Manager Catering / Conf Services (Cluster)
Indexed description
The successful candidate will independently manage complex, high-end group programs while coordinating with Food & Beverage, Culinary, Banquets, Stewarding, Housekeeping, Front Office, Engineering, Recreation, Security, Spa, Transportation, Finance, Audio Visual partners, Destination Management Companies (DMCs), and outside vendors.
Some Of Your Responsibilities Include
- Provide comprehensive conference and event planning for meetings, incentive programs, corporate conferences, board meetings, social functions, destination weddings, pharmaceutical programs, government groups, fundraising galas and VIP events.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for clients from contract turnover through event departure, building strong client relationships while delivering exceptional personalized service.
- Review sales contracts and accurately translate contractual obligations into detailed operational plans for all hotel departments.
- Conduct planning calls, virtual meetings, and on-site planning visits with clients to finalize event details, room layouts, menus, audiovisual requirements, transportation, recreational activities, off-site events, billing instructions, and special requests.
- Create, maintain and distribute detailed Group Resumes that accurately communicate all program requirements, including:
- Complete event itineraries
- Function space assignments
- Event timelines
- Food & Beverage selections
- Meeting room setups
- Audio Visual requirements
- Transportation schedules
- Vendor and DMC logistics
- VIP arrivals
- Guest preferences
- Billing instructions
- Operational responsibilities for each hotel department.
- Prepare, revise and distribute accurate Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) ensuring all event details are communicated according to departmental deadlines.
- Coordinate all event logistics including outside vendors, entertainment, décor companies, transportation providers, photographers, florists, destination management companies (DMCs), rental companies and audiovisual partners while ensuring compliance with hotel policies.
- Manage room block performance by monitoring pickup, cut-off dates, attrition exposure and inventory, communicating changes with Sales, Revenue Management and Reservations.
- Monitor contracted minimums for guest rooms, food and beverage, meeting room rental, audiovisual, labor charges, storage fees and ancillary revenue opportunities, proactively identifying opportunities to maximize revenue through upselling.
- Analyze client requests and provide creative solutions that enhance the guest experience while protecting hotel profitability and operational efficiency.
- Coordinate menu planning with the Culinary and Food & Beverage teams while recommending enhancements that increase banquet revenue.
- Conduct pre-convention meetings and weekly operational meetings with department leaders to ensure complete alignment on upcoming group programs.
- Participate in weekly BEO meetings, Group Resume meetings, Operations meetings and Daily Business Reviews while communicating updates and operational changes.
- Maintain accurate event information in Delphi (or comparable sales and catering software), including forecasts, room allocations, event statuses, billing details and operational notes.
- Coordinate rooming lists, VIP amenities, welcome gifts, special accommodations and guest arrival logistics with Front Office and Housekeeping.
- Manage event changes in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy and communicating updates promptly to all departments.
- Review master accounts, billing instructions, deposits, concessions and final invoices in partnership with the Finance team to ensure billing accuracy prior to client departure.
- Conduct on-site event supervision for key functions and serve as the hotel representative throughout the program, responding quickly to operational needs and ensuring seamless event execution.
- Ensure all contracted groups achieve or exceed revenue expectations while maintaining exceptional guest satisfaction scores.
- Minimum three (3) years of Conference Services Management experience within a luxury full-service hotel or resort managing high-volume meetings and incentive groups.
- Demonstrated experience independently managing complex multi-day programs with numerous simultaneous events and multiple client stakeholders.
- Previous experience servicing Incentive Houses, Corporate Meeting Planners, Pharmaceutical Meetings, Executive Retreats, Destination Weddings, Government Programs and VIP events.
- Luxury hotel or Forbes Five-Star resort experience strongly preferred.
- Advanced experience with:
- Delphi or Delphi.fdc
- Opera PMS
- Social Tables, Meeting Matrix or equivalent event diagramming software
- Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint
- Extensive knowledge of:
- Banquet Event Orders (BEOs)
- Group Resumes
- Room Block Management
- Attrition Management
- Forecasting
- Group Billing
- Master Account Review
- Food & Beverage Revenue Management
- Meeting Space Inventory Management
- Experience coordinating Destination Management Companies (DMCs), outside vendors, transportation providers, audiovisual companies and entertainment.
- Strong financial acumen with experience reviewing contracts, managing concessions, monitoring minimum revenue commitments and identifying upsell opportunities.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with clients, executives and hotel operational leaders.
- Highly organized with outstanding attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple large programs simultaneously while meeting strict deadlines.
- Ability to solve problems quickly, remain calm under pressure and adapt to last-minute client changes.
- Passion for creating memorable luxury experiences through personalized service and flawless execution.
- Previous Caribbean luxury resort experience preferred.
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