Catering Sales & Services Manager

Fairmont Dallas, located in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, offers 545 elegant guestrooms and suites, with over 73,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. For over 50 years, Fairmont Dallas has been the setting for countless civic, social cultural, convention and corporate events, setting the stage for countless memories.

Responsible for the management of all aspects and functions of the events assigned by the Director, Catering & Conference Services, in accordance with hotel standards. Anticipate guest needs, and solicitation of business while assisting to control expenditures. 

• Primary focus for this role will entail servicing all Local Events (Gala's, Weddings, Fundraisers, Day Meetings) with the opportunity to assist the corporate event programs
• Organize bookings from date of booking to departure, including meeting requirements, guest room requirements, guest room pickup, food and beverage, and audio visual. 
• Create detailed floor plans, resumes, and banquet event orders for seamless execution of programs.
• Conduct memorable pre-planning tours, pre/post pre-conferences, and tastings.
• Engage and encourage team members by being role models 
• Establish and maintain rapport with all clientele and internal hoteliers
• Flexible Schedule which includes working on weekends required for this role
• Effectively handle multiple programs and ensure the successful completion of all job duties
• Contact clients and maintain effective communication throughout planning and while on site
• Maintain complete knowledge of and comply with all departmental policies/service procedures/standards
• Anticipate guests’ needs, respond promptly and acknowledge all guests 
• Maintain positive guest and colleague relations at all times
• Be familiar with all hotel services/features and local attractions/activities to respond to guest inquiries
• Resolve guest complaints, ensuring guest satisfaction
• Ensure appropriate upselling opportunities are taken to maximize revenue potential
• Daily scheduled group functions, times, locations, amount of people and specified requirements
• Understand the location of all hotel function space and names of function rooms
• Understand all styles of meeting and banquet room sets and banquet room capacities
• Retrieve and organize Banquet Event Orders (B.E.O.'s) according to departmental standards
• Document daily set-up requirements according to departmental procedures / attach respective diagrams
• Inspect pre-set scheduled function areas/rooms for cleanliness, working condition and proper furniture/equipment set up; rectify any deficiencies with respective departments
• Monitor and ensure that functions are set up, refreshed and broken down in compliance with scheduled times and departmental procedures
• Conduct pre-function meeting and review all information pertinent to set-up and service of group
• Constantly monitor staff performance in all phases of service and job functions, ensuring that all procedures are carried out to departmental standards and as requested on the B.E.O.’s; bring any deficiencies with respective department personnel
• Maintain Communication between client and operations team
• Inspect all meal periods and be present until the entrée course is served for all plated functions
• Assist staff with their job functions to ensure optimum cleanliness and service standards for guests
• Coordinate group's requests for additions/changes to scheduled arrangements
• Direct the final breakdown of function room and clean up
• Monitor storage and delivery of group packages
• Maintain a personal organization system for files and paperwork within departmental guidelines
• Contact clients after scheduled functions to ensure guest satisfaction and to solicit re-bookings.
• Attend daily B.E.O. review meetings; resolve any discrepancies.
• Attend designated meetings, menu and wine tastings.
• Foster and promote a cooperative working climate, maximizing productivity and employee morale.
• Full knowledge of the event menus and ability to upsell

Manage all deposits and billing for all clients until the final bill is paid

• Bachelor’s degree in the relevant field or a combination of equivalent education and/or experience is required.
• 3-5 years’ experience as Conference Services Manager, preferably at a four or five Star/Diamond hotel
• Knowledge of accommodating room capacities
• Knowledge of all styles of room set-ups, standard equipment involved and proper handling of such
• Knowledge of organizing set-up requirements from information on Banquet Event Orders (B.E.O.'s)
• Knowledge of staffing guidelines/requirements to set-up, turn and breakdown function spaces
• Fluency in English both verbal and written with legible communication
• Computing basic arithmetic

What’s in it for you:

• Paid time off
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance, 401K
• Complimentary Shift Meal
• Employee benefit card offering discounted rates in Accor worldwide
• Learning programs through our Academy designed to sharpen your skills
• Ability to make a difference through our Corporate Social Responsibility activities, such as Planet 21
• Career development opportunities with national and international promotion opportunities