Event Experience Manager (NE)

Gaylord Hotels, a distinguished brand within the Marriott International portfolio, is renowned for its commitment to delivering exceptional meeting and event experiences. Located at 6000 W Osceola Pkwy, Kissimmee, Florida, Gaylord Hotels offers an impressive blend of culture, talent, and service excellence that epitomizes Marriott's dedication to quality and guest satisfaction. As part of a global hospitality leader, employees at Gaylord benefit from diverse career opportunities and a work environment that values creativity, entrepreneurship, and heartfelt service. Marriott International prides itself on being an equal opportunity employer, fostering an inclusive culture that embraces diverse backgrounds and ensures non-discrimination on any protected basis, including disability and veteran status. With Gaylord Hotels, you’re not just stepping into a job; you’re joining a team committed to delivering extraordinary environments and programming that bring people together in meaningful ways. This location supports relocation assistance, adding convenience for new hires transitioning to the area. This is a full-time, management position with a competitive pay range of $25.77 to $30.29 per hour, and it is bonus eligible, reinforcing the company’s motivation to reward dedication and excellence.

The Event Manager at Gaylord Hotels plays a pivotal role in the flawless execution of all event-related activities. This management position involves overseeing the planning phases, daily coordination, and implementation of exit strategies to ensure each event’s success. The role requires serving as a liaison between clients and various operational departments, advocating for meeting planning needs, and verifying that hotel services meet the high standards promised to clients. Event Managers utilize specialized software to create essential program documents, including pass-on reports, Banquet Event Orders (BEOs), post-convention reports, and change logs. Communication is central to the job, requiring the manager to update clients on event status, facilitate adjustments when necessary, and stay fully informed through planning meetings, conference calls, and document reviews before group arrivals.

This role demands proactive problem-solving skills to address and resolve potential issues related to room setups, lighting, temperature control, and audiovisual equipment, ensuring that every detail aligns with client expectations. The manager also partners closely with the conference planning team to anticipate and handle any concerns. Participation in planning visits, welcome receptions, tie-down meetings, and internal collaboration meetings related to security, parking, and production are essential to maintain smooth operations. Exceptional customer service is a cornerstone of this position: the manager must deliver an outstanding experience from start to finish, respond efficiently to client and guest needs, and integrate feedback to continually enhance service quality. This comprehensive role blends operational oversight with a client-focused mindset, making it ideal for professionals who excel in dynamic environments and are passionate about event management within the hospitality industry.