Banquet Manager

About the Role

Colwen Hotels is seeking an experienced, energetic, and highly organized Banquet Manager to lead event execution across the AC Hotel Portsmouth, The Envio, and The Venue at Portwalk Place. This is an exciting opportunity for a hands-on hospitality leader to oversee memorable weddings, corporate meetings, social celebrations, and special events throughout three of Portsmouth's distinctive hospitality and event destinations. From preparing the team and coordinating event details to overseeing service and responding to last-minute changes, you will be at the center of the action. You will play an essential role in ensuring every event is executed seamlessly, reflects the unique character of each venue, and exceeds guest and client expectations.

Why Join Colwen Hotels?

At Colwen Hotels, we believe exceptional hospitality begins with exceptional people. Built on hard work, authenticity, and innovation, we empower our associates to share ideas, grow as leaders, and create experiences guests remember long after their stay or event. With a growing portfolio of 49 hotels across nine states, Colwen Hotels offers meaningful career opportunities, leadership development, and the chance to grow with a company that continues to invest in its hotels and its people.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing weddings, corporate meetings, social celebrations, and other catered and non-catered events across multiple venues
• Ensuring each event reflects the setting, service standards, and guest expectations of the individual venue
• Reviewing banquet event orders and coordinating event details with Sales, Culinary, and hotel leadership
• Ensuring event spaces are properly set, staffed, and prepared according to event specifications
• Coordinating resources, staffing, equipment, and supplies across the three venues
• Serving as a visible leadership presence before, during, and after events
• Anticipating guest and client needs and responding quickly and professionally to questions, concerns, and changing requirements
• Recruiting, training, scheduling, coaching, and developing banquet associates
• Conducting pre-shift meetings to communicate event details, service expectations, and individual responsibilities
• Inspiring associates to provide warm, attentive, and personalized hospitality
• Monitoring labor, scheduling, operating expenses, beverage controls, and other departmental costs
• Managing banquet equipment, supplies, inventories, ordering, and deliveries
• Partnering with culinary leadership to coordinate timing, presentation, quality, and special requests
• Maintaining responsible beverage service practices and appropriate liquor and inventory controls
• Ensuring compliance with food safety requirements, liquor laws, brand standards, and Colwen Hotels policies
• Supporting a professional, respectful, and collaborative work environment
• Identifying opportunities to improve service delivery, event presentation, associate engagement, and operational efficiency

Qualifications

• At least two years of banquet, catering, event, or Food & Beverage leadership experience; hotel banquet experience is strongly preferred
• A proven ability to lead banquet service teams and execute events successfully in a fast-paced environment
• Experience managing events across multiple spaces or venues is preferred
• A hands-on leadership style and a willingness to work alongside the team when needed
• Strong knowledge of banquet service standards, room sets, event timing, and beverage operations
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• The ability to read and execute banquet event orders with accuracy and attention to detail
• Experience scheduling associates and managing labor and operating costs
• The ability to balance multiple events, priorities, and venue requirements
• A genuine passion for hospitality and creating memorable guest experiences
• Comfort using point-of-sale systems and common business software
• TIPS and ServSafe certifications, or the ability to obtain them within 30 days of employment
• Flexibility to work a schedule based on event and business needs, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays

Benefits

• Medical insurance with a company-funded HRA
• Dental and vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Supplemental insurance options
• Paid Time Off programs
• 401(k) with traditional and Roth options, plus employer match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Hotel travel discounts for associates and family members
• Exclusive discounts on travel, entertainment, and retail
• Training and professional development programs
• Career advancement opportunities throughout a growing hospitality company