will have to go in it, get dunked for a fee.  Whatever we generate from the events we will donate to a local charity.  It’s going to be a site to see. 

One of the Manager’s that I thought was one of the best was fired tonight.  Basically, from what I gathered, he was complaining to a front desk employee about his job, all the hours he’s working, his pay and everything.  I’m not sure exactly what he said but he was busted and was terminated.  Although it could of been written off as “blowing off steam”, the new Management Team took it very seriously and took action. 

He was the best employee I have ever seen.  And my clients loved him.  He would do anything for anybody.  Work all day and come back at night.  I simply can’t believe it.  Someone said to me “17 of us to start, 6 of us left”.  It’s the truth.  Most of the old Management Team has been fired.  I expected this and new this when the new General Manager was brought in.  I have seen it too many times and I am proud to say, that I have made it through every one of them.  But, you just never know.

It’s hard to go into work everyday wondering if you will be fired or not with all of the changes.  In the beginning I was nauseous about the changes and fearful for my job.  I was of course the Director of Sales and you knew the deal.  I wanted to remain on the team and I wanted to simply sell.  Forget all of the bull that comes with being a Director.  Maybe some fresh eyes and help would be better for the Sales Team.  So I took a breath and a chance and talked to the New General Manager letting him know that I love the property and that I wanted to sell only.  I think that he respected me for that and I remained on the Team and took the SMERFE Sales Manager position.  I must say, I love it and I can rest better at night.  No, they did not reduce my salary but they did change the commission structure that has cost me financially but I’m working my way through it. 

I think this new team has people just waiting to replace us.  But then I think that since my DOS said that I was on the right track and that I was doing a good job, that maybe they do find me an asset.  Some of the old Manager’s say that they are working us to death to get them set up and then they will replace us.  I know that these people thinking this will be the next to go.  I find not commenting and staying away from these people are the best thing to do.

Bottom line, I have to stop thinking and just to the job the best I can.  That’s the only way that I can stomach it.  It’s not so much that I am fearful of being fired, I really do see the property as an asset and I enjoy working here.  It’s been over 2 years now and I want to be part of the team that turns this property around.   I hope that they know that.  We will see.

The Opera Training went well today.  But still not for the Catering Manager.  I’m hoping that she makes it through all of this.  I can’t imagine her not being there.  Although she practiced the old way of doing things, she had built a well oiled wheel.  And she didn’t miss a beat.  She can barely keep up with her clients all day as it is.  I don’t know how she is going to find time to enter everything in Opera.  This assistant can only do so much.

Thank God It’s Friday!  It’s been a long week.  Still 3 more training days to go until I am free for a couple of weeks.  Can’t wait!

Good luck selling!

Pure Energy

Today was the restaurant “Sales Blitz” to promote the new $14.95 lunch buffet that starts on Monday, September 8th. I was resistant, annoyed and frankly I was busy on my own stuff, that I didn’t feel the drive.

As I fiddled around in the kitchen to get more coffee, I said good morning to one of the waitresses in the Restaurant.  She had heard about the Blitz and was excited about it.  She asked me to get as many cards as I can so she can pull the fax numbers off to fax the menu to them each morning.  I was pretty impressed.

Then another Restaurant Employee came up to me to ask me about the Blitz.  I’m starting to think that I better change my attitude on this deal since I’m thinking that they are really counting on me.  How could I be so selfish?  I didn’t even think…….I didn’t even think of them.  If we do increase the Lunch Revenue, then they will make more money in their pockets.  They enjoy people, want to see people and wait on them.  That’s what they do.

They are tired of folding napkins all day, sitting around and smoking.  They want to be busy.  Lunch business is terrible and I don’t even know how these people make a living in our Restaurant.

Ok, a “Blitz” usually means that people need to support the efforts and come out of their comfort zone and hit the pavement.  A “Blitz” usually means several Manager’s and staff assist in the cold calling…..BLITZING THE MARKET AND GETTING THE WORD & MATERIALS OUT THERE.  Blitzing is fun, creative, bonding and rewarding if they are successful.  Personally, I hate doing them but they have always been worth it.

The excuses from the Food & Beverage Team was plain disgusting.  How can they get away with it?  How can they not want to have some fun and support the Team?  NO ONE WAS AVAILABLE FROM THE FOOD & BEVERAGE DEPARTMENT.  NO ONE…..and not anyone else either.  WHAT????

The first up was our Catering Manager.  She took the first run in the morning and was back before noon for her appointment. 

Second was me.  I was told were to go so I peeled myself away from my work and hit the road at 2pm.  I was already an hour behind the time that I wanted to head out.  I went out determined, focused and ready to go.  I can’t let these girls down in the Restaurant. 

I did pretty good out there and with each potential lead, I got more aggressive and more assertive.  The feedback I was getting was good and I was surprised that there was even an interest.  No one bulked about the price, several confirmed our location, and I even got a couple of leads for myself out of it.  Sweet!  What more can I ask for?

At 3:45pm I stopped at one more location, then headed back in.  Only 2 hours but I had a pile of cards and information for the team to review.

As I was walking up to the hotel, one of the kitchen’s prep persons was out front waiting for her ride.  She questioned the feedback from my efforts.  I shared with her my collection of cards and she looked AT EVERYONE OF THEM.  She was genuinely excited and interested.  She then asked if I was going out again tomorrow.  I guess I will have to make that happen and I know just were to go.

In my mind I couldn’t help to think….after I typed out the day’s recap….where’s the balloons…..soda’s and pizza’s upon the final return of the last one to blitz?  Where’s the flip charts and Management Team to review the findings and prepare for the next days assignment?  This is not the kind of blitz that I am used to.  It was disappointing but, I guess I shouldn’t expect it.

I have my game plan ready for tomorrow.  I’m over wanting the bells and whistles and I don’t care who goes out tomorrow or not.  I know my plan and I’m going to do it.  Maybe they will let me pull a waitress off the floor and I’ll take her out just for a hour or less…depending on what is going on….oh, that’s right, nothings going on…..yet.

As always, good luck tomorrow.  My only advise…..BELIEVE.

Pure Energy