Conference & Banqueting Manager

Harbour Hotel Guildford; Guildford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent progression opportunities

Hotel stay and F&B discounts

Meals included on duty

Employee Assistance Programme

Discount platform for benefits

Job summary

Harbour Hotels in Guildford is seeking a Conference & Events Manager to lead the operation of conferences, weddings, banquets and corporate functions within the hotel. You will plan, coordinate and deliver events to exceed guest expectations while upholding Harbour Hotels’ standards.

The role requires strong leadership, excellent communication and attention to detail, with experience in supervising or managing events teams.

Qualifications

• Experience leading Conference & Events teams in hospitality.
• Strong planning and coordination skills across multiple events.
• Ability to manage budgets and staffing for high-volume events.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of the Conference & Events department.
• Lead, coach and develop the events team to deliver guest experiences.
• Recruit, train and induct new team members; manage staffing levels.
• Create and manage rotas in line with business needs and labour budgets.
• Coordinate with Sales, Reception, Kitchen and Management teams for event delivery.
• Monitor service standards and compliance with health, safety and licensing policies.
• Manage departmental budgets, stock and labour costs.
• Conduct team briefings, performance reviews and training sessions.
• Resolve guest feedback to ensure satisfaction at all stages of the event journey.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Attention to detail

Job description

Conference & Events Manager The Role…

We are seeking an exceptional Conference & Events Manager to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced hospitality professional to lead and manage the operation of all conferences, events, weddings, banquets, corporate functions and private celebrations within the hotel.

As Conference & Events Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring the smooth planning, coordination and delivery of all events, consistently exceeding guest expectations and maintaining the highest standards of service. You will lead, motivate and develop the Conference & Events team, ensuring all functions are delivered efficiently, profitably and in line with Harbour Hotels standards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing the day-to-day operation of the Conference & Events department.
• Leading, coaching and developing the Conference & Events team to deliver exceptional guest experiences.
• Recruiting, training and inducting new team members and managing departmental staffing levels.
• Creating and managing departmental rotas in line with business demands and labour budgets.
• Allocating and overseeing departmental tasks to ensure efficient event delivery and operational excellence.
• Working closely with the Sales, Reception, Kitchen and Management teams to coordinate all event requirements.
• Monitoring service standards and ensuring compliance with health, safety and licensing regulations.
• Managing departmental budgets, stock control and labour costs.
• Conducting regular team briefings, performance reviews and training sessions.
• Proactively resolving guest feedback and ensuring customer satisfaction at every stage of the event journey.

The successful candidate will be highly organised, possess excellent communication and leadership skills, have exceptional attention to detail and demonstrate a passion for delivering outstanding hospitality. Previous experience operating as a Supervisor or management level within a Conference & Events, Banqueting or Hospitality environment is essential.

What's in it for you…

At Harbour Hotels we are committed to providing exceptional hospitality whilst creating a vibrant and enjoyable working environment for all of our team. Here are just some of the benefits you will receive upon joining the crew:

• Excellent progression opportunities within the Harbour Hotels Group
• Individual and bespoke career and progression pathways
• Competitive salary across all roles
• Unique on-the-job training and development with opportunities for internal promotion across our properties
• Hotel stay and Food & Beverage discounts across the Harbour Hotels Group
• Access to an exciting benefits and discount platform
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Stylish boutique uniform specially designed for Harbour Hotels
• Meals included whilst on duty

Please note only those eligible to work in the UK or holding a valid UK work permit/visa will be considered for this vacancy.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Compensation: Competitive salary