Senior Event Manager

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a renowned luxury hotel brand with a global presence and a commitment to creating lasting memories for our guests. With over 30,000 colleagues worldwide, we are dedicated to delivering exceptional service, fostering a culture of excellence, and making special happen.

Hotel Overview:

Located in the heart of downtown Fairmont New Orleans will be an impressive new addition to Fairmont’s luxury portfolio, offering 250 luxury guest rooms, four food & drink venues, a rooftop pool with expansive views of the city, more than 19,000 square feet of function space, and a 10,000 square-foot spa.

This property is destined to become an illustrious destination in the Central Business District, nearby the city’s renowned and historic French Quarter.

SUMMARY OF RESPONISBILITIES:

• Serve as the primary contact for clients following the sales process, managing all event planning details through completion.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee corporate meetings, conferences, and VIP functions, and special events
• Assist with weddings, social events as needed.
• Conduct planning meetings, site visits, and pre-convention meetings to identify client expectations and event requirements.
• Prepare, review, and distribute Banquet Event Orders (BEOs), event resumes, floor plans, and other event documentation.
• Coordinate event logistics with Banquets, Culinary, Stewarding, Front Office, Housekeeping, Engineering, Security, Audio Visual, Spa, and all supporting departments.
• Ensure all event details are communicated accurately and executed according to client expectations and luxury brand standards.
• Monitor event execution on-site and proactively resolve operational challenges or guest concerns.
• Coordinate catering arrangements for hotel-sponsored and community events.
• Reserve and coordinate meeting space for executive meetings, VIP internal functions, and hotel leadership events.
• Assist the Director of Sales and Marketing and Director of Food and Beverage with weekly banquet forecasting and reporting to support revenue goals and key business indicators (KBIs).
• Monitor event revenue, labor expenses, and departmental productivity to maximize profitability.
• Review contracts, billing instructions, deposits, banquet checks, and final invoices for accuracy.
• Process departmental purchase orders and invoices through BirchStreet while maintaining accurate financial records.
• Oversee departmental administrative operations, including ordering office supplies, stationery, meeting planner amenities, and event materials.
• Coordinate seasonal hotel décor initiatives, including holiday decorations, in partnership with Engineering, Grounds, and approved vendors.
• Monitor TrustYou MICE survey results and guest feedback, distribute reports, identify trends, and partner with operational leaders to improve the meeting planner experience.
• Maintain organized event files, departmental records, and operational documentation.
• Ensure conference services offices, storage areas, equipment, and workspaces are maintained in a professional and organized manner.
• Build strong relationships with clients, vendors, meeting planners, and internal stakeholders to create exceptional experiences and encourage repeat business.
• Mentor, coach, and support Event Services colleagues through ongoing training and professional development.
• Foster strong working relationships across all hotel departments to ensure seamless communication and operational excellence.
• Participate in departmental meetings, budgeting, forecasting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support hotel-wide events, community partnerships, and special projects as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Event Management, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive Conference Services, Catering, or Event Management experience within a luxury hotel, resort, convention hotel, or upscale hospitality environment.
• Previous supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
• Pre-opening luxury hotel experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience managing large-scale meetings, conferences, weddings, and social events.
• Strong knowledge of banquet operations, conference services, food and beverage operations, and luxury guest service standards.
• Experience using Delphi, Opera Cloud, OSEM, BirchStreet, TrustYou MICE, or similar hotel sales, catering, and procurement systems preferred.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, payroll administration, and invoice management.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word and Excel.
• Excellent organizational, communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
• Professional written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, sound judgment, professionalism, and commitment to exceptional guest service.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.