Senior Conference Services Manager

Sage Hospitality•Austin, TX

About The Position

Sage Hospitality Group is set to hire a Senior Conference Services Manager at Hotel Van Zandt in Austin, Texas! Located in the Rainey Street District, Hotel Van Zandt features 319 guest rooms and more than 25,000 square feet of meeting space. You can enjoy live music at our featured restaurant onsite, Geraldine’s, host pool parties, or check out one of the many pop-up events. Join us here to make a difference! As part of Sage Hospitality Group, we passionately strive to be the best and create excellence in everything we do. We believe in enriching lives one experience at a time. More than a slogan, we empower our employees to make positive impacts on the communities in which we live and work. By providing genuine service we build relationships with our guests and value for our shareholders, and we create unforgettable experiences. We are looking for independent thinkers. Those who harness their entrepreneurial spirit so that it breaks preconceived notions. We’re not afraid to forge our own path. After all, it’s what industry leaders do. That’s why we welcome risk takers and creative spirits alike. No matter your daily role, Sage recognizes that your success is about more than the work you do—it’s really about who you are, which is why we invest in your personal and professional growth. We hope you consider joining us! Job Overview Plan, organize and manage the in house details for group and convention booking (e.g. Guest rooms, menus, set-up, etc.) Participate in negotiating meetings/functions, rooms, rates and all related requirements. Ensure maximization of room and meeting space, revenues, and profits while delivering a quality product. Focus on execution of all aspects of event planning including coordination from the signing of a group contract forward, VIP needs, amenities, group resumes, and rooming lists.

Requirements

Education/Formal Training More than two years of post high school education.
Experience One to two full years of employment in a related position with this company or other organization(s).
Knowledge/Skills Requires a working knowledge of banquet/catering food and beverage services, policies or operations.
Requires advanced event operations and logistics management.
Requires knowledge of computer equipment.
Requires compiling facts and figures in accordance with established procedures.
Calm, decisive leadership in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
Communication skills required to provide information and associated services to hotel management and guests.
Ability to influence across departments without direct authority.
Excellent hearing necessary for verbal interaction with guests and associates.
Excellent vision necessary to view set-ups.
High attention to detail paired with big-picture strategic thinking.
Excellent speech communication skills required for verbal interaction with guests and associates.
Strong financial acumen with a focus on revenue optimization.

Responsibilities

Strategic Event Leadership Lead the planning and execution of high-complexity, high-revenue group programs including multi-day conferences, buyouts, and citywide events.
Serve as the primary escalation point for event challenges, proactively identifying risks and implementing solutions before impact.
Partner with Sales to ensure a smooth transition from contract to execution, identifying opportunities to maximize value and mitigate operational risk.
Responsible for the management and planning of meetings/conventions and related activities.
Revenue & Financial Accountability Consistently achieve or exceed food & beverage and ancillary revenue targets through strategic upselling and thoughtful program design.
Review contracts, BEOs, and billing to ensure accuracy, profitability, and alignment with hotel standards.
Analyze post-event performance to identify trends, opportunities, and process improvements.
Detail, up-sell and detail the program with the client including; verification and modification of space requirements, audio-visual, times, equipment, menus, themes/decorations, etc.
Prepare the appropriate resumes and paperwork to ensure quality service.
Focuses on revenue-generating activity and maximizes selling time through retaining accounts/clients, maximizing account yield opportunities and sales effectiveness.
Oversees all billing details for hotel groups to include processing of deposits, direct bill applications, credit card authorizations and coordination with accounting.
Monitor and control individual client event budgets and details to maximize revenues and minimize expenses while ensuring delivery of a quality product.
Close out all groups to include pickup in sales system (Delphi) and commission owed, including processing with accounting.
Client Experience Excellence Act as a trusted advisor to clients, providing strategic guidance on event flow, space utilization, and guest experience enhancements
Maintain high client satisfaction scores through proactive communication, attention to detail, and calm leadership during live events.
Manage VIP, repeat, and high-profile clients with a white-glove service approach.
Maintain well documented, accurate, organized and up to date file management in order to serve client and the employer in the most expedient, organized and knowledgeable manner.
Develops strong customer relationships through appropriate client communication and the use of professional, courteous and ethical interpersonal interaction.
Operational & Cross-Functional Leadership Collaborate closely with Banquets, Culinary, AV, Front Office, and Engineering to ensure operational alignment and execution excellence.
Attends Banquet Event Order (BEO) and staff meetings and perform as a team leader for all hotel department staff participating in the event delivery process.
Lead pre-con meetings and internal event briefings, clearly communicating priorities, timelines, and expectations.
Support live event execution as needed, ensuring standards are met and issues are resolved in real time.
Team Development & Mentorship Mentor and support Conference Services Managers, Catering Managers, and Coordinators, sharing best practices and elevating team performance.
Provide training on systems, SOPs, and event execution standards.
Act as a culture carrier within the department, modeling professionalism, accountability, and collaboration.
Improve hotel convention services' products through; (a) participate in the development of new sales tools and systems, (b) participate in the analysis of the strengths and weakness of our competitions product, and (c) analysis, understanding, and satisfaction of our customers’ needs.
Process Improvement & Systems Expertise Drive continuous improvement of conference services processes, SOPs, and reporting tools
Serve as a subject matter expert for event management systems (e.g., Delphi, Opera, Social Tables, Revinate), ensuring accuracy and efficiency.