DIRECTOR OF EVENT PLANNING
9 days ago
Miami
Job Description Location: JW Marriott Marquis Miami | 255 Biscayne Blvd Way, Miami Florida 33131 USA Compensation: Salary Schedule: Full-Time Position Type: Management Benefits • Health Insurance, • Dental and Vision, • Paid Time Off, • 401K, • Parking and Metro Reimbursement, • Travel Perks and Benefits, • Recognition and Rewards, • Growth Opportunities, • …and much more! JOB SUMMARY Manages Event Planning functions and staff on a daily basis. Core functional area of responsibility is the Event Planning Team including the Senior Event Managers, Event Managers, Associate Event Managers and Administrative Assistants. Position oversees the administrative processes associated with the Pre-Event and Post Event phases of an event and the associated transitions between all event phases. Ensures a seamless turnover from sales to operations and back to sales while consistently delivering a high level of service. The Director of Event Planning also ensures team maximizes revenue opportunities by up-selling and accurately forecasting (catering and group rooms) all events. The position is responsible for achieving guest and associate satisfaction and for managing the financial performance of the department. Planning • May work with highly complex or high profile groups when financial impact will be significant., • Assigns all events turned over to Event Planning team., • Leads the catering menu development process., • May lead Event Management meetings (BEO, daily coordination meeting, room block review, etc.)., • Responsible for turned opportunities’ function space and group room blocks. Maintains these inventories to maximize customer satisfaction and revenue opportunities., • Effectively manages customer budgets to maximize revenue and meet customer needs., • Champions all standards, policies and procedures (PPM, Core Deliverables, SOPs, LSOPs, etc.) for the Event Planning team., • Reviews staffing levels to ensure that guest service and planning needs are met., • Communicates and executes departmental and hotel emergency procedures and ensures staff are trained in safety procedures., • Leads execution of activities to support the Event Management strategy., • Works with direct reports to review scheduled events and troubleshoot potential challenges/conflicts., • Leads discussions to review event complexity and proactively avoid service challenges and failures., • Ensures the hotel is appraised of all groups that will impact hotel operations., • Displays leadership in guest hospitality, exemplifies excellent customer service and creates a positive atmosphere for guest relations., • Interacts with guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels. Effectively responds to and handles guest problems and complaints., • Empowers associates to provide excellent customer service. Establishes guidelines so associates understand expectations and parameters. Ensures associates receive on-going training to understand guest expectations., • Observes service behaviors of associates and provides feedback to individuals and or managers; continuously strives to improve service performance., • Reviews comment cards, guest satisfaction results and other data to identify areas of improvement; reviews findings with associates to develop appropriate correction action, shares plans with hotel leadership and ensures corrective action is taken to continuously improve results., • Incorporates guest satisfaction as a component of departmental meetings with a focus on continuous improvement., • Owns Meeting Planner Survey results for the pre and post-event phases of functions., • Communicates vision for service delivery in Event Planning to ensure guest planning needs are met., • Effectively handles and responds to guest problems and complaints., • Attends pre-event meetings to understand group needs, set appropriate expectations and gather critical information to reinforce in communications with hotel departments., • Interviews and hires management and hourly associates with the appropriate skills to meet the business needs of the operation., • Develops, implements and maintains a departmental orientation program for associates to receive the appropriate new hire training to successfully perform their job., • Uses all available on the job training tools for associates. Implements and manages training initiatives and conducts training when appropriate., • Communicates performance expectations in accordance with job descriptions for each position and monitors progress., • Conducts hourly associate performance appraisals according to Standard Operating Procedures., • Administers the performance appraisal process for direct report managers. Develops business goals and creates appropriate development plans. Assists associates based on their individual strengths, development needs, career aspirations and abilities., • Establishes and maintains open, collaborative relationships with associates and ensures associates do the same within the team., • Actively solicits associate feedback, utilizes an "open door" policy and reviews associate satisfaction results to identify and address associate problems or concerns. Ensures associates are treated fairly and equitably. Constantly strives to improve associate retention. Brings issues to the attention of Human Resources as necessary., • Manages associate progressive discipline procedures for areas of responsibility. Ensures hotel policies are administered fairly and consistently. Ensures disciplinary procedures and documentation are completed according to Standard and Local Operating Procedures (SOPs and LSOPs) and support the Peer Review Process., • Ensures on-going communication is happening in all areas of responsibility to create awareness of business objectives and communicates expectations, recognizes performance and produces desired business results., • Celebrates successes and publicly recognizes the contributions of team members; ensures recognition is taking place across areas of responsibility. Maintains an on-going associate recognition program., • Ensures self and direct report managers attend appropriate core training classes., • Ensures managers participate in the department’s orientation program and receive the appropriate new hire training to successfully perform their job., • Creates appropriate developmental plans and develops team members based on their individual strengths, development needs, career aspirations and abilities., • Administers bonus and incentive programs., • Ensures disciplinary procedures and documentation are completed according to Standard Operating Procedures and Local Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs and LSOPs); supports the Peer Review Process., • Establishes and maintains open, collaborative relationships with direct reports, peers and entire Event Planning team; is visible and accessible to associates., • Ensures that regular on-going communication is happening amongst the team to recognize performance, communicate expectations and create awareness of business objectives., • Establishes and maintains an effective up-selling strategy to maximize revenue opportunities., • Forecasts group catering revenue and group rooms., • Manages revenue and profitability associated with events., • Provides input on total hotel sales strategy, • Identifies and communicates revenue and profit opportunities within Event Management to hotel departments, may be involved in developing catering menus and additional products to sell., • Makes sales calls with members of the Sales & Marketing team to acquire new business (when applicable)., • Stays aware of market trends through active participation in regional/local catering/event management councils, reading industry magazines and trade journals and gathering competitive intelligence., • Introduces new products or services to meet or exceed customer expectations and generate increased revenue, as well as ensures competitive position in the market., • Executes pricing strategy for all areas of Event Management., • Develops strong community and public relations by participating in local organizations., • Has overall responsibility for the departments’ sales performance against budget. Monitors the department’s actual and projected sales to ensure revenue goals are met or exceeded and opportunities are identified and addressed., • Sets and communicates specific sales goals and develops incentives within company policies to encourage goal attainment for all areas., • Accountable for long and short range event forecasting (catering, event technology and group room nights)., • Participates in weekly sales strategy forecast meeting to anticipate event group rooms and function space needs., • Manages areas of operation to budget by reviewing operating statements, budget worksheets and payroll progress reports., • Manages department's controllable expenses to achieve or exceed budgeted goals., • Utilizes the Labor Management System to effectively schedule to business demands and for tracking of associate time and attendance. Monitors and manages the payroll function., • Participates in the development of department's capital expenditure goals; manages projects as needed., • Participates in the budgeting process for areas of responsibility., • Prepares weekly and period end P&L critiques., • Understands the impact of department's operation on the overall hotel financial goals; educates staff on details as appropriate., • Performs other duties as assigned to meet business needs., • Participates in customer site inspections and assists with the sales process when necessary., • Effectively manages customer budgets to maximize revenue and meet customer needs., • Accurately forecasts group sleeping rooms and event revenue (catering and audio-visual) for his/her groups., • Performs other duties as assigned to meet business needs. JW Marriott Marquis Miami’s foundation is its commitment to genuine hospitality — a belief that true hospitality springs from the nurturing and building of strong and lasting relationships with fellow associates, guests, partners, and the communities in which its hotels operate. By doing so, JW Marriott Marquis Miami strives to become the industry leader in delivering the true meaning of hospitality. This has resulted in consistent, superior financial performance as well as repeated recognition from industry and community leaders. The company has amassed numerous awards for a variety of efforts from energy conservation to product development to associate recognition and business results. Our Mission We provide genuine hospitality by inspiring strong relationships with our guests, associates, and partners to make a difference in our community. Our Vision To be the leading choice in Miami by welcoming guests from all over the world, offering fun, innovative and unique hotel experiences while developing our communities. Our Core Values We Inspire People We Embrace Innovation We Pursue Accountability SOCIAL MEDIA SITES Marriott Careers: JW Marriott Marquis Miami Website: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Maps: