Director of Conference Services & Catering

Located on the coveted south shore of Maui in Wailea, Fairmont Kea Lani is Hawaiʻi’s only all-suite and villa luxury oceanfront resort. This newly transformed, distinctive property is located on the sunny shores of Polo Beach amongst 22 acres of tropical landscape, offering authentic Hawaiian cultural experiences and genuine personal service that embody the spirit of Aloha.

From full-moon staff hikes and beach clean-ups to appreciation luncheons and birthday holidays, our team provides endless opportunities to learn and grow in both your personal and professional development. Live and work in a place you love!

What is in it for you:

• Comprehensive benefits package (Medical, Vision and Dental) including extended benefits like; Basic insurance, TDI and Long-Term Disability for regular Full-time and Part-time employees
• 401(k)
• One complimentary duty meal for all employees that work more than 6 hours per shift
• Food & Beverage discount at Fairmont Kea Lani (venue specific and discount may vary)
• Wellness Offerings
• Employee benefit card offering discounted rates in Accor worldwide
• Learning programs through our Academies
• Opportunity to develop your talent and grow within your property and across the world!

We are home to events that matter.  As a Director of Conference Services & Catering, you will lead a dynamic team to excellent results by developing your team’s skills and supervising and working with all conference service and catering sales staff, in order to solicit, book and coordinate banquet/ catering functions that ensure customer satisfaction and maximize hotel revenue and profitability.                                                                     

Your expertise will enhance the reputation by acting as a liaison between client and operational departments to ensure a successful meeting and generate repeat business.  You will also ensure profitability of the department by maximizing revenues, control labor expenses and maintaining food and beverage expenses.

Salary Range:  $120,000 - $130,000/yr

What you will be doing:  

• Establish strategic action plans to enhance the operation of the Conference Services and Catering department.
• Develop new products designed to increase the number and quality of offerings available
• Establish creative & innovative ideas that will create points of difference while maintaining up to date information on food and beverage trends.
• Review all definite sales bookings and distribute them among the Conference Service Managers (CSM’s) in a timely manner. Review on a weekly basis morning reports for all CSM’s to ensure they are keeping abreast of their workload.
• Ensure that the Conference Services handling procedures, morning report and trace procedures are adhered to by all CSM’s.
• Continual review and analysis of conference services/catering guidelines, core standards, procedures & policies.
• Develop, implement and enforce function space yield management guidelines. Review evening reports on a daily basis to ensure effective function space yield management.
• Ensure CSM’s are actively yielding group room blocks and utilizing revenue management principles.
• Ensure the integrity of the servicing of groups, weddings, off-premise catering and individual functions by enhancing & implementing associated core standards & booking guidelines.
• Promote the professional development of all members of the Conference Services and Catering department
• Ensure proper performance management for all members of the Conference Services and Catering team.
• Handle key Conference Services files during peak conference services periods and to assemble and distribute consistent, concise agendas and function notices that clearly represent a group’s every requirement.
• Ensure that all related departments receive adequate resource support.
• Ensure and enforce the integrity of Sales & Catering system at all times.
• Further develop & maintain a constructive, harmonious and communicative working relationship with all supporting departments.
• Monitor revenue and costs of the department and assist in the development of strategies to maximize shareholder return.
• Responsible for forecasting/budgeting revenues and expenses of the department.

Your experience and skills include:

• Must be able to speak, read, write and understand the English language.
• Requires polished and effective communication skills, both verbal and written with persons in all levels of authority, both internally and externally.
• Must possess advanced computational ability and budgetary analysis capabilities.
• Have a good awareness of menu and cost profit.
• Extensive knowledge of food and beverage products, proper preparation and presentation of food and beverage items.
• Must have a proven ability to plan and organize events effectively with an acute sense of detail.
• Must possess computer skills, including, but not limited to, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and e-mail functions.
• Experience with Meeting Matrix, Opera PM and Sales & Catering system required.
• Strong leadership, excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills, proven problem solving abilities.
• Ability to lead a team through effective recruiting, training, supervising and performance management.

Education

• Graduate of recognized Hotel and Restaurant Management Program or equivalent is an asset
• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification is an asset

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a leadership role in Catering and/or Conference Services

All Candidates must be in possession of identification proving authorization to work in the United States as defined in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA). This Position does not offer sponsorship of Work Visas. Resumes submitted that cannot fulfill these requirements will not be considered.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
We are an inclusive company and our ambition is to attract, recruit and promote diverse talent.

Join our ‘ohana today:  Visit our website to learn more about living and working for Fairmont Hawai’i.  www.fairmonthawaiijobs.com

Why work for Accor?  Discover a world where life pulses with passion!​

Join the Accor Group, an ecosystem of over 45 brands, 5,600 hotels, 10,000 restaurants and lifestyle places, that welcome you.  With us, your personality is valued, your opportunities for growth know no boundaries.  Every action you take has a positive and memorable impact on the experience of our customers, your colleagues, and also, on the planet, contributing to pioneering the art of responsible hospitality.

Hospitality is a work of heart! #fairmontcareers #alwayskealani