Event Planning Manager - Social

Join us for this incredible opportunity at Wild Dunes Resort, a Destination Hotel by Hyatt. Our resort is on the beach in sunny Isle of Palms, South Carolina, just 30 minutes from Downtown Charleston. We have 12+ unique venues at the resort ranging from oceanside, poolside, outdoor/garden style, indoor ballrooms, and an incredible new Rooftop venue (opened in 2021). On average, we host over 100 weddings yearly, ranging from intimate celebrations to multi-day weddings with up to 400 guests.

The Event Planning Manager in the Social Market is a platform to join our highly skilled and recognized Event Sales & Social Event Planning team. This role allows you to grow and advance your Events Career within Hyatt Hotels. You will be part of a rock-star team with a flexible work schedule for the on-site Event Management responsibility with the option to work from home in Charleston when not having groups in-house. We have two Event Sales sellers and two Event Planning Managers for the Social Market on our team with support from the ADOE.

The Event Planning Manager must be a highly motivated individual with a passion for success and strong attention to detail. Our department is primarily a wedding business, local social Galas, and daytime meetings. For all weddings, we require our couples to hire a Day of Wedding Coordinator at a minimum to be present on the wedding day. The role of the EPM in the Social Market is responsible for the Food, Beverage, and Setup of the events and will work alongside the couple’s hired Wedding Coordinator.

This position is responsible for crafting Event Orders, Diagrams, and Estimates in the planning process and is required to be onsite on event day to kick off their events. The Event Planning Manager shall always strive to provide exceptional service to internal and external guests. They will be responsible for exemplifying the Wild Dunes Resort Culture and promoting Wild Dunes Resort as both the Destination and Employer of Choice!

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Effectively plan and detail contracted events to ensure streamlined service and internal and external communication to all parties involved.
• Work cohesively with co-workers as part of a team
• Interface positively with other departments, offering assistance when needed.
• Learn and adapt to Hyatt Event Management Systems and utilize these platforms to manage group bookings and detail events
• Proficiency in account penetration and mapping to determine influences, coaches, and decision-makers
• Build relationships with local social vendors to encourage continuous referrals & repeat business
• Create event-specific floor plans for clients, planners, and internal staff to reference on the event day.
• Conduct client tastings and final walk-throughs with clients and vendors to ensure all details are covered.
• Knowledge of and experience in local social catering and wedding markets, with the ability to service elegant and prestigious events
• Stay abreast of industry trends and make recommendations for changes that would affect operations.
• Service-oriented, approaching all encounters with guests and associates in an attentive and courteous manner
• Collect deposits throughout the planning process and post payments to the correct accounts.
• Familiar with the legality terms of contractual agreements
• Interact with all resort departments in a fast-paced, active sales office.
• Be a clear thinker, remaining calm and resolving problems with sound judgment.
• Maintain a positive working relationship with departments interacting with groups.
• Motivation to conduct direct solicitation and follow up with customers in a targeted, timely, and thoughtful manner
• Upsell menu items as well as encourage guests to contract pre and post-events to add to overall catering revenue
• Proficiency in executing a sales plan to meet or exceed revenue goals
• Establish and maintains effective staff relations
• Maintain confidentiality of departmental information and pertinent hotel data.
• Maintain constant contact and excellent relationships with DH&R National Sales, Representation Firms, Local Planners, and third-party communications.
• Actively participate in ongoing training opportunities to further system knowledge and common industry trends
• Present a positive company image through all public and/or customer interaction phases.
• Maintain a professional demeanor and maintain the work area professionally and orderly.

The colleague is held accountable for all duties of this job and other duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION:

• Working knowledge of hotels/resorts is highly preferred
• Experience with Hyatt’s Event Management System is preferred
• College degree or equivalent experience preferred
• High school diploma required
• A good understanding of Sales and Event planning procedures
• 2-3 years of experience in hotel sales and/or planning required

Job REQUIRMENTS:

• Must be able to follow instructions, both verbally and written accurately
• Must have strong computer skills
• Must have a solid working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs
• Must have the ability to resolve problems/conflicts in a diplomatic and tactful manner
• Must have the ability to deal effectively and interact well with the guests and associates
• Must be able to perform in a highly confidential environment
• Ability to work a flexible schedule that may include evenings, weekends, and holidays
• You must be authorized to work in the United States

Colleagues hired at Wild Dunes Resort will be verified through the federal E-Verify system.

Working CONDITIONS:

• Must be able to frequently perform simple grasping, fine manipulation, and repetitive hand & arm movements.
• While primarily an indoor job, one must be able to walk outside in various weather conditions (rain, wind, heat).
• Must be able to climb stairs occasionally, indoors and outside, in various weather conditions (rain, wind, heat).
• Must be able to bend, squat, crawl, kneel, push, pull, and walk on uneven surfaces occasionally.

The physical demands described here represent those that an associate must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be completed by this Colleague. He or she will be required to follow other instructions and perform other work-related duties requested by his or her supervisor.