HOSPITALITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

Salary Range: $59700 to $77700Position Summary:The Hospitality Business Development Specialist provides specialized account oversight for hospitality customers while partnering with Account role is primarily accountable for GPO compliance identifying sales opportunities demand planning and account performance. Using hotel Food & Beverage experience the Specialist monitors occupancy banquet activity seasonal demand and purchasing trends to identify opportunities and anticipate customer needs. The position works closely with Sales Purchasing and Operations to ensure appropriate inventory product breadth and service support. The Specialist owns the follow-through on identified opportunities and compliance gaps while the Account Manager maintains overall ownership of the customer relationship. Essential Duties:Hospitality Customer Support Supports Hospitality Accounts in partnership with assigned Account Managers providing a higher level of service and industry-specific support to hotel Food & Beverage Hotel Operations including restaurants banquets catering room service pool/beach operations employee dining and other Food & Beverage Working Relationships with hotel Food & Beverage teams to understand upcoming business levels operational changes menu needs and anticipated Account Managers with customer follow-up product research order-related needs inventory communication and coordination with internal Product Solutions based on customer operational needs tourism trends labor challenges menu changes and anticipated business Planning & ForecastingMonitors Hotel Occupancy Trends and works with customers to understand projected occupancy group business and other factors that may impact Food & Beverage for Banquet & Group Business by proactively gathering information regarding upcoming conferences weddings conventions special events and other significant banquet activity. Forecasts Seasonal Demand by identifying expected increases or decreases in product usage related to tourism patterns holidays peak travel periods shoulder seasons and property-specific Usage Changes and communicates significant increases or decreases in anticipated demand to Purchasing and the Account Manager. Supports Inventory Planning by translating customer occupancy banquet activity and historical usage into actionable demand Forward Visibility into significant hospitality events and demand changes to reduce the risk of shortages excess inventory and last-minute product needs. Purchasing & Inventory CoordinationPartners Closely with Purchasing to proactively communicate anticipated inventory requirements for hospitality Occupancy Changes and other customer-provided forecasts that may materially impact inventory Product Availability against anticipated customer demand and escalates potential inventory concerns before they impact Seasonal Inventory Adjustments when customer demand is expected to increase or Product Rationalization by helping identify products that should be increased reduced substituted or expanded based on hospitality & Operational SolutionsRecommends Product Solutions that address changing hospitality needs including labor-saving products portion-controlled products operational efficiencies and appropriate Product Breadth based on tourism trends customer demographics occupancy menu direction and evolving guest Product & Sales Opportunities by reviewing customer purchasing trends GPO compliance contract utilization occupancy banquet activity and anticipated demand. Proactively identifies gaps and growth opportunities and partners with the Account Manager to execute Exclusive Brand Initiatives by identifying appropriate IMA product alternatives and assisting Account Managers with customer E-Commerce Cut & Dry Adoption by assisting hospitality customers with digital ordering product navigation and general platform Service & Issue ResolutionProvides Proactive Customer Support related to orders inventory availability substitutions shortages damages discrepancies and other service Internal Resolution by working with Account Managers Customer Service Purchasing Operations and other departments as Clearly and Accurately regarding inventory lead times deliveries product availability and customer Significant Issues to the Account Manager or appropriate leadership when customer relationships inventory service or financial performance may be Other Related Duties as assigned by the the Companys Mission/Vision Statements and Core Values as guiding Secondary Supplier Account Support by serving as the primary internal resource for secondary supplier programs such as Foodbuy with accountability for GPO compliance product alignment sales opportunities and overall account performance. Partners with the Account Manager to support customer needs while maintaining program and contractual :Food & Beverage hospitality experience strongly preferred including experience within hotel resort restaurant banquet catering or other hospitality Food & Beverage -service distribution experience is beneficial but not Degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and relevant of Work:Monday through FridayRegular business hours