Director of Catering & Events

Ventura, CA, USA|

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Compensation

Salary

Range $120,000.00 - $130,000.00

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Paid Time Off

Retirement Plan

Employee Discounts

Professional Development

performance bonuses

Job Description

El Encanto is a luxury hotel renowned for its impeccable guest service, elegant accommodations, and breathtaking surroundings. Nestled in a picturesque location, the hotel caters to discerning travelers and event clients seeking a high-end hospitality experience. As a prominent name in the luxury hospitality sector, El Encanto prides itself on maintaining superior service standards, sophisticated event planning capabilities, and exceptional culinary offerings. The hotel operates with a focus on delivering memorable experiences through attention to detail, seamless service, and strategic collaboration across departments. El Encanto fosters a culture rooted in excellence, teamwork, and innovation, ensuring that it remains a top destination for corporate events, weddings, social gatherings, and exclusive celebrations.

The Director of Catering & Events at El Encanto plays a pivotal leadership role, steering the strategic direction, sales performance, and operational execution of all catering and event activities. This full-time, exempt position commands a competitive salary range of $120,000 to $130,000 annually, reflecting the position's high level of responsibility and impact. The role requires an individual with extensive experience in luxury event management and catering sales, capable of managing the entire event lifecycle from initial contract to successful completion and post-event follow-up. As the principal liaison for event clients, the Director ensures that every occasion is flawlessly executed, aligning with El Encanto's luxury brand standards.

This leadership role involves close collaboration with multiple departments including Food & Beverage, Culinary, Front Office, Housekeeping, Engineering, and Sales & Marketing. A key focus is driving catering revenue growth through business development efforts, relationship management with corporate clients and event planners, and meticulous financial oversight. The Director leads and develops the Catering & Events team, cultivating a culture of service excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. Responsibilities encompass strategic event planning, on-site event management, luxury guest experience delivery, and operational budget management.

An essential element of the position is ensuring seamless coordination and communication between departments before, during, and after events to uphold the highest service standards and guest satisfaction. The Director is tasked with analyzing market trends and competitive activities to identify new revenue opportunities, while also maintaining close attention to profitability and operational cost control. This role demands a strategic thinker and effective leader who excels in negotiation, organizational skills, and relationship-building to maintain strong client partnerships and elevate the hotel’s catering and event services to new heights.

Job Requirements

Bachelor's degree in hospitality management, business administration, event management, or related field preferred
Minimum 5 years of progressive catering, conference services, or event management leadership experience within a luxury hotel or upscale resort environment
Proven success achieving catering sales goals and revenue growth
Strong knowledge of banquet operations, luxury service standards, food and beverage operations, and event logistics
Experience managing weddings, corporate meetings, social events, and high-profile VIP functions
Excellent negotiation, organizational, project management, and relationship-building skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and hotel sales and catering systems such as Delphi, SCS, Amadeus Sales & Catering, or similar software
Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasting, and profitability
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Bilingual English/Spanish is preferred

Job Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in hospitality management, business administration, event management, or related field preferred
Minimum 5 years of progressive catering, conference services, or event management leadership experience within a luxury hotel or upscale resort environment
Proven success achieving catering sales goals and revenue growth
Strong knowledge of banquet operations, luxury service standards, food and beverage operations, and event logistics
Experience managing weddings, corporate meetings, social events, and high-profile VIP functions
Excellent negotiation, organizational, project management, and relationship-building skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and hotel sales and catering systems such as Delphi, SCS, Amadeus Sales & Catering, or similar software
Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasting, and profitability
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Bilingual English/Spanish is preferred

Job Duties

Work with the sales team to develop and execute strategic initiatives to maximize catering revenue, banquet profitability, and overall event performance
Generate new catering business through networking, community engagement, and client referrals
Build and maintain relationships with corporate clients, wedding planners, destination management companies, local organizations, and repeat guests
Partner with the sales team to identify opportunities that increase overall hotel revenue and occupancy
Analyze market trends, competitive activity, and local demand to identify new revenue opportunities
Oversee the planning and successful execution of weddings, corporate meetings, conferences, private dining events, celebrations, and other resort functions
Serve as the primary point of contact throughout the planning process, ensuring personalized service and attention to detail
Arrange and execute site tours, planning meetings, menu tastings, pre-conference meetings, and event walkthroughs
Prepare banquet event orders, resumes, diagrams, timelines, and detailed event documentation
Ensure seamless communication between all operational departments before, during, and after each event
Monitor events on-site to ensure flawless execution and immediate resolution of guest concerns
Lead, coach, and develop the catering and events team through regular communication, performance feedback, and ongoing training
Foster a culture centered on luxury hospitality, teamwork, accountability, and exceptional guest experiences
Conduct regular department meetings focused on operational updates, service standards, revenue performance, and professional development
Recruit, onboard, and retain high-performing team members while supporting succession planning
Promote collaboration between catering, sales, culinary, banquets, and resort leadership
Manage departmental budgets while achieving revenue, profitability, and productivity goals
Forecast catering revenue and monitor pace, booking trends, and event performance
Review banquet profitability, menu pricing, labor utilization, and operational costs to maximize financial performance
Ensure accurate billing, deposits, contracts, commissions, and final invoicing
Monitor guest satisfaction metrics and implement continuous improvements based on client feedback
Deliver highly personalized service throughout every stage of the event experience
Anticipate guest needs while exceeding expectations through thoughtful planning and proactive communication
Ensure all events consistently reflect El Encanto's luxury standards and commitment to exceptional hospitality
Personally engage with VIP clients and high-profile events to ensure memorable experiences
Resolve service opportunities professionally while maintaining strong client relationships