Events & Catering Manager (CA, Santa Barbara)

The Catering Events Manager is responsible for the planning, coordination, and successful execution of contracted social, catering, tour series, and group events at El Encanto.

Serving as a primary client contact throughout the planning process, this role partners closely with Sales, Food & Beverage, Culinary, Finance, hotel operations, preferred vendors, and business partners to ensure each event is thoughtfully planned and seamlessly executed.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, service-oriented, and commercially minded, with the ability to manage multiple events and priorities in a fast-paced luxury hospitality environment.

This role builds strong client relationships, identifies opportunities to enhance event revenue and the guest experience, and maintains a polished and professional presence throughout the planning and execution process.

• Manage assigned catering, social, tour series, and group events from post-contract through execution and post-event follow-up, serving as a primary point of contact for clients throughout the process.
• Coordinate all event details, including menu tastings, BEOs, floorplans, room blocks, function space, guarantees, concessions, timelines, billing requirements, vendors, and operational needs.
• Maintain a visible and professional presence during assigned events, resolve client or operational concerns promptly, and conduct post-event follow-up to support client satisfaction and future rebooking opportunities.

• Identify appropriate upselling opportunities across food and beverage, event enhancements, ancillary services, and other offerings to enhance the guest experience and maximize event revenue.
• Manage event pricing and contractual details within established guidelines, including group blocks, function space, concessions, deposits, payment schedules, commissions, and third-party charges.
• Monitor event revenue and forecasts, including updating GRC projections following menu tastings, and partner with Sales and Finance to ensure accurate billing, reconciliation, and financial documentation.

• Facilitate or participate in BEO, resume, and event-detail meetings and coordinate communication across Sales, Food & Beverage, Culinary, Front Office, Finance, Engineering, Housekeeping, Security, and other departments.
• Maintain accurate event, group, room block, reservation, client, and contractual information in Opera and applicable hotel systems, reports, tracking tools, and event documentation.
• Maintain strong relationships with preferred vendors and business partners while supporting property initiatives, special events, ownership visits, and opportunities to continuously improve event organization, communication, and execution.