
Director of Catering and Events - The Drake Hotel
- Chicago, IL
- $120,000-140,000 per year
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Successfully, innovatively, and timely implement Commercial strategic initiatives and monitor for best-in-class results
- Drive innovation and creativity within event delivery
- Partner with the General Manager/Executive Committee to deliver on Hilton’s values by creating high-impact event experiences
- Ensure that high quality service standards are maintained through continuous reviews of processes and procedures
- Provide owner relations guidance in key areas of Events expertise, as needed (Banquet Capital Expenditures, Staffing Models)
- Actively support the sales process.
- Provide overall leadership and direction in all Events matters.
- Serve as the hotel’s credible Subject Matter Expert on all matters relating to event experience
- Serve as a highly visible, participatory leader who proactively and consistently engages with their General Manager/Executive Committee, Sales, Catering and Events team members, external guests, and suppliers
- Remain current on event trends to evaluate innovative ways for process/practice improvements and shares best practices
- Participate or represent Hilton in industry social/meeting/events professional associations
- Inspire high-performing multi-cultural, multi-generational teams that build Hilton’s Catering and Events talent pipeline
- Integrate Hilton’s Values/Mission/Purpose when implementing Catering & Event initiatives and support Team Member-centric and guest-centric programs
- Lead with Hilton culture engaging with Team Members through direct and meaningful interactions
- Be an ambassador for customer service.
- Motivate and provide a work environment in which team members are productive
- Ensure all Catering and Event manager roles have career development plans in place that are actively supported by leadership and profiles are current for succession planning
- Listen and respond to team members needs while having an open-door policy
- Manage group and interpersonal conflict effectively
- Ensure the proper use of all function space, exhibit hall, and event spaces
- Manage supplier and vendor relationships
- Possess subject matter expertise and ensure standards/practices
- Development and management of departmental budgets
- Responsible for the overseeing short, medium, and long-term forecasting and actual cost reporting for events
- Ensure proper staffing for the needs of the business
- Integrate current trends in event management and design
- Participate in customer site inspections and assists with the sales process as necessary
- Minimum Years of Experience: five (5) years Hospitality related experience at manager level.
- Minimum of 1 year of leadership experience in hotel management.
- Other requirements: Travel percentage: 10%
- Knowledge of the hotel property management systems (Delphi.fdc)
- Significant experience in revenue management or a similar analytical role
- Relevant degree, in business development or other relevant business field, from an academic institution (CMP, CPCE)
- Hospitality - We're passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiences.
- Integrity - We do the right thing, all the time.
- Leadership - We're leaders in our industry and in our communities.
- Teamwork - We're team players in everything we do.
- Ownership - We're the owners of our actions and decisions.
- Now - We operate with a sense of urgency and discipline
- Quality
- Productivity
- Dependability
- Customer Focus
- Adaptability