Hilton Anchorage is seeking an experienced, organized, and service-driven Banquet Manager to lead our banquet operations. The Banquet Manager is responsible for the successful execution of meetings, conferences, weddings, social events, and other catered functions while ensuring exceptional guest service, efficient operations, and compliance with hotel standards.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who can manage multiple events, develop a strong banquet team, and work closely with Catering, Sales, Culinary, Stewarding, Engineering, and other hotel departments to ensure every event is executed successfully.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Oversee daily banquet operations and ensure all events are set up and executed according to Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) and client expectations.
- Review BEOs, event resumes, diagrams, guarantees, timelines, and special requests prior to each function.
- Conduct pre-shift meetings and communicate event details and service expectations to the banquet team.
- Supervise banquet captains, servers, housepersons, bartenders, and other banquet team members.
- Coordinate room setups, food and beverage service, audiovisual requirements, breaks, receptions, and event breakdowns.
- Work closely with Catering, Sales, Culinary, Stewarding, Engineering, and Front Office teams to ensure smooth event execution.
- Maintain regular communication with event contacts before and during functions to ensure expectations are being met.
- Resolve guest or client concerns promptly and professionally.
- Recruit, train, coach, schedule, and develop banquet team members.
- Monitor staffing and labor based on event volume and business levels.
- Maintain appropriate staffing levels while controlling departmental labor costs.
- Ensure banquet rooms, equipment, service areas, and storage spaces are clean, organized, and properly maintained.
- Monitor banquet equipment, china, glassware, linen, tables, chairs, and other supplies.
- Ensure proper handling and accountability of banquet equipment and inventory.
- Review banquet checks and ensure charges are accurate and properly documented.
- Follow hotel cash-handling and alcohol-service procedures.
- Ensure compliance with health, sanitation, safety, and responsible alcohol-service requirements.
- Participate in BEO meetings, operations meetings, and other departmental meetings as required.
- Assist with forecasting, budgeting, scheduling, inventory control, and departmental financial performance.
- Maintain Hilton service standards and create a professional, welcoming environment for guests and team members.
Qualifications:
- Previous banquet, catering, restaurant, or hotel Food & Beverage experience required.
- Previous supervisory or management experience strongly preferred.
- Experience managing large meetings, conferences, weddings, or catered events preferred.
- Strong leadership and team-development skills.
- Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.
- Ability to read and execute Banquet Event Orders and event diagrams.
- Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple events and changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Professional appearance and commitment to exceptional guest service.
- Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office.
- Flexible availability, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on business needs.