Banquet Captain

Fairmont; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairmont New Orleans, a flagship in the luxury portfolio, seeks an experienced Banquet Supervisor to lead event service teams and ensure flawless guest experiences at high-profile gatherings.

You will coordinate with culinary and operations, manage timelines, and uphold luxury standards while guiding staff through demanding event schedules.

Qualifications

• Experience in banquet, restaurant, hospitality, catering, or event service.
• Leadership or banquet captain experience preferred.
• Luxury hotel or upscale hospitality experience preferred.
• Strong guest service and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organization and multitasking abilities.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume event environment.
• Ability to lead teams professionally under pressure.
• Professional appearance and demeanor.
• Knowledge of banquet service standards, food & beverage operations, and event sequencing preferred.
• Flexibility for mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and overnight events.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Louisiana alcohol service requirements if applicable.
• Louisiana RV Server Permit if required by operational duties.
• Louisiana food safety certifications as required.

Responsibilities

• Supervise banquet and event service operations to ensure seamless execution and exceptional guest experiences.
• Lead, support, and direct banquet staff during events and service periods.
• Conduct pre-shift meetings and communicate event details and expectations to banquet teams.
• Review BEOs, floor plans, menus, timelines, and requirements before events.
• Ensure banquet spaces and service stations meet hotel standards and client specs.
• Monitor service quality, timing, presentation, and guest satisfaction during events.
• Assist with food and beverage service, table maintenance, and wine service as needed.
• Respond to guest requests and service recovery opportunities during events.
• Coordinate with Culinary, Stewarding, Convention Services, Sales, Engineering, and other departments.
• Oversee setup, breakdown, and transitions between banquet functions.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and responsible alcohol service standards.
• Assist with training and coaching banquet team members.
• Monitor supplies, equipment, linens, glassware, and inventory during events.
• Maintain cleanliness and presentation in banquet spaces and operational areas.
• Support VIP functions, weddings, conferences, rooftop events, and large activations.
• Communicate timelines and staffing needs accurately and promptly.

Skills

Leadership

Guest Service

Communication

Organization

Problem Solving

Banquet Standards

Job description

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a renowned luxury hotel brand with a global presence and a commitment to creating lasting memories for our guests. With over 30,000 colleagues worldwide, we are dedicated to delivering exceptional service, fostering a culture of excellence, and making special happen.

Located in the heart of downtown Fairmont New Orleans will be an impressive new addition to Fairmont’s luxury portfolio, offering 250 luxury guest rooms, four food & drink venues, a rooftop pool with expansive views of the city, more than 19,000 square feet of function space, and a 10,000 square-foot spa.

This property is destined to become an illustrious destination in the Central Business District, nearby the city’s renowned and historic French Quarter.

Job Description

• Supervise banquet and event service operations to ensure seamless execution and exceptional guest experiences
• Lead, support, and direct Banquet Servers, Bartenders, Housepersons, and operational team members during assigned events and service periods
• Conduct pre-shift meetings and communicate event details, service expectations, timelines, VIP information, and operational updates to banquet teams
• Review banquet event orders (BEOs), floor plans, menus, timelines, and operational requirements prior to event execution
• Ensure banquet rooms, meeting spaces, service stations, buffets, bars, and event setups are properly prepared according to hotel standards and client specifications
• Monitor food and beverage service quality, timing, presentation, and guest satisfaction throughout events
• Assist with food and beverage service, table maintenance, wine service, buffet presentation, and guest interaction as operationally required
• Respond promptly and professionally to guest requests, operational concerns, and service recovery opportunities during events
• Coordinate with Culinary, Stewarding, Convention Services, Sales, Engineering, and operational departments to ensure efficient event execution
• Oversee setup, breakdown, room resets, and operational transitions between banquet functions
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, workplace safety, and responsible alcohol service standards
• Assist with training, coaching, onboarding, and performance support for banquet team members as assigned
• Monitor banquet supplies, service equipment, linens, glassware, and operational inventory during events
• Maintain cleanliness, organization, and presentation standards within banquet spaces and operational areas
• Support VIP functions, weddings, conferences, rooftop events, and large-scale hotel activations as assigned
• Ensure accurate communication regarding event timelines, staffing needs, and operational changes throughout service periods
• Uphold luxury hospitality standards through professionalism, leadership presence, appearance, and guest engagement
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support banquet and hotel operations

Qualifications

• Previous banquet, restaurant, hospitality, catering, or event service experience required
• Previous leadership, supervisory, or banquet captain experience preferred
• Luxury hotel or upscale hospitality experience preferred
• Strong guest service, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational, multitasking, and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced, high-volume event environment
• Ability to lead teams professionally while maintaining operational standards under pressure
• Professional appearance and polished demeanor required
• Knowledge of banquet service standards, food & beverage operations, and event sequencing preferred
• Familiarity with banquet event orders (BEOs) and event operations preferred
• Ability to work flexible schedules including mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, overnight events, and extended shifts as operationally required
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States
• Must meet Louisiana legal requirements for alcohol service if assigned alcohol-related duties
• Must possess or be able to obtain a valid Louisiana Responsible Vendor (RV) Server Permit if required by operational duties

Must possess or be able to obtain any required Louisiana food safety certifications in accordance with local and state regulations

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.