SENIOR CONFERENCE PLANNING MANAGER

Compass Group USA; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Life Insurance/AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

FSAs

Personal Leave

Job summary

Flik Hospitality is seeking a Senior Conference Planning Manager to deliver seamless meetings and events from contract turnover through post‑event follow‑up. The ideal candidate is proactive, detail‑oriented, and skilled at managing multiple complex programs in a hospitality setting.

The role requires leadership within the Conference Planning Department and presence on the floor during program execution, ensuring guest experiences and client objectives are met with precision and professionalism.

Qualifications

• Significant conference/event planning or hotel operations experience.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Proactive mindset with ability to anticipate needs and deadlines.
• Knowledge of BEOs and hotel conference operations.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple conferences and events from contract turnover to post‑event follow‑up.
• Oversee guest rooms, rooming lists, VIP arrangements and billing.
• Guide menu planning based on agenda, demographics, budget and service expectations.
• Coordinate complex AV/tech requirements with clients, speakers and hotel operations.
• Prepare and review accurate BEOs and ensure operational readiness.
• Develop professional relationships with meeting planners and act as their hotel partner.

Skills

Conference planning

Event management

Client relations

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s in Hospitality

Tools

Opera PMS

Event software

Job description

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What makes FLIK click? Our people. The decisions, actions and attitudes of our associates earn the trust and loyalty of our clients every day. We know how to pick them and we know how to grow them. It starts with hiring people who share our passion for food and hospitality. Once we find the right talent, we encourage, value and recognize their contributions.

We keep our people renewed, excited and engaged by providing hands‑on training and educating them about the latest trends. We give them a stake in successfully raising the bar. Our people love what they do and they love sharing their passion. Join our team and see the FLIK difference. Where a job isn’t merely a job but the start of a career where you can flourish.

Job Summary

The Senior Conference Planning Manager is a key leader responsible for delivering seamless, highly organized, and exceptional meetings and events from the moment a contracted program becomes definite through its successful conclusion and post‑event follow‑up.

This position requires an experienced hospitality professional who is highly proactive, exceptionally detail‑oriented, and comfortable managing multiple complex programs simultaneously. The Senior Conference Planning Manager serves as the meeting expert and primary planning partner for clients, anticipating needs, identifying opportunities, recommending solutions, and ensuring every detail of the program is accurately communicated and executed.

In addition to managing an individual portfolio of conferences and events, this role provides leadership and oversight within the Conference Planning Department and maintains a strong presence on the floor during program execution. The ideal candidate does not simply react to client requests—they stay several steps ahead, identify potential challenges before they arise, and actively guide clients toward decisions that improve both the guest experience and the success of their meeting.

Key Responsibilities:

Conference & Event Planning

Manage multiple conferences, meetings, and events simultaneously from contract turnover through post‑event follow‑up, maintaining complete ownership of program details throughout the planning lifecycle.

Guest Rooms & Rooming Lists

Oversee all guest room requirements associated with assigned programs, including room blocks, rooming lists, reservations, VIP accommodations, special requests, and billing arrangements.

Food & Beverage Planning

Guide clients through menu planning based on their agenda, program flow, attendee demographics, budget, service expectations, and overall meeting objectives.

Manage programs with complex audio visual and technology requirements, working closely with clients, AV partners, speakers, meeting producers, and hotel operations.

BEO & Operational Execution

Prepare, review, and maintain highly accurate BEOs and related event documentation.

Ensure BEOs clearly communicate the client's expectations and provide operational teams with the information necessary to execute each event successfully.

Client Relationship Management

Develop strong, professional relationships with meeting planners and serve as their trusted hotel partner throughout the planning and execution process.

Maintain regular, proactive communication with clients so they always understand upcoming decisions, deadlines, opportunities, and potential concerns.

Provide leadership, guidance, and day‑to‑day support to members of the Conference Planning Department.

Help establish and maintain high standards for planning accuracy, organization, client communication, BEO quality, operational preparedness, and follow‑through.

Preferred Qualifications:

• The successful candidate will have significant conference, convention, catering, event planning, or hotel operations experience, preferably within a full‑service hotel, conference center, convention hotel, or similarly complex meeting environment.
• Candidates should demonstrate:
  • Proven ability to independently manage multiple complex meetings and conferences simultaneously.
  • Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.
  • A proactive mindset with the ability to anticipate needs, deadlines, challenges, and operational conflicts.
  • Strong knowledge of BEOs and hotel conference/event operations.
  • Experience managing room blocks, rooming lists, pickup, cutoff dates, VIP arrangements, and group reservation requirements.
  • Strong food and beverage knowledge with the ability to confidently recommend menus and service solutions.
  • Experience identifying appropriate upselling and revenue‑enhancement opportunities.
  • Working knowledge of complex meeting AV, technology, and production requirements.
  • Strong client‑facing communication, presentation, and relationship‑management skills.

Associates at Flik Hospitality are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.