Meetings & Events Operations Manager

Harri; Dublin; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals on duty

Discounted employee friends & family

Food and beverage discounts

Christmas gifts and employee parties

Introduce a friend scheme

Life assurance scheme

Employee assistance programme

Arora star employee recognition

Long service recognition award

Job summary

Sofitel Dublin Airport Hotel is seeking an experienced Meeting & Events Operations Manager to lead the pre-opening launch and ensure flawless delivery of all events. You will coordinate across departments, manage SOPs, training, and vendor relationships to reflect Sofitel and Arora Group standards.

The role requires strong leadership of an ME&S team, budget awareness, and the ability to optimise guest experiences while maintaining luxury service levels in a high-volume setting.

Qualifications

• Previous management experience in meeting, conference, banqueting or event operations within an upscale, luxury or comparable high-volume hotel or venue.
• Proven ability to lead teams and deliver conferences, banquets, private functions and simultaneous events to consistently high standards.
• Strong working knowledge of event orders and function sheets, room layouts, service timing, audiovisual requirements, POS systems and operational billing.
• Sound knowledge of food safety, allergens, licensing, fire safety, manual handling and general health and safety requirements.
• Commercial awareness with experience of rostering, stock and cost control, purchasing, budgeting and revenue opportunities.
• Excellent client and guest communication, organisation, attention to detail, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Confident computer skills, including Microsoft Office and relevant hotel, event or POS systems.
• Flexibility to work evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays in line with the event calendar and hotel requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the pre-opening of the Meetings & Events Operations function, including SOP development, team training, operational setup and event readiness testing.
• Lead the seamless operational delivery of conferences, meetings, banquets, gala dinners and special events, ensuring exceptional guest and client experiences.
• Review event orders and function sheets, ensuring all event requirements, timings, layouts, audiovisual needs, catering and special requests are executed flawlessly.
• Act as the primary operational contact during events, proactively managing client expectations, service delivery and any last-minute changes.
• Ensure meeting rooms, event spaces and service areas are fully prepared, maintained and presented to the highest luxury hospitality standards.
• Lead pre-event briefings and inspections, ensuring teams are fully informed and event spaces are guest-ready.
• Oversee food and beverage service, room set-ups, event transitions, replenishment and breakdowns to ensure smooth event execution.
• Recruit, train, coach and develop a high-performing Meetings & Events team, promoting excellence in service delivery.
• Manage staffing levels, scheduling, productivity and labour costs in line with business demand and budget targets.
• Drive operational efficiency and identify opportunities to enhance the guest experience and support revenue growth.
• Ensure accurate event billing, stock control, inventory management and cost management procedures are followed.
• Monitor guest and client feedback, implementing continuous improvement initiatives to enhance service quality and profitability.
• Work closely with Sales, Events Planning, Culinary, Housekeeping, Engineering, IT, Security and Front Office teams to deliver seamless events.
• Maintain compliance with food safety, health & safety, allergen management, licensing and security requirements.
• Participate in duty management responsibilities and support wider Food & Beverage operations when required.
• Promote sustainable working practices through effective stock management, waste reduction and resource control.

Skills

Leadership

Event management

Budgeting

Staff rostering

Vendor management

Microsoft Office

Hospitality knowledge

Tools

POS systems

PMS (Opera/others)

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Meeting and Events Operations Manager to play a pivotal role in the pre-opening and launch of Sofitel Dublin Airport Hotel - a luxury flagship property managed by the award-winning Arora Group in partnership with Accor's Sofitel brand.

Directly connected to Terminal 2, this landmark hotel will redefine the guest experience at one of Europe’s busiest international gateways and will feature:

• 412 elegant guestrooms
• Extensive meetings and events facilities
• A spectacular rooftop bar with panoramic views across Dublin and the airport

A bit about what you will do...

The Meeting and Events Operations Manager is responsible for the smooth, safe and commercially effective delivery of all meetings and events after operational handover. The role provides visible leadership before, during and after each event, coordinates hotel departments and suppliers, and ensures every detail reflects Sofitel and Arora Group standards.

• Support the successful pre-opening of the Meetings & Events Operations function, including SOP development, team training, operational setup and event readiness testing.
• Lead the seamless operational delivery of conferences, meetings, banquets, gala dinners and special events, ensuring exceptional guest and client experiences.
• Review event orders and function sheets, ensuring all event requirements, timings, layouts, audiovisual needs, catering and special requests are executed flawlessly.
• Act as the primary operational contact during events, proactively managing client expectations, service delivery and any last-minute changes.
• Ensure meeting rooms, event spaces and service areas are fully prepared, maintained and presented to the highest luxury hospitality standards.
• Lead pre-event briefings and inspections, ensuring teams are fully informed and event spaces are guest-ready.
• Oversee food and beverage service, room set-ups, event transitions, replenishment and breakdowns to ensure smooth event execution.
• Recruit, train, coach and develop a high-performing Meetings & Events Operations team, promoting excellence in service delivery.
• Manage staffing levels, scheduling, productivity and labour costs in line with business demand and budget targets.
• Drive operational efficiency and identify opportunities to enhance the guest experience and support revenue growth.
• Ensure accurate event billing, stock control, inventory management and cost management procedures are followed.
• Monitor guest and client feedback, implementing continuous improvement initiatives to enhance service quality and profitability.
• Work closely with Sales, Events Planning, Culinary, Housekeeping, Engineering, IT, Security and Front Office teams to deliver seamless events.
• Maintain compliance with food safety, health & safety, allergen management, licensing and security requirements.
• Participate in duty management responsibilities and support wider Food & Beverage operations when required.
• Promote sustainable working practices through effective stock management, waste reduction and resource control.

More about you...

• Previous management experience in meeting, conference, banqueting or event operations within an upscale, luxury or comparable high-volume hotel or venue.
• Proven ability to lead teams and deliver conferences, banquets, private functions and simultaneous events to consistently high standards.
• Strong working knowledge of event orders and function sheets, room layouts, service timing, audiovisual requirements, point-of-sale systems and operational billing.
• Sound knowledge of food safety, allergens, responsible service, licensing, fire safety, manual handling and general health and safety requirements.
• Commercial awareness with experience of productive rostering, stock and cost control, purchasing, budgeting and revenue opportunities.
• Excellent client and guest communication, organisation, attention to detail, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Confident computer skills, including Microsoft Office and relevant hotel, event or point-of-sale systems.
• Flexibility to work evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays in line with the event calendar and hotel requirements.

What'sin it for you...

Competitive salary

But theres more...

• Free meals on duty.
• Discounted employee friends & family rates at Arora Hotels.
• Food and beverage discounts.
• Christmas gifts and employee parties.
• Introduce a friend scheme.
• Life assurance scheme.
• Employeeassistanceprogramme.
• Arora star employee recognition.
• Long service recognition award.

Grow with us...

We are growing rapidly and with growth comes advancement opportunities. Being part of the Arora group there are exciting opportunities for career progression and development across our properties and brands.

Compensation: Competitive salary