ELAINE WOHLSTADTER
Indianapolis,IN
Summary
Event Sales Manager and Planner with a background in hospitality, wedding sales, and event coordination. Builds trusted client relationships, prepares proposals, negotiates contracts, and manages logistics from inquiry through day-of handoff while keeping venues, vendors, and staff aligned.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Event Sales Manager & Planner
Valle Vista Golf Club & Conference Center
Greenwood, IN
03.2024 - Current
- Prepared proposals, presented venue packages and services, negotiated contracts, secured bookings, and guided couples through the decision-making process.
- Led venue tours and consultations with engaged couples, gathering vision, priorities, guest count, budget, and event needs to build personalized wedding experiences.
- Served as primary client contact throughout pre-wedding planning, building trusted relationships and providing consistent communication and support.
- Coordinated wedding logistics including timelines, floor plans, menus, décor, vendor requirements, setup needs, special requests, and other event details.
- Maintained accurate and organized event information, ensuring seamless transition from sales and planning to day-of execution.
- Supported full wedding sales and planning process from initial inquiry and consultation through contract execution, final planning, and handoff to day-of coordinator.
- Managed multiple weddings and planning timelines at once while maintaining attention to detail and high customer service standards.
- Identified and presented upsell opportunities for venue services and enhancements aligned with couple needs and budget.
- Resolved client questions and concerns, addressing planning challenges and providing effective solutions throughout the customer journey.
Sales and Event Manager
The Mavris Arts and Event Center
Indianapolis, IN
01.2023 - 07.2023
- Sold over a quarter million dollars in events and generated additional revenue.
- Created sales plans, goals, strategies, and objectives to meet team targets and revenue goals.
- Developed strategic sales plans to increase customer base and enhance global market presence.
- Prospected for new business through databases and other outreach methods to drive sales.
- Maintained professional network of prospective clients and business opportunities.
- Tracked monthly sales and prepared analytical reports to support business development planning.
- Facilitated team meetings and conducted one-on-one coaching sessions to elevate team performance.
Sales Manager
Ricks Boatyard
Indianapolis, IN
08.2022 - 01.2023
- Directed sales planning and account management to expand existing accounts and secure new clients.
- Developed targeted marketing campaigns that drove sales growth.
- Met with potential clients to perform site inspections and give tours of the facility, meeting rooms and offered activities.
- Trained employees on best practices and protocols while managing teams to enhance performance.
- Provided leadership, insight and mentoring to newly hired employees, supplying knowledge of various company programs.
- Participated in industry events to network and gain insights.
- Inspected banquet room and checked with catering team before functions to verify correct room set-up, schedule of events, staffing and audio-visual configuration.
- Managed safe and smooth food delivery at banquets, conferences and social events.
- Maintained records of customer needs and preferences.
Catering Sales Manager
Hyatt Place Hyatt House Indianapolis Downtown
Indianapolis, IN
04.2022 - 08.2022
- Assisted the sales team to achieve and exceed budgeted goals in group rooms, food, beverage, room rental revenue, profit, and occupancy for the hotel.
- Generate leads and new business through telephone calls and email solicitations, referrals, networking and community organizations.
- Conducted weekly sales calls to existing and new accounts.
- Coordinated site visits for prospective clients to showcase hotel facilities and services.
- Negotiated sales contracts and generated proposals, wrote contracts, and handled customer correspondence.
- Supervised the execution of banquets/events.
- Increased meeting planner evaluation scores following promotion to this position.
- Assisted the client in menu planning from setup, food and beverage, decorations, and other services requested by client.
- Maintained proper documentation of events, changes, and special requests with updated banquet event orders, group resumes and rooming lists.
- Partner with the operations team to coordinate customer specifics.
- Analyze historical, current, and future hotel/market trends.
- Up-sold catering events to maximize revenue through creative and strategic approaches.
- Received recognition as Coach of the 3rd Quarter for exemplary performance in sales training.
Assistant Guest Services Manager
Hyatt Place Hyatt House Indianapolis Downtown
Indianapolis, IN
05.2021 - 04.2022
- Managed day-to-day operations, driving quality standards and meeting customer expectations.
- Improved guest service by providing staff guidance, feedback and individual coaching.
- Empowered staff to deliver guest service by encouraging and rewarding responsive guest assistance.
- Promoted teamwork and quality service through daily communication and coordination with other departments.
- Established and implemented programs and service guidelines, fostering an ultimate guest experience.
- Increased front desk enrollment numbers by creating incentivized contests.
- Analyzed customer feedback to provide strategic direction to continuously improve overall rating.
- Hired multiple team members to enhance guest services.
- Conducted performance evaluations to check associates' performance and compliance with policy.
- Trained and mentored specialists in the application of soft skills, guest recovery strategies, and performance optimization techniques.
Front Office Manager
Columbia Club
Indianapolis, IN
12.2019 - 05.2020
- Supervised 6 employees to ensure efficient front office operations.
- Oversaw daily front office operations to ensure exceptional service for guests and members.
- Coordinated group sales reservations for non-corporate guests to enhance booking experience.
- Created and optimized employee schedules for shift coverage.
- Assisted with interviewing job applicants by asking appropriate questions and offering insight and feedback.
- Oversaw payroll operations to guarantee all employees received timely compensation for temporary, hourly and salaried employees.
- Managed customer complaints and rectified issues to complete satisfaction.
Front Desk Manager
Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Airport Hotel
Indianapolis, IN
04.2018 - 09.2019
- Within a month I was promoted to front desk manager from front desk agent.
- Managed daily operations of hotel during second shift. at all times over housekeeping, the restaurant, front desk and bellmen; on second shift.
- Managed hotel staff performance and provided feedback to enhance service quality.
- Facilitated coaching sessions to develop staff skills and improve guest interactions.
- Trained multiple people to be a front desk agent and oversaw each of them.
- Proficient in direct billing and all cash handling situations.
- Managed incident reports and responded to fire alarms and emergencies during my shift.
- Performed nightly property inspections to assess staff efficiency and ensure operational standards.
Life Insurance Representative
American Income Life Insurance Company
Indianapolis, IN
06.2017 - 02.2018
- Mastered the company selling script, enhancing sales techniques and contributing to increased sales.
- Convinced people of the benefits from certain products and services.
- Explained competitively priced service plans to customers.
- Helped customers identify services/products that best suited their needs.
- Serviced policyholder accounts and answered questions accurately.
- Monitored sales activities and proactively redirected efforts.
- Declined policies that were considered a classified insurance risk.
Rooms Controller
Omni Severin Hotel
Indianapolis, IN
07.2015 - 05.2017
- Proficient in making guests reservations and upgrades.
- Confirmed reservations, sold upgrades, assigned rooms, and issued keys to create a seamless and positive guest experience.
- Knowledge in applying proper blocking strategies and allotting rooms to VIP and regular guests walking in unannounced.
- Proficient in direct billing, accounts receivable and performing checkout and cash handling activities in accordance with cashiering and credit policies.
- Handled complaints on an urgent basis and ensured the guests were satisfied with the actions.
- Excellent customer service and coordination skills.
- Identified sales improvement opportunities and set personal goals to exceed company sales targets.
- Trained new employees on Omni's standards and procedures to improve operational efficiency.
Education
Associates of Science - Hospitality Administration
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
Indianapolis, IN01-2021
Academic Honors Diploma -
Ben Davis High School
Indianapolis, IN01-2010
Skills
- Event organization
- Event planning and logistics
- Contract negotiation
- Client communication
- Operations management
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Multi-tasking
- Opera PMS systems
- TripleSeat software
- CaterEase platform
- GoConcierge application
- VingCard Vision system
- Onity technology
- Envision proficiency
- Colleague proficiency
- Envision proficiency
- Colleague proficiency
Languages
Some French
Accomplishments
- Coach of 3rd Quarter at the Hyatt Place Hyatt House Indianapolis Downtown
- Multiple awards at various hotels over the years.
Timeline
Event Sales Manager & Planner
Valle Vista Golf Club & Conference Center
03.2024 - Current
Sales and Event Manager
The Mavris Arts and Event Center
01.2023 - 07.2023
Sales Manager
Ricks Boatyard
08.2022 - 01.2023
Catering Sales Manager
Hyatt Place Hyatt House Indianapolis Downtown
04.2022 - 08.2022
Assistant Guest Services Manager
Hyatt Place Hyatt House Indianapolis Downtown
05.2021 - 04.2022
Front Office Manager
Columbia Club
12.2019 - 05.2020
Front Desk Manager
Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Airport Hotel
04.2018 - 09.2019
Life Insurance Representative
American Income Life Insurance Company
06.2017 - 02.2018
Rooms Controller
Omni Severin Hotel
07.2015 - 05.2017
Associates of Science - Hospitality Administration
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
Academic Honors Diploma -
Ben Davis High School