Casino hotels seek out groups looking for locations to hold meetings, conferences, and conventions. The facility often sells rooms at a reduced price to these groups because they are buying blocks of rooms as well as food and beverage service, meeting rooms, ballrooms, and/ or convention facilities. Casino Hotel Sales Representatives are responsible for soliciting and booking groups, conferences, and conventions into the facility. These groups often substantially increase the business of a casino hotel, especially during slow periods of the year.
They contact groups that have previously visited the facility, or they are assigned leads by the convention and group sales manager. Sales Representatives deal with potential customers on the telephone or set up and meet with prospective clients at the facility. Some Sales Representatives also meet outside the hotel with clients.
Sales Representatives must have complete knowledge of the casino hotel and all the services and amenities it offers. They must be able to discuss every detail of the facility comfortably and knowledgeably. While doing this, the Casino Hotel Sales Representative is responsible for explaining how the services and facilities offered meet the potential client’s needs. For example, the Sales Representative may be required to discuss availability of types of rooms and packages, as well as options in catering meals, breaks, and meetings. The individual is also expected to answer any questions the client may have. While doing this, the Sales Representative attempts to overcome objections or problems of potential clients, persuading these customers to choose their hotel instead of another. The Sales Representative often gives tours of the facility to prospective customers. He or she shows rooms, convention casinos, the gaming area, health clubs, and restaurants. The Sales Representative may also show customers sample menus for food service. The Casino Hotel Sales Representative must constantly follow up. He or she schedules additional visits, writes additional letters, or makes more phone calls to prospective customers. The Sales Representative negotiates rates and services with groups. Generally, people have some sort of leeway in handling these negotiations, although they may need approval from the sales manager. Other duties of Casino Hotel Sales Representatives may include:
Casino Hotel Sales Representatives earn between $23,000 and $48,000 or more annually. Individuals may be compensated in a variety of ways, ranging from straight salary, salary plus commissions, or salary plus bonuses on business brought into the hotel over and above what was forecast. Factors affecting earnings include the geographic location, size, and prestige of the specific casino or casino hotel, as well as the experience, responsibilities, and professional reputation of the individual.
Casino hotels, like all others in the hospitality industry, are always on the lookout for talented people who can produce sales. Sales Representatives work in various settings, including land-based casino hotels, Indian gaming facilities with on-site hotels, and dockside or floating riverboat casinos with hotel facilities. Casino Hotel Sales Representatives may climb the career ladder by locating similar positions in larger, more prestigious casino hotels. Others may advance through promotion to the position of convention sales manager.
Educational requirements vary for Casino Hotel Sales Representatives. Some casinos require just a high school diploma or the equivalent. Others prefer a college background or degree. Good choices for majors include marketing, sales, public relations, communications, or hotel management and administration. Work experience may be accepted in lieu of formal education. In many casino hotels, the convention or group sales manager conducts training seminars and workshops for Sales Representatives. Experience requirements, like education requirements, vary. In some casino hotels, this may be an entry-level position. Others require experience in hotel sales. Sales Representatives should be pleasantly aggressive, personable people with sales ability. Communication and phone skills are necessary. Individuals should be organized, detail-oriented, and have the ability to negotiate. Those interested in learning more about careers as Casino Hotel Sales Representatives can obtain additional career information from the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) or casino hotel human resources departments.
1. Send or fax your résumé to the human resources departments of casino hotels with a short cover letter inquiring about job openings. Include any sales experience you have had in any capacity on your résumé.
2. You can also stop by the human resources departments of casino hotels with this same information.
3. Many casinos offer these jobs on their job hotlines. These are recorded messages giving jobs available at the casino hotel. Call the casino to get its job hotline phone number.
4. Jobs are often advertised in the classified sections of newspapers in areas hosting gaming. Look under classifications such as “Casino/Gaming Opportunities,” “Convention Sales,” “Group Sales,” “Casino Hotel Sales,” “Casinos/Casino Hotels,” or “Sales Rep.”
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Note: This article was sent to us by: Ray Vindger at 02062010
1. The Casino Credit Clerk works in the casinos credit office
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