Director, Catering & Events - Year Round

Deer Valley Resort • Deer Valley, UT

26d • Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Catering & Events provides strategic leadership for the resort's catering, conference services, weddings, and special events business. This position is responsible for driving revenue growth, leading a high-performing sales, conference services and event team, cultivating key client relationships, and ensuring the flawless execution of group, social and public events that reflect the resort's hospitality standards. As a member of the resort's leadership team, the Director collaborates closely with Sales & Marketing, Food & Beverage, Banquets, Culinary, Lodging, Finance, and Resort Operations to maximize group revenue, enhance the guest experience, and achieve the resort's financial and operational goals. The Director is a member of Deer Valley’s Strategic Alignment team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field.
• Seven to ten years of progressive experience in luxury hospitality sales, catering, conference services, or resort operations
• Minimum of five years of leadership experience managing catering, conference sales, or group sales teams.
• Demonstrated success achieving multimillion-dollar catering and conference revenue goals.
• Strong financial acumen with experience developing budgets, forecasts, and pricing strategies.
• Excellent leadership, negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills.
• Experience with hotel sales and event management systems such as Delphi, Amadeus Sales & Catering, Salesforce, or similar platforms.

Nice To Haves

• Luxury resort, destination hotel, or ski resort experience.
• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP), or similar industry certification.
• Knowledge of mountain resort operations and seasonal business cycles.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute annual catering and conference sales strategies aligned with overall resort revenue objectives.
• Lead all sales efforts for corporate meetings, conferences, incentive travel, weddings, social events, and destination group business.
• Identify new market opportunities and expand relationships with corporate clients, event planners, destination management companies, and industry partners.
• Establish pricing strategies and oversee contract negotiations to maximize profitability while maintaining the resort's position.
• Collaborate with the Director of Group Sales to develop annual business plans, forecasts, and revenue targets.
• Own the annual catering and conference revenue budget and consistently achieve or exceed established goals.
• Analyze market trends, booking pace, competitive positioning, and demand forecasts to optimize pricing and business mix.
• Monitor key performance indicators, including conversion rates, average check, revenue per event, banquet profitability, and guest satisfaction metrics.
• Partner with Finance to ensure accurate forecasting, billing, and financial reporting.
• Recommend capital improvements and operational investments that enhance event capabilities and revenue generation.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain a high-performing Catering Sales and Conference Services team, as well as the resorts Public Events Manager and Event Specialist.
• Establish individual and team performance goals, conduct evaluations, and provide ongoing coaching and professional development.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and exceptional guest service- the Deer Valley Difference.
• Lead regular sales meetings, event review meetings, and cross-functional planning sessions.
• Build and maintain relationships with key accounts, repeat clients, industry partners, and VIP guests.
• Participate in major client presentations, site visits, and contract negotiations.
• Ensure every client receives personalized, proactive service from initial inquiry through post-event follow-up.
• Oversee conference services and event execution to ensure seamless coordination across all resort departments.
• Lead weekly banquet event order (BEO) meetings and operational planning sessions.
• Collaborate with Food & Beverage, Culinary, Banquets, Lodging, Mountain, and Facilities teams to deliver exceptional event experiences.
• Continuously evaluate and improve service standards, operational efficiency, and guest satisfaction.
• Partner with Marketing to develop promotional campaigns targeting group, conference, and wedding markets.
• Represent the resort at industry trade shows, networking events, and professional associations.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends, luxury hospitality innovations, and competitive market conditions.
• Develop strategic partnerships that expand the resort's market presence and group business opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with resort policies, contractual obligations, safety regulations, and brand standards.
• Oversee the use of sales and event management systems, ensuring accurate reporting and documentation.
• Prepare executive reports on revenue performance

Benefits

• Ski perks (vary based on employment status) may include Deer Valley season pass, free skiing or riding at other Alterra Resorts and select local Utah resorts
• Friends and family ski discounts
• Free staff ski lessons and discounted rentals (winter staff only)
• Subsidized meals at Employee Dining Rooms offered for staff while on shift
• Subsidized housing options available for seasonal full-time staff
• Discounts for staff members at restaurants, shops, and service providers in Park City
• Healthcare options are available for staff members
• 401k plan with company match

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director