Event Planning & Business Development Manager

ECCCO Car Club; Columbia (SC); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) & 401(k) Matching

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Flexible Spending Account

Paid Time Off After 6 months

Referral Program

Associate Discount Program

Job summary

ECCCO Car Club is seeking an experienced Event Planning & Business Development Manager to grow our premium venue business and oversee client engagements from inquiry through event execution.

You will manage not only event sales and proposals but also coordination with vendors, venues, and teams to ensure flawless guest experiences and strong relationships with partners and members.

Qualifications

• Previous event planning, venue sales, hospitality, or business development experience.
• Experience with premium or corporate events and luxury hospitality preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong customer service, relationship-building, and follow-up abilities.
• Organizational skills to manage multiple events, clients, vendors, and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Answer inquiries about venue rentals and events in a prompt, professional manner.
• Respond to online leads, calls, emails with timely follow-up.
• Conduct venue tours and present ECCCO’s capabilities to clients.
• Collaborate with customers to define goals, guest count, layout, F&B, A/V, and timing.
• Prepare proposals, estimates, invoices, agreements, and POs as needed.
• Coordinate with vendors, caterers, rental companies, and producers.
• Develop relationships with partners to grow ECCCO’s venue business.
• Negotiate vendor pricing and confirm event details with clear communication.
• Maintain records of leads, events, vendors, invoices, and payments.

Skills

Event planning

Venue sales

Hospitality

Business development

Communication

Organization

Education

Experience in event planning or hospitality roles

Tools

CRM systems

Scheduling tools

Invoicing systems

Job description

Event Planning & Business Development Manager

Event Planning & Business Development Manager- ECCCO Car Club

Holler-Classic Family of Dealerships, an Automotive News Top 150 dealership group with 17 dealerships serving the Central Florida and Columbia, South Carolina markets, has been proudly family-owned since 1938. Our Buy Smart – Be Happy® brand promises include Our Best Price First, Pure and Simple® and Commission-Free Sales.

ECCCO Car Club is a premium automotive storage, lifestyle, event, and ownership destination designed for automotive enthusiasts, collectors, members, and guests who expect an elevated experience. The facility combines secure vehicle storage, automotive services, consignment, private events, and hospitality in a unique car club environment.

ECCCO Car Club is adding to our team, resulting in an immediate need for a strong candidate to fill the position of Event Planning & Business Development Manager.

The ideal candidate will have previous event planning, venue sales, hospitality, or business development experience and possess strong communication, organization, and relationship-building skills. This individual must be comfortable working directly with clients, vendors, members, and internal team members to help grow ECCCO’s venue business while ensuring each event is executed with professionalism and attention to detail.

This position requires someone who can think creatively, sell the vision of a unique venue, build strong community and vendor relationships, and assist with both event execution and general administrative support for the car club.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Answer incoming calls, inquiries, and hand raisers related to ECCCO venue rentals, private events, member events, and general event opportunities in a prompt, polite, and professional manner.
• Respond to online leads, phone inquiries, email requests, referrals, and walk-in venue opportunities with timely and organized follow-up.
• Conduct venue tours and present ECCCO’s event capabilities, available spaces, amenities, and overall experience to prospective clients.
• Work directly with customers to understand event goals, guest count, layout needs, food and beverage requirements, audio/visual needs, décor, timing, and overall expectations.
• Prepare event proposals, estimates, invoices, agreements, purchase orders, and related event documentation as needed.
• Coordinate with approved vendors, caterers, rental companies, entertainment providers, florists, production teams, and other event partners.
• Develop, maintain, and nurture relationships with vendors, referral partners, local businesses, hospitality partners, corporate contacts, and community organizations to grow venue business.
• Assist in negotiating vendor pricing, confirming event details, and ensuring vendor expectations are clearly communicated.
• Maintain organized records for event leads, booked events, vendor information, invoices, deposits, payments, and customer communication.
• Assist with event activation, setup, layout, guest flow, vendor arrival, event execution, and breakdown as needed.
• Manage events on-site as needed to ensure a professional guest experience and proper execution of event details.
• Maintain comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of ECCCO’s venue spaces, member offerings, car club services, available amenities, pricing, and event capabilities.
• Support business development efforts by identifying new event opportunities, partnership opportunities, and creative ways to position ECCCO as a premium private event venue.
• Provide exceptional customer service by treating members, guests, vendors, and clients with courtesy, professionalism, and respect.
• Assist with general administrative duties for ECCCO Car Club, including inventory records, transaction paperwork, member documentation, vendor files, invoices, payroll support, and other office management responsibilities.
• Support ECCCO clients and members with specific venue, storage, and ownership-related needs to help enhance the overall customer experience.
• Assist with coordination between members, clients, vendors, and internal team members to ensure requests are handled professionally, timely, and in line with ECCCO’s hospitality standards.
• Follow all company policies and procedures.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Previous event planning, venue sales, hospitality, business development, or related experience required.
• Experience with premium events, corporate events, hotels, convention centers, luxury hospitality, brand activations, or similar environments preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong customer service, relationship-building, and follow-up skills.
• Strong organizational and multi-tasking skills with the ability to manage multiple events, clients, vendors, and deadlines at once.
• Creative mindset with the ability to think outside of a standard event model and help develop unique event concepts.
• Strong computer skills, with the ability to manage multiple applications at once.
• Ability to learn and operate within various computer programs, CRM systems, scheduling tools, invoicing systems, and internal platforms.
• Professional demeanor and appearance.
• Bilingual preferred, but not required.
• Prior sales, hospitality, customer service, or business development experience a plus.
• Reliable transportation.
• Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record.
• Acceptable background and drug screening.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Responsible for coordinating vendors, event staff, contracted support, or temporary event labor during event setup, execution, and breakdown.

Job Type:

• Full-Time

Pay:

• Expected compensation ranges based on experience, qualifications, and overall fit for the role.

Full Time Benefits:

• 401(k) & 401(k) Matching
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Paid Time Off After 6 months
• Referral Program
• Associate Discount Program

Schedule:

• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays based on event and business needs.

Holler and Classic Family Collection of Dealerships is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. We participate in the E-Verify program. Upon an applicant's request, Holler and Classic Family Collection of Dealerships will consider reasonable accommodation to complete the application process. https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/EEOC_KnowYourRights_screen_reader_10_20.pdf