Director of Event Planning - Cleveland, OH

Our company is a premier hospitality establishment specializing in delivering exceptional event planning and guest services within a vibrant commercial hospitality setting. We pride ourselves on creating memorable experiences for our clients by offering a seamless integration of sales, event planning, and operational excellence. With a strong commitment to quality and professionalism, our establishment stands out as a leader in the hospitality industry, consistently exceeding client expectations and setting new standards in event management. Our state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated team ensure every event is executed flawlessly and leaves a lasting impression on guests.

The Director of Event Planning is a critical leadership role within our organization, designed for a highly skilled and motivated professional. This full-time, exempt onsite position is central to the success and seamless execution of all events hosted at our venue. The Director is responsible for managing daily event planning functions, supervising the event planning team, and collaborating closely with sales and operations teams to ensure each event transitions smoothly from one phase to the next. By overseeing a talented group of event planners, this role blends strategic leadership with a hands-on approach to event management.

In this position, the Director of Event Planning drives the financial performance of the department through strategic upselling, budgeting, and accurate forecasting of catering and group room revenue. The ability to analyze financial outcomes and implement effective strategies directly impacts the department’s success and contributes to overall profitability. The Director assigns events to planning staff, coordinates function space usage, manages group room blocks, and leads weekly management meetings to proactively address challenges and optimize event execution.

Beyond administration and leadership, this role involves direct management of complex and high-profile events. The Director oversees catering menu development, ensuring client expectations are met, while contributing to revenue goals through innovative and appealing offerings. A strong emphasis is placed on safety and emergency procedures, with the Director ensuring all staff members are properly trained and prepared to handle any situation that may arise.

Customer service excellence is a cornerstone of this role, with the Director fostering a guest-centric environment that encourages direct engagement and quick resolution of any guest concerns. Continuous improvement is driven by gathering and analyzing guest feedback, and empowering employees through ongoing training and coaching to maintain high service standards. Vendor relationships are another critical focus, requiring strong negotiation and communication skills to secure favorable pricing and enhance event quality.

This role demands exceptional interpersonal skills, operational expertise, and strategic insight to successfully lead the event planning team and nurture lasting client and vendor relationships. The Director of Event Planning thrives in a fast-paced hospitality environment where adaptability, attention to detail, and problem-solving abilities are essential to delivering flawless and memorable events.