Banquet Captain

Aparium Hotel Group; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Hotel discounts

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Volunteer time off

Growth opportunities

DEI culture

Job summary

Located in Old Town Alexandria, Aparium Hotel Group seeks an Events Captain to lead the events team from setup through breakdown, coordinating with chefs and staff to ensure flawless execution and exceptional guest experiences.

You will oversee inventory, manage beverage service and AV coordination, and maintain high standards of professionalism in a fast-paced environment. This role requires flexible hours including early mornings, nights, weekends and holidays.

Qualifications

• Excellent reading, writing and oral proficiency in English.
• 2-year supervisor experience.
• 4 years minimum of food and beverage experience.
• Strong knowledge of wine, beer and liquor.
• Self-starter and able to work unsupervised.
• Alcohol Awareness certification required.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the Events Team from setup to breakdown.
• Coordinate with the Chef on quantities and timing of food items.
• Review inventory for upcoming events and place orders.
• Assist in setting up event rooms and support post-event breakdown.
• Provide guests with a professional beverage and dining experience.
• Close out banquet billing and tip reports daily.
• Assist with AV setup and coordination with AV company.
• Maintain staff opening/closing checklists and uphold service standards.

Skills

Event coordination

Leadership

Food & beverage knowledge

Guest service

Tools

AV equipment setup

Job description

EVENTS CAPTAIN ($19.50/hr)

Reports to Events Manager; position is non-exempt.

Be a part of an impressive team of hotel professionals in our gorgeous, historic building. As a leader in the team, you'll oversee every aspect of our functions, from setup to breakdown, ensuring that each event runs smoothly and meets our high standards of excellence. Collaborate with chefs, manage inventory, and deliver an outstanding dining experience with professionalism and friendliness. Join us and contribute to creating exceptional experiences for our translocal guests, all while enjoying a supportive and progressive work environment that values teamwork and innovation.

What’s In It For You

• Paid Vacation, Sick Time, and Holidays
• Discount program for our sister hotels.
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and pet insurance at an affordable group rate
• Paid time off to volunteer for the causes you care about in your community.
• Opportunity to foster your knowledge and skill set and grow within the hotel and the brand.
• Strong sense of belonging through diversity, equity, and inclusion

Who You Are

You thrive in the dynamic world of event coordination and relish the challenge of managing every detail from setup to breakdown. Your passion for creating exceptional experiences drives you to handle the fast-paced, high-pressure environment with ease. You value collaboration and feedback from your team, understanding that collective success leads to exceeding guest expectations. With your keen attention to detail, strong knowledge of food and beverage, and a flair for engaging with diverse guests, you bring a vibrant personality to every event. Your dedication to professionalism and excellence ensures that each function is executed seamlessly, embodying our commitment to outstanding service.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Hands-on leader who supervises the Events Team at all stages of a function, from set-up to breakdown
• Checks all room sets prior to each event. Meets with the Chef to confirm quantities of food items and timing of food leaving the kitchen. Check all china, glassware, silverware, and linen items needed for the event.
• Reviews inventory for all upcoming events and places orders as needed with appropriate departments
• Assists in setting up event rooms before functions and supports breakdown post-event
• Provides guests with an enjoyable, expertly served beverage and dining experience, reflecting high standards of quality, professionalism, and friendliness
• Serves and clears food and beverage items in an unobtrusive and professional manner
• Demonstrates deep familiarity with all menus, including preparation methods, ingredients, and descriptions
• Possesses strong bar knowledge — well-versed in wine, beer, and liquor offerings, including proper glassware and beverage service
• Installs buffets and brunch tables as well as set-up of food items and displays
• Retrieves and safely transports all food items from the kitchen, maintaining presentation standards
• Close out banquet billing and tip reports daily
• Produce Captain’s reports and distributes to BEO list
• Assist with the setting up and breaking down of AV equipment, coordinates with AV company
• Ensures all staff complete their opening and closing checklists
• Maintains a professional demeanor at all times, upholding hotel service standards
• Available to work early mornings, late nights, weekends, and holidays
• Brings creativity and current knowledge of banquet and catering trends to elevate the guest experience

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent reading, writing and oral proficiency in the English language
• 2-year supervisor experience
• 4 years minimum of food and beverage experience
• Great food and bar/beverage knowledge
• Able to work well unsupervised, self-starter
• Strong Computer skills
• Ability to obtain and maintain Alcohol Awareness certification

TEAMWORK

• Maintain a good working relationship with other associates by promoting teamwork and fostering a harmonious working climate
• Partake in a positive work ethic and surrounding environment

STANDARDS

• Able to work alone without direct supervision
• Demonstrate high degree of drive and determination
• Constantly recommend service and product improvement to better the operation
• Keep the work area clean and tidy at all times
• Attend all required meetings
• Follow proper payroll and uniform procedures
• Properly handle and report associate and guest accidents
• Maintain complete knowledge of and comply with all departmental policies/service procedures/standards
• Assist with responsibilities and duties in other departments and as assigned by management
• Due to the cyclical nature of the hospitality industry, associates may be required to work varying schedules to reflect the business needs of the hotel

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Standard office and hotel setting
• Standard restaurant setting
• Standard kitchen setting
• Standard Banquet setting
• Standard Room Service setting
• Professional, passionate and positive work environment

PHYSICAL DEMAND

Positions

• Continuous standing and walking
• Negotiating wet tile floor and steps
• Fine motor coordination is needed to pour beverages, decorate cocktails and folding napkins

Forces

• Trays weigh 30 lbs.
• Carts: 250 lbs. (12-20 lbs. of push/pull force required)
• Hot box: 20 lbs.
• Banquet Tables
• Banquet Chairs

Repetitions

• Standing and walking is continuous for 8 hours at a time
• Lifting and carrying up to a 50 lb. tray, crate or box is occasional
• Negotiating varied floor surfaces is continuous
• Carrying over shoulder is occasional
• Hand and elbow movements for polishing glassware, silver, setting up tables, shacking, pouring and mixing drinks
• Pushing Room Service cart is continuous
• Lifting and carry hot boxes is continuous
• Rolling and/or carry Banquet tables is continuous
• Carrying stackable banquet chairs by loading the cart is continuous

Sensory

• Excellent sight and balance needed for negotiating varied floor surfaces
• Handling lighted candles, and handling hot fluids (coffee and tea)
• Excellent speech and hearing to interact with guests
• Excellent sight for completion of paperwork
• Must be able to work in extreme temperatures like freezers (-10 degrees F) and kitchens (+110 degrees F), possible for one hour or more

Who We Are

Located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, Hotel Heron offers guests the opportunity to see Old Town from a new vista. With Washington, DC just minutes away, Hotel Heron acts as beacon just across the river, inviting travelers to explore beyond the National Mall and Monuments to discover a city ripe for its new renaissance. Originally opened in 1926 as the George Mason Hotel, the property has been thoughtfully reimagined through an adaptive reuse that pairs the historic inn with an adjacent new building housing modern event spaces and elevated guest rooms. Today, Hotel Heron is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, a global portfolio of distinctive, independently spirited hotels. This chic 134 room hotel is home to a signature ground floor restaurant serving hearth inspired Mid-Atlantic cuisine, a cozy craft cocktail bar hidden in the heart of the hotel, and an open-air seasonal rooftop bar with unparalleled views of the Potomac. Elevated amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center and meeting spaces designed for socializing, co-working, creating, eating, drinking, and relaxing. The hotel brings together world travelers and neighbors alike while showcasing Alexandria's rich legacy and knack for innovation through thoughtful touches from local businesses and artisans.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Aparium Hospitality Services celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment, and sense of belonging for all employees. We do not discriminate and believe every individual should be proud of who they are, where they come from and take pride in who we serve. Aparium is an E-Verify employer.