Director of Banquets and Events

Job Summary

The Director of Banquets & Events provides strategic leadership for banquet, catering, conference, and special event operations across the Auburn Hospitality Complex, including The Hotel at Auburn University, The Rane Culinary Science Center, The Laurel Hotel & Spa, Hey Day Market, the Jay & Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center, and other Auburn University venues.

This position is responsible for departmental financial performance, operational excellence, leadership development, and the successful execution of luxury hospitality experiences across multiple venues. Working collaboratively with Sales, Conference Services, Culinary, Marketing, and University partners, the Director advances the strategic goals of Ithaka Hospitality Partners while ensuring exceptional guest experiences consistent with AAA Four Diamond standards.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Recruit, interview, select, onboard, coach, mentor, and develop banquet leadership and hourly team members.
• Foster a culture centered on servant leadership, accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct performance evaluations, succession planning, and career development discussions.
• Develop annual training plans and ensure completion of onboarding, certifications, and leadership development.
• Promote employee engagement through recognition, coaching, cross-training, and monthly departmental meetings.

Strategic Leadership

• Provide operational leadership for all banquet and catered events throughout The Hotel at Auburn University, The Jay & Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center, The Rane Culinary Science Center, The Laurel Hotel & Spa, The Greenspace at Hey Day Market, Auburn University venues, and approved off-site locations.
• Develop annual departmental goals aligned with Ithaka Hospitality Partners' strategic objectives.
• Continuously evaluate banquet operations and implement initiatives that improve service, efficiency, profitability, and guest satisfaction.
• Lead innovation in banquet service styles, event execution, technology, and operational systems.
• Establish and maintain luxury service standards consistent with a AAA Four Diamond operation.

Campus & Community Leadership

• Partner with Auburn University leadership, Ithaka Hospitality Partners, campus departments, community organizations, and event stakeholders to successfully execute university functions, donor events, athletic hospitality, alumni programming, commencement activities, conferences, festivals, and signature campus celebrations.
• Collaborate with Food & Beverage, Marketing, Sales, Conference Services, Culinary, and Hotel Operations to develop and execute annual activations that enhance guest engagement and position the Auburn Hospitality Complex as the premier hospitality destination in the region.
• Lead operational planning for large-scale campus activations by coordinating staffing, logistics, equipment, transportation, and service standards across multiple venues and operating teams.
• Identify opportunities to expand banquet and catering business throughout the Auburn Complex by supporting new programming, partnerships, and community events that drive revenue and increase utilization of event spaces.
• Champion collaboration across all Ithaka Hospitality Partners venues to maximize operational efficiency, share resources, and deliver a seamless guest experience regardless of venue.
• Support experiential learning opportunities for students within the Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management through mentoring, classroom participation, internships, event shadowing, and operational education as requested.

Financial Leadership

• Own the financial performance of the banquet department.
• Develop and manage annual operating budgets.
• Prepare monthly forecasts and business outlooks.
• Monitor departmental Key Performance Indicators including revenue, labor cost, food cost, beverage cost, productivity, guest satisfaction, event profitability, forecast accuracy, overtime, and team member engagement.
• Develop labor strategies that maximize service while maintaining productivity goals.
• Identify revenue enhancement opportunities including premium service offerings, equipment rentals, specialty bars, activations, and catering enhancements.
• Develop and implement cost-control initiatives while maintaining luxury guest experiences.
• Participate in annual capital planning for banquet equipment, furniture, technology, and facility improvements.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee approximately 25,000 square feet of banquet and meeting space while supporting multiple off-site venues and campus activations.
• Ensure all banquet events are executed in accordance with event orders, client expectations, and luxury service standards.
• Develop systems that ensure banquet rooms, equipment, inventories, and facilities consistently exceed presentation standards.
• Maintain banquet inventories including china, glassware, silverware, linens, furniture, and equipment.
• Ensure CARE processes and preventive maintenance programs are consistently followed.
• Uhold Standard Operating Procedures for banquet operations and continuously improve departmental processes.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, sanitation, Responsible Vendor, and ServSafe standards.

Event Leadership

• Provide executive leadership for weddings, conferences, donor events, university functions, VIP experiences, performing arts events, athletic hospitality, and major community activations.
• Personally oversee high-profile events to ensure exceptional execution and guest satisfaction.
• Partner with clients, university stakeholders, and event planners to deliver seamless experiences.
• Utilize forecasting, BEOs, and operational planning tools to ensure appropriate staffing and execution.

Sales & Conference Services

• Partner with Sales and Conference Services throughout the planning process to maximize revenue while ensuring operational feasibility.
• Participate in pre-convention meetings and major client presentations.
• Review event logistics and recommend enhancements that improve guest experience and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate on banquet menus, service styles, floor plans, timelines, and execution plans.

Culinary Partnership

• Collaborate with Culinary leadership on banquet menus, seasonal offerings, service standards, and operational execution.
• Ensure banquet teams possess comprehensive product knowledge and understand preparation methods.
• Participate in menu tastings and event planning meetings.
• Maintain consistent food quality through visual inspections and guest feedback.

Guest Experience

• Champion exceptional guest service throughout every event.
• Monitor guest satisfaction metrics and implement action plans for continuous improvement.
• Personally engage with clients during major functions and VIP events.

Business Development & Programming

• Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Food & Beverage leadership to develop new event concepts, seasonal programming, festivals, wine dinners, chef collaborations, university initiatives, and community activations that increase utilization and revenue across the Auburn Hospitality Complex.
• Evaluate post-event performance, guest feedback, financial results, and operational metrics to continuously refine programming and improve future events.
• Develop long-term strategies that position the Auburn Hospitality Complex as Alabama's premier destination for meetings, conferences, weddings, university events, culinary experiences, and community gatherings.
• Collaborate with Auburn University partners to expand catering, conference, and event opportunities that strengthen campus relationships while driving incremental revenue.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly operational and financial reports for Food & Beverage leadership.
• Participate in leadership meetings, operations meetings, BEO meetings, forecasting meetings, and strategic planning sessions.
• Maintain accurate banquet records, SOPs, and operational manuals.

Required Skills & Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of luxury banquet operations within a AAA Four Diamond or equivalent hospitality environment.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasting, labor planning, and profitability.
• Demonstrated leadership experience developing high-performing teams.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple venues, priorities, and complex event operations simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and banquet/event management software.
• Thorough understanding of federal, state, and local health and safety regulations.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressive banquet leadership experience, including at least two years leading a large banquet or conference services operation.
• Experience overseeing luxury hotel banquet operations, university conference centers, multi-venue event operations, or comparable hospitality environments preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing departmental budgets, labor productivity, and operational performance.
• Experience collaborating across multiple departments and stakeholders in a complex hospitality environment preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of standing, walking, and occasional sitting.
• Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work flexible schedules including evenings, weekends, and holidays as business demands require.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced hospitality environment while managing multiple priorities.

The employee signature below indicates the employee's understanding of the requirements, essential functions, and duties of the position.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants are given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.