Director of Catering & Events

Sofitel Riyadh Hotel & Convention Center: A Symphony of French Elegance and Saudi Arabian Warmth
The Sofitel Riyadh is dedicated to providing a five-star experience characterized by luxury, elegance, and impeccable service. The hotel's commitment to personalized attention ensures that each guest's stay is not just comfortable but memorable. Blending urban sophistication with refined opulence, the Sofitel Riyadh creates an atmosphere where every detail is thoughtfully curated to offer a unique and unforgettable experience.

As the Director of Catering & Events at Sofitel Riyadh, you will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the hotel’s catering and events business, including managing a large event space with a capacity of 3,000 people and smaller, more intimate meeting rooms. Your role will

involve creating exceptional event experiences for clients, driving revenue through catering and event sales, and ensuring the seamless execution of large-scale events, conferences, and meetings. As part of the pre-opening team, you will play a key role in establishing Sofitel Riyadh as the premier venue for corporate, social, and luxury events in the city.

Key Responsibilities:

· Develop Catering & Event Strategy: Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive catering and events strategy, targeting corporate clients, social events, weddings, and large-scale conferences. Align this strategy with the hotel’s overall sales and marketing objectives.

· Manage Large-Scale Events: Oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of large events in the hotel’s expansive event space, with a capacity of up to 3,000 guests. Ensure that all aspects of these events, from logistics to catering and guest experience, are delivered to the highest standards of luxury.

· Smaller Meeting Rooms: Manage the sales, planning, and execution of meetings, conferences, and smaller events in the hotel’s meeting rooms, ensuring attention to detail and providing personalized service to clients.

· Pre-opening Responsibilities: Contribute to pre-opening activities, including building a strong network of clients and event planners, developing the catering and events team, setting up operational systems, and promoting the event space to prospective clients.

· Client Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with key corporate clients, event planners, wedding organizers, and social clients. Ensure that client needs are met and expectations exceeded throughout the planning and execution process.

· Event Space Utilization: Maximize the use of the event spaces, both large and small, by developing attractive packages, promotions, and tailored solutions for a variety of events, including conferences, product launches, exhibitions, and social gatherings.

· Revenue Growth: Drive revenue through proactive sales efforts, targeting large corporate events, conventions, weddings, and social events. Ensure that event spaces and catering services contribute to the hotel’s overall financial performance.

· Team Leadership: Lead and develop the catering and events team, including event managers, coordinators, and banquet staff. Provide training, guidance, and mentorship to ensure a high-performing team that delivers exceptional service.

· Budgeting & Financial Planning: Develop and manage the catering and events budget, ensuring profitability while delivering memorable and high-quality events. Monitor costs, optimize resources, and ensure effective allocation of staff and supplies.

· Coordination with Internal Teams: Collaborate with other departments, such as F&B, operations, sales, and marketing, to ensure seamless execution of events and maintain high standards of service across all functions.

· Compliance & Safety: Ensure that all events comply with local regulations, health and safety standards, and hotel policies. Work closely with security, operations, and other relevant teams to manage crowd control, safety measures, and emergency procedures for large-scale events.

· Event Design & Innovation: Stay informed of industry trends and innovations in event management and catering. Continuously develop new ideas for event design, F&B offerings, and guest experiences that set Sofitel Riyadh apart from competitors.

· Experience: Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in catering and event management, with a proven track record of handling large-scale events in luxury hotels or convention centers. Experience with venues accommodating 1,000+ attendees is highly desirable.

· Education: Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Event Management, Business Administration, or a related field.

· Skills: Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills. Expertise in event planning, budgeting, and sales strategies. Proficiency in event management software, CRM systems, and MS Office Suite.

· Client Relationship: Excellent client relationship-building skills, with the ability to work closely with high-profile clients and customize event solutions based on their needs.

· Leadership & Team Development: Proven experience leading a team, with a focus on training, development, and performance management. Ability to foster a collaborative and high-performance culture.

· Language Skills: Fluent in English; proficiency in Arabic is an advantage.

· Personal Traits: A proactive, detail-oriented professional with a passion for delivering memorable event experiences. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, especially in a pre-opening setting.