Banquet Manager

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

Health Savings Account with Company M

401(k) Retirement Plan with Company M

Paid Vacation and Sick Day

Sonesta Hotel Discounts

Educational Assistance

Paid Parental Leave

Company Paid Life Insurance

Company Paid Short Term and Long-Term

Job summary

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation seeks a Banquet Manager in Chicago to lead the banquet service team, ensuring top-tier guest experiences and adherence to safety and brand standards. The role drives departmental results, strategic planning, and cross‑department collaboration.

The ideal candidate combines a passion for team motivation with a guest-focused, achievement-driven leadership style, aiming to meet revenue and profitability targets while maintaining Sonesta’s core values.

Qualifications

• High school graduate required, college degree preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in event management, food & beverage, or related professional area.
• Experience in a hotel and/or hospitality field required.
• Understanding of and previous experience in a union environment highly preferred.
• Must have comprehensive knowledge of food and beverage preparations, service standards, guest relations and etiquette.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction and manage all aspects of the banquet service department to ensure high guest satisfaction.
• Arrange all food and beverage details for functions, including linens, table set ups and decorations.
• Coordinate and supervise setup and service of food and beverage products to ensure highest quality.
• Interview, hire, train, and promote banquet staff.
• Develop and maintain relationships with in-house groups to retain business.
• Manage payroll after each function and calculate hours and gratuity distribution.

Skills

Event management

F&B service

Guest relations

Leadership

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

College degree preferred

Job description

We’re People People. Are you? We’re Sonesta International Hotels—the 8th largest hotel company in the U.S. (and growing fast). With a dynamic mix of full-service and focused hotels across major cities, our diverse portfolio of owned, managed, and franchised properties means we’re everywhere our guests need us to be. But here’s the thing—we’re not just in the business of hotels, we’re in the business of people. We bring service with passion, loyalty with purpose, and create experiences that genuinely connect—delivering quality, value, and memorable stays across 1,000+ properties in eight countries (and counting).

What this role is all about

The Banquet Manager sets the tone for Sonesta’s Culture of Caring. We expect leaders to focus on creating amazing moments for guests and team members and dig deep to find ways to create success for their team. The Banquet Manager is responsible with assisting in directing and motivating the banquet staff. The Banquet Manager is responsible for ensuring high quality service for all banquet and catering functions by following established safety and brand standards. The role’s primary responsibility is to drive results through their entire department. In this role, the Banquet Manager is expected to promote and implement property-wide strategies that will increase guest satisfaction, reduce employee turnover, maintain revenue and payroll budgets, meet and exceed productivity goals. Sonesta managers are charged with providing strategic vision, ensuring tactical execution, and actively managing their department to achieve the company’s revenue and profitability goals and objectives. The ideal candidate has a passion for building and motivating teams that achieve results. Sonesta managers are guest-focused (both internal and external) and achievement-oriented leaders.

What you’ll be doing

Principle duties and responsibilities (Essential Functions) include:

• Operational/Functional: Provide direction and manage all aspects of the banquet service department in all capacities thereby ensuring top efficiency and high guest satisfaction.
• Responsible for arranging all food and beverage details for all functions, including linens, table set ups and decorations.
• Coordinate and supervise the preparation, presentation, buffet set ups, layouts and service of food and beverage products of functions assigned to ensure highest quality at all times.
• Visually inspect rooms set-ups and equipment to ensure adherence to quality standards.
• Interview, hire, train, and promote Banquet staff.
• Provide consistent feedback and recommend disciplinary action when appropriate.
• Develop and maintain lasting relationships with in-house groups to ensure excellent service and retention of business.
• Process payroll after each function or event and accurately calculate number of hours worked and gratuity distribution.
• Coordinate proper execution of food preparation and set up by informing kitchen staff when to start plating dishes etc.
• Discuss with the Catering and Convention Services Manager all details of events and functions and plans for flawless execution.
• Review guest satisfaction survey results with employees.
• Ensure all Sonesta safety and sanitation standards are adhered to.
• Respond to guest complaints and ensure proper follow‑up is completed.
• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming.
• Perform any other job‑related duties as assigned.
• Strategy and Planning: Prepare weekly work schedules in accordance with staffing guidelines and labor forecast and adjust schedules throughout the week to meet business demands.
• Analyze guest satisfaction data to develop and implement plans to achieve established goals related to guest satisfaction scores.
• Investigate new and improved cleaning instruments and methods.
• Conduct inventories of linen, supplies and equipment as needed.
• Financial Management: Achieve budgeted revenues, control labor costs & expenses, and maximize profitability within the Banquet Department.
• Manage staffing levels to ensure that guest service, operational needs and financial objectives are met.
• Enter billing information into POS and generate a final guest check in a timely manner.
• Control liquor costs and manage the banquet beverage inventory. Actively participate and advise in the budget and forecasting processes which support the overall objectives of the hotel.
• Managing your Team: Attract, retain, and motivate your team to uphold company standards and practices.
• Ensure employees receive proper training applicable to their position and career aspirations in accordance with company policy and/or local laws.
• Conduct pre-shift meetings with staff and review all information pertinent to the day’s business.
• Conducts regular department meetings with the Banquet team.
• Leading with Passion: Ensure and provide exceptional customer service.
• Utilize and collaborate with resources across different departments and corporate office.
• Motive employees to perform to their highest standard and establish a trusting environment to enrich the culture.
• Focus on the mission and well‑being of the departments, hotel and company.
• Lead by example and operate with integrity and respect.
• Inspire your team to embrace and demonstrate Sonesta’s core values and the guest service standards.

Qualifications and Skills

A candidate for this position must possess the following applicable knowledge, skills and abilities and be able to demonstrate and provide applicable examples to support his/her competency.

• High school graduate required, college degree preferred.
• Must have a minimum of 2 years’ experience in the event management, food and beverage, or related professional area.
• Experience in a hotel and/or hospitality field required.
• Understanding of and previous experience in a union environment highly preferred.
• Must have comprehensive knowledge of food and beverage preparations, service standards, guest relations and etiquette.
• Must have the ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Must possess the ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Must have the ability to operate various food and beverage equipment present at a function.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills.

Anticipated Pay Range & Additional Job Information Pay range is $55,000 - $65,000 and are eligible for bonus. The base pay offered may vary based on various factors, including but not limited to job‑related knowledge, skills, and specific/overall experience.

Benefits

Sonesta recognizes that benefits play a vital role in helping ensure the health and financial security of employees and their families. We offer a variety of benefits to our employees including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account with Company Match
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Paid Vacation and Sick Day
• Sonesta Hotel Discounts
• Educational Assistance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Company Paid Short Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Various Employee Perks and Discounts
• Hospital Indemnity
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Accident Insurance

Go Beyond @SonestaHotels WHO WE ARE

We are an organization made up of people, thoughts and ideas – all working towards fulfilling our simple mission: To wow every guest, team member, partner & community we operate in by delivering quality, value & amazing hospitality. We will achieve our mission by being passionate about exceeding expectations - by being persistent, resilient, and constantly seeking new and creative ways to succeed. Doing the Right Thing and Going Beyond are our principles that guide everything we do. We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

Our Commitment to You

Sonesta is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.