Director of Banquets

Yearly

Highgate Hotels

Highgate is a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in U.S. gateway markets including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a rapidly expanding presence in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Highgate’s portfolio of global properties represents an aggregate asset value exceeding $20B and generates over $5B in cumulative revenues. The company provides expert guidance through all stages of the hospitality property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate also has the creativity and bandwidth to develop bespoke hotel brands and utilizes industry-leading proprietary revenue management tools that identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive out performance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the industry’s most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in London, New York, Dallas, and Seattle.

Location Overview

As the Director of Banquets, you will oversee all aspects of banquet services, ensuring flawless execution of events, maintaining high standards of service, managing the banquet team, and working closely with clients and various departments to create memorable experiences.

Essential

Responsibilities

• Banquet Operations & Leadership: Oversee all banquet events, ensuring seamless execution from planning to post-event follow-up, while maintaining luxury service standards and addressing guest concerns.
• Team Management & Service Excellence: Lead, train, and motivate the banquet team to deliver exceptional service, ensuring guest satisfaction and efficient event execution.
• Budget & Financial Oversight: Manage the banquet department’s budget, control costs, and ensure profitability while maintaining high service quality.
• Event Coordination & Collaboration: Work with event planners, clients, and hotel teams to ensure smooth event execution, handling logistics and changes as needed.
• Quality Control & Compliance: Ensure food, beverage, and service meet luxury standards, while enforcing health, safety, and sanitation regulations.
• Inventory & Post-Event Management: Oversee inventory control and proper storage of supplies, and ensure the reset and evaluation of banquet spaces after events.
  
  

Supportive

In addition to performance of the essential functions, this position may be required to perform a combination of supportive functions, with the percentage of time performing each function to be solely determined by the manager based upon the particular requirements of the hotel. These supportive functions include but are not limited to: performing general cleaning tasks using standard hotel cleaning products to adhere to health standards, assisting banquet staff, and attending the required departmental meetings.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in banquet or event management, with at least three (3) years in a leadership role, preferably in a luxury hotel or upscale venue.
• Strong knowledge of banquet operations, including food and beverage service, event setup, and guest relations.
• Proven experience managing large-scale events, including weddings, corporate meetings, and special functions.
• Ability to obtain any government licenses or certificates as required for the local area. (A TABC license is required for this role).
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to be on your feet for long periods of time.
• Must be able to navigate uneven stairs and uneven, sometimes wet, surfaces.
• Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects through crowded spaces.
• Must be able to meet the appropriate grooming standards.
  
  

General Requirements

• Must possess exemplary verbal and written communication abilities.
• Must be able to work effectively with a diverse population of both employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous, and service-oriented manner.
• Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.
• Must be able to multitask and prioritize functions to provide outstanding guest service in a timely manner.
• Must be able to learn and implement the Forbes standards.
• Successful applicants will possess a magnetism emanating maturity and confidence.