Senior Event Services Manager

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation•Columbia, WA

About The Position

The Senior Event Services Manager gathers event details from clients for corporate catering events and groups with banquets, incorporates those details into standard documents, and distributes the information efficiently to hotel departments. Acting as the liaison between group meeting planners and hotel staff, the role provides customer service, books new and repeat business, administers sales agreements, details food, beverage and audiovisual needs, manages room blocks and pickup, confirms billing instructions, and conducts final reviews. The position requires strong communication, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities. The manager coordinates corporate and government meetings, galas, and corporate social gatherings from planning through execution. This includes consulting with clients, preparing and distributing accurate Banquet Event Orders and group resumes, coordinating with hotel departments and vendors, overseeing setups and service, attending major events onsite, and managing changes and guest issues. The role also supports event sales, client retention, upselling, financial administration, forecasting, and post-event analysis while maintaining hotel and brand standards. The position requires a bachelor's degree or a combination of related experience and training, including two years in a senior role as one stated experience pathway. A CMP certification is a plus. The employee must be available for flexible shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays. The role involves regular standing, walking, and lifting or moving up to 50 pounds.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university, or one to three years of related experience and/or training with two years in a senior role, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ability to read and interpret safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence and speak effectively before groups of customers or employees.
Ability to calculate discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume, and apply basic algebra and geometry.
Ability to solve practical problems with limited standardization and interpret written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule-based instructions.
Knowledge of Delphi, MICROS, Room Viewer Database software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Word.
Must be available for flexible shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Must regularly stand and walk, and regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; must also be able to meet the described physical demands, with reasonable accommodation where applicable.

Nice To Haves

CMP (Certified Meeting Planner) certification.

Responsibilities

Serve as the central communication point between clients and hotel teams, including Culinary, Banquets, AV, Engineering, Front Office, Housekeeping, and Accounting.
Coordinate corporate and government meetings, galas, and corporate social gatherings, ensuring attentive service and event execution.
Consult with clients to confirm objectives, guest room needs, meeting room setups, schedules, menus, and audiovisual requirements.
Monitor convention group room requirements and ensure commitments in hotel agreements are met.
Create, update, and distribute accurate Banquet Event Orders and group resumes, verifying setups, food and beverage needs, timing, billing, and guarantees with departments.
Oversee event setup and service, including onsite presence during major events.
Maintain proactive client communication throughout planning and event delivery, managing updates and building relationships.
Maintain detailed notes in the event management system and manage BEO versions, deadlines, and consistency across departments.
Participate in weekly BEO review meetings with internal departments.
Nurture client relationships, solicit new accounts, book and service business, and identify upselling opportunities.
Collaborate with sales, operations, and culinary teams to improve event quality and profitability.
Contribute to hotel-wide meetings and strategic planning discussions.
Communicate deadlines, attrition, and other deliverables to clients and internal teams.
Translate event requirements into clear instructions for banquet and culinary staff.
Facilitate pre-convention briefings and post-event reviews.
Build productive relationships with vendors, event planners, production partners, and internal stakeholders.
Handle last-minute changes and guest concerns professionally.
Use hospitality software and produce event orders, contracts, billing summaries, invoices, and after-action reports.
Maintain event files and digital documentation in accordance with hotel SOPs and brand standards.
Review and balance master accounts, verify coding, and work with Accounting on invoicing and payment collection.
Evaluate event financial performance and assist with forecasting, budgeting, and post-event financial analysis.
Maintain hotel hospitality standards and brand image throughout event delivery.
Anticipate guest needs and support a smooth guest experience from check-in through departure.
Conduct pre-event walkthroughs to verify room setup, cleanliness, signage, and décor.
Gather post-event feedback to assess satisfaction and identify future business opportunities.
Demonstrate Sonesta People Standards and Core Guiding Principles in interactions and conduct.