Event and Sales Manager - Mercado Little Spain

Description

Job Title: Event Sales Manager
Location: Mercado Little Spain – New York, NY
Reports To: Director of Event Sales
Department: Sales & Events
Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Compensation: $75,000 - $85,000 Base Salary + 1.25% Commission + Benefits

About José Andrés Group & Mercado Little Spain

José Andrés Group (JAG) is a hospitality company led by Chef José Andrés, known for outstanding guest experiences, culinary innovation, and a values-driven culture. Our teams bring world-class food and warm hospitality to life across acclaimed concepts worldwide.

Located in the heart of Hudson Yards, Mercado Little Spain is a vibrant culinary destination celebrating the food, drinks, culture, and hospitality of Spain. With multiple restaurants and unique event spaces under one roof, Mercado Little Spain offers a dynamic setting for corporate events, social celebrations, group dining, receptions, and full-scale buyouts.

Position Summary

The Event Sales Manager is responsible for driving private dining and event revenue for Mercado Little Spain through proactive sales, strong client relationships, and exceptional event planning and execution.

This position manages the event sales process from initial inquiry and prospecting through contracting, planning, execution, and post-event follow-up. The Event Sales Manager will develop new business while maximizing inbound opportunities and building long-term relationships with corporate clients, event planners, destination management companies, hotels, concierge partners, and social clients.

The ideal candidate is a sales-minded hospitality professional who is highly organized, responsive, relationship-driven, and motivated by achieving revenue goals. They should be equally comfortable prospecting for new business, conducting a site tour, negotiating an event, building a BEO, and collaborating with Operations and Culinary teams to deliver an exceptional experience.

Key Responsibilities

Event Sales & Revenue Generation

• Drive private dining, group dining, catering, and event revenue for Mercado Little Spain.
• Manage incoming event inquiries with urgency, professionalism, and strong follow-through.
• Proactively prospect and develop new corporate, social, hospitality, and event-planning business.
• Convert qualified leads into confirmed events through thoughtful and strategic sales efforts.
• Conduct site tours and confidently present Mercado Little Spain's event spaces and capabilities.
• Prepare customized proposals, menus, pricing, and event recommendations based on client needs.
• Negotiate event details within established pricing and business guidelines.
• Identify opportunities to upsell food, beverage, space, enhancements, and additional experiences.
• Maintain an active sales pipeline and consistently work toward established individual and department revenue goals.
• Track lost business and identify opportunities to improve conversion.

Business Development

• Develop and maintain relationships with corporate clients, executive assistants, event planners, DMCs, hotels, luxury concierge teams, wedding and social planners, and other referral partners.
• Identify new business opportunities throughout New York City and surrounding markets.
• Conduct outbound prospecting through email, phone, networking, referrals, and in-person relationship building.
• Represent Mercado Little Spain and José Andrés Group at networking events, showcases, tastings, and industry events.
• Maintain relationships with previous clients and proactively pursue repeat business.
• Build a strong database of prospective and existing clients.
• Partner with Marketing and Sales Leadership on promotions, outreach campaigns, and lead-generation initiatives.
• Maintain awareness of NYC event trends, competitors, seasonal opportunities, and market demand.

Client Relationship Management

• Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned events from initial inquiry through post-event follow-up.
• Build strong client relationships through responsive, personalized, and professional communication.
• Understand each client's goals, priorities, budget, and vision for their event.
• Provide recommendations on spaces, menus, beverages, timelines, and event flow.
• Manage corporate, social, VIP, and high-profile clients with professionalism and discretion.
• Anticipate client needs and proactively address questions or concerns.
• Conduct timely post-event follow-up and pursue opportunities for repeat business and referrals.

Event Planning & Coordination

• Coordinate event details including menus, beverage selections, guest counts, floor plans, timelines, rentals, audiovisual needs, entertainment, and special requests.
• Prepare and maintain accurate proposals, contracts, Banquet Event Orders (BEOs), and other event documentation.
• Manage deposits, payment schedules, minimums, and contractual deadlines.
• Ensure all event information is accurate and communicated to Operations, Culinary, Beverage, and other internal partners.
• Conduct final detail meetings with clients as needed.
• Communicate allergies, dietary restrictions, VIP information, and special requests clearly.
• Manage event changes and last-minute requests professionally and efficiently.
• Ensure a seamless transition from the sales and planning process to onsite execution.

Event Execution

• Partner closely with Restaurant Operations and Culinary Leadership to ensure events are executed according to contracted details.
• Attend and oversee key events as business needs require.
• Welcome clients and ensure event spaces are prepared according to agreed specifications.
• Maintain communication with Operations throughout the event.
• Assist with resolving client concerns or operational challenges quickly and professionally.
• Ensure the final event experience reflects Mercado Little Spain and JAG hospitality standards.

Sales Systems & Administration

• Maintain accurate and current client, lead, event, and sales information within TripleSeat and/or designated CRM systems.
• Maintain detailed notes and follow-up activities for all active opportunities.
• Prepare contracts, BEOs, proposals, and other sales documentation accurately and on time.
• Track deposits, payments, event minimums, and billing requirements.
• Maintain organized digital files and client records.
• Provide accurate pipeline, forecast, and sales activity information to the Director of Event Sales.
• Participate in weekly sales meetings and event/BEO meetings.
• Maintain current knowledge of event menus, pricing, capacities, floor plans, and operational capabilities.

Collaboration & Communication

• Partner closely with the Director of Event Sales and other members of the JAG Events team.
• Maintain strong communication with General Managers, Culinary Leadership, Beverage teams, and Operations.
• Participate in BEO and operational meetings to ensure alignment on upcoming events.
• Collaborate with Marketing on event collateral, promotions, and sales initiatives.
• Support fellow Event Sales Managers and Coordinators during high-volume periods.
• Communicate potential challenges early and work collaboratively to develop solutions.
• Maintain a positive, professional, and team-oriented approach.

Requirements

In Return, We Offer You

• Competitive base salary of $75,000–$85,000 per year
• 1.25% commission on eligible event sales
• Comprehensive health & wellness benefits
• Retirement savings opportunities
• Paid time off
• Employee dining and partner discounts
• Sales and hospitality training and professional development
• Career advancement opportunities throughout José Andrés Group
• The opportunity to sell a unique collection of event experiences at Mercado Little Spain in the heart of Hudson Yards
• A dynamic, collaborative, and hospitality-driven work environment

What We're Looking For

• 3+ years of event sales, catering sales, private dining, restaurant sales, or hospitality sales experience preferred.
• Proven experience generating revenue and converting event inquiries into confirmed business.
• Experience in a high-volume restaurant, luxury hotel, upscale hospitality, catering, or private events environment strongly preferred.
• Strong existing knowledge of the New York City corporate and social events market is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to prospect and develop new business rather than relying solely on inbound leads.
• Strong sales instincts with the ability to identify opportunities and confidently close business.
• Experience managing the full event lifecycle from inquiry through execution.
• Knowledge of contracts, deposits, F&B minimums, service charges, cancellation policies, and event billing.
• Experience creating and working with BEOs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Polished presentation and client-facing skills.
• Exceptional organization, attention to detail, and time management.
• Ability to manage multiple events and sales opportunities simultaneously.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to remain composed under pressure.
• Experience with TripleSeat or comparable event/CRM software strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
• Spanish food, wine, and cultural knowledge is a plus, but a genuine desire to learn is essential.
• Positive, collaborative, and results-oriented attitude.
• Flexible availability to attend events, site visits, networking opportunities, evenings, and weekends as business needs require.

Success in This Role

Success as Event Sales Manager will be demonstrated through:

• Achievement of individual and department event sales goals.
• Growth in private dining and event revenue.
• Strong lead conversion and consistent pipeline development.
• Generation of new corporate and social business.
• Repeat and referral business from existing clients.
• Timely and professional response to event inquiries.
• Accurate contracts, BEOs, deposits, and event documentation.
• Strong client satisfaction and post-event relationships.
• Effective collaboration with Culinary and Operations teams.
• Consistent representation of Mercado Little Spain and José Andrés Group hospitality standards.

Equal Opportunity Employer

José Andrés Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in the federal E-Verify Program.