Senior Event Manager

AccorHotel•New Orleans, LA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is seeking a Senior Event Manager for its new luxury hotel in downtown New Orleans. This role will serve as the primary contact for clients, managing all aspects of event planning from sales through completion. The Senior Event Manager will plan, coordinate, and oversee a variety of events including corporate meetings, conferences, VIP functions, weddings, and social events. This position requires close collaboration with various hotel departments to ensure seamless execution and adherence to luxury brand standards. The role also involves financial management, including forecasting, budgeting, and invoice processing, as well as maintaining organized records and fostering strong relationships with clients and internal stakeholders. Additionally, the Senior Event Manager will mentor Event Services colleagues and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements

Minimum of 5 years of progressive Conference Services, Catering, or Event Management experience within a luxury hotel, resort, convention hotel, or upscale hospitality environment.
Strong knowledge of banquet operations, conference services, food and beverage operations, and luxury guest service standards.
Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, payroll administration, and invoice management.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word and Excel.
Excellent organizational, communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
Professional written and verbal communication skills.
Demonstrated leadership, sound judgment, professionalism, and commitment to exceptional guest service.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Event Management, or a related field preferred.
Previous supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
Pre-opening luxury hotel experience is strongly preferred.
Experience managing large-scale meetings, conferences, weddings, and social events.
Experience using Delphi, Opera Cloud, OSEM, BirchStreet, TrustYou MICE, or similar hotel sales, catering, and procurement systems preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary contact for clients following the sales process, managing all event planning details through completion.
Plan, coordinate, and oversee corporate meetings, conferences, and VIP functions, and special events.
Assist with weddings, social events as needed.
Conduct planning meetings, site visits, and pre-convention meetings to identify client expectations and event requirements.
Prepare, review, and distribute Banquet Event Orders (BEOs), event resumes, floor plans, and other event documentation.
Coordinate event logistics with Banquets, Culinary, Stewarding, Front Office, Housekeeping, Engineering, Security, Audio Visual, Spa, and all supporting departments.
Ensure all event details are communicated accurately and executed according to client expectations and luxury brand standards.
Monitor event execution on-site and proactively resolve operational challenges or guest concerns.
Coordinate catering arrangements for hotel-sponsored and community events.
Reserve and coordinate meeting space for executive meetings, VIP internal functions, and hotel leadership events.
Assist the Director of Sales and Marketing and Director of Food and Beverage with weekly banquet forecasting and reporting to support revenue goals and key business indicators (KBIs).
Monitor event revenue, labor expenses, and departmental productivity to maximize profitability.
Review contracts, billing instructions, deposits, banquet checks, and final invoices for accuracy.
Process departmental purchase orders and invoices through BirchStreet while maintaining accurate financial records.
Oversee departmental administrative operations, including ordering office supplies, stationery, meeting planner amenities, and event materials.
Coordinate seasonal hotel décor initiatives, including holiday decorations, in partnership with Engineering, Grounds, and approved vendors.
Monitor TrustYou MICE survey results and guest feedback, distribute reports, identify trends, and partner with operational leaders to improve the meeting planner experience.
Maintain organized event files, departmental records, and operational documentation.
Ensure conference services offices, storage areas, equipment, and workspaces are maintained in a professional and organized manner.
Build strong relationships with clients, vendors, meeting planners, and internal stakeholders to create exceptional experiences and encourage repeat business.
Mentor, coach, and support Event Services colleagues through ongoing training and professional development.
Foster strong working relationships across all hotel departments to ensure seamless communication and operational excellence.
Participate in departmental meetings, budgeting, forecasting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Support hotel-wide events, community partnerships, and special projects as assigned.
Perform other duties as assigned.