Conference Services Manager

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Excellent training and development

Complimentary accommodation at other F

Complimentary dry cleaning for staff

Complimentary employee meals

Job summary

Four Seasons Hotels Ltd in Houston seeks a Conference Services Manager to coordinate all requirements for conference groups booked by the Sales Department. You will enforce contracts and guide planners through planning, communicating client needs across departments to ensure successful events.

You will negotiate with clients, maximize revenues, supervise banquet execution, and participate in planning meetings. The role demands long hours, strong English, and a creative approach to F&B proposals.

Qualifications

• Excellent reading, writing & oral proficiency in English.
• Good organizational skill, attention to detail, ability to multitask, ability to negotiate, organize, delegate & work under pressure.
• Ability to work long and irregular hours, weekends, and evenings.
• Basic knowledge of audio-visual equipment, internet, telecommunication technology is helpful.
• High level of creativity with food and beverage menu proposals.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate with clients through creative menu presentations and event proposals to maximize revenue and fulfill contractual responsibilities.
• Coordinate with Sales and Catering to ensure proper utilization of function space for maximum revenues.
• Finalize requirements of bookings while maximizing revenue potential through upselling and ensuring effective communication with all departments.
• Supervise the execution of banquet events and ensure client satisfaction.
• Plan, attend, and participate in meetings with hotel staff and clients (briefings, meetings, tastings).
• Comply with Four Seasons standards for conference services and maintain professionalism with team members.
• Make timely decisions balancing client needs with hotel goals (financial, safety, staffing).
• Find solutions to challenges that arise while groups are on property and keep leadership informed for corrective action.
• Maintain knowledge of facilities, capacities and meeting space, and operational needs of departments.

Skills

English proficiency

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Multitasking

Negotiation

Upselling knowledge

AV knowledge

Tools

AV equipment

Internet

Telecom technology

Job description

About Four Seasons:

Four Seasons is powered by our people. We are a collective of individuals who crave to become better, to push ourselves to new heights and to treat each other as we wish to be treated in return. Our team members around the world create amazing experiences for our guests, residents, and partners through a commitment to luxury with genuine heart. We know that the best way to enable our people to deliver these exceptional guest experiences is through a world-class employee experience and company culture.

At Four Seasons, we believe in recognizing a familiar face, welcoming a new one and treating everyone we meet the way we would want to be treated ourselves. Whether you work with us, stay with us, live with us or discover with us, we believe our purpose is to create impressions that will stay with you for a lifetime. It comes from our belief that life is richer when we truly connect to the people and the world around us.

About the location:

A lone star welcome in the country’s capital of southern cool. We can’t wait to welcome you to Houston, the country’s capital of southern cool, where urban sophistication meets bold Texas hospitality. Gather where business deals get done, friends and family reconnect and celebrities and athletes make their home. After a day exploring our city, unwind at our rooftop pool oasis, enjoy the ultimate in entertainment at our Topgolf Swing Suites, indulge and pamper at The Spa and our Krigler perfumery boutique and savour flavourful dishes from Chef Partner Richard Sandoval at Toro Toro and Bayou & Bottle.

About the role

The Conference Services Manager coordinates all requirements for various conference groups booked by the Sales Department. Responsible for enforcing the terms of sales letter of agreement and guiding meeting planners through the planning process. Communicates the needs and expectations of the client with all departments in the hotel. Ensures successful execution of group and client satisfaction.

What you will do

• Negotiate with clients through the use of creative and attractive menu presentations and event proposals, to achieve both maximum revenue/profit potential and fulfillment of contractual responsibilities while satisfying client needs.




• Coordinate with the Sales Department and Catering to insure proper utilization of function space to yield maximum revenues.




• Finalize the requirements of confirmed bookings while maximizing revenue potential through up selling and ensuring effective communication both written (Resumes, BEO, Daily Reports) and personal contact with all departments for the success of the event. Maintain an active trace/follow-up system. Ensure accuracy of Banquet Checks and provide bill review on completion of program or event.




• Supervise the execution of banquet events. Review all function space with banquet manager and when necessary head house attendant. Ensure satisfaction of client at the outset of all events.




• Plan and/or attend and/or participate in meetings with hotel staff and clients, including but not exclusive to: Morning Operations Briefing, Morning CS Briefing, Resume Meeting, Banquet Event Order Meeting, Sales Meeting Pre-Convention Meetings, Bi-Monthly Board of Operations, Planning Visits, and Menu Tastings.




• Comply with Four Seasons standards for conference services, while working harmoniously and professionally with co-workers and planning committee.




• Make timely and impromptu decisions, which balance client’s needs with the financial, safety and staffing goals of the hotel.




• Find solutions to the inevitable challenges and glitches that arise while groups are on property and keep Director of Catering and Conference Services and Planning Committee promptly and fully informed of all problems or unusual matters so prompt corrective action can be taken where appropriate.




• Maintain knowledge of hotel facilities, capacities and dimensions of meeting space and basic operational needs of all operating departments.

What you bring

• Two to three years’ experience directly related to hotel conference services.




• Excellent reading, writing & oral proficiency in the English language




• Good organizational skill, attention to detail, ability to multitask, ability to negotiate, organize, delegate & work under pressure




• Ability to work long and irregular hours, weekends, and evenings.




• Basic knowledge of audio-visual equipment, internet, telecommunication technology is helpful.




• High level of creativity with food and beverage menu proposals

What we offer:

• Competitive Salary, wages, and a comprehensive benefits package




• Excellent Training and Development opportunities




• Complimentary Accommodation at other Four Seasons Hotels and Resort




• Complimentary Dry Cleaning for Employee Uniforms




• Complimentary Employee Meals

Schedule & Hours:

• This is a full-time position




• Open availability expected, with scheduled shifts including late nights, holidays and weekends

Four Seasons is an Equal Opportunity, Afffirmative Action employer. Minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. To access the ‘EEOC is The Law’ Information poster please visit this website - https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal