Director Of Events & Entertainment

At Highgate, we offer excellent benefits to our Associates - Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid time off, Vacation, 8 Paid Holidays per year. Come join our Team on the beautiful Island of Key West.

• Play a pivotal role in hotel sales efforts, including calling on local accounts, meeting clients, hosting luncheons and receptions, and meeting with on-site contacts on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
• Meet clients on the property, including meeting contacts and potential clients touring the property, to assist in the sales effort.
• Respond to all guests’ requests, problems, complaints and/or accidents presented on property or through reservations, comment cards, letters and/or phone calls, in an attentive, courteous and efficient manner. Follow up to ensure guest satisfaction.
• Develop and manage VIP and amenity program.
• Daily knowledge of all VIP’s, sites, functions, and groups.
• Maintain complete knowledge of daily scheduled group functions, times, locations, amount of people and specified requirements.
• Assist sales with special events, banquet and other activities as needed.
• Know event space setups and capabilities.
• Support scheduling, planning and executing all events.
• Anticipate client and individual guest needs associated with execution of event.
• Responsible for executing events on-site.
• Prepare accurate deposit invoices.
• Review Final bills for completeness and accuracy.
• Prepare and distribute, in a timely manner, accurate Banquet Event orders.

• Assist with all activities to include cultural programming, entertainment, kid’s activities, pool deck F&B outlets and Sunset Green activations.
• Develop and manage the property activity calendars.
• Assist in creating exhibits and/or crafts that celebrate the cultural and unique aspects of Key West.
• Maintain a tracking sheet to monitor events, vendor utilization, income, and expenses for each activity.
• Assist with training for any activity to include all departments and team members.
• Produce a calendar of Events for the next calendar season, while ensuring to stay within budget expectations.
• Manage fundraising efforts and community outreach to support local businesses.
• Maintain accurate office and activity supply inventories.
• Ensure all equipment and supplies are kept in good condition.
• Liaison between hotel and 3rd party operators for programming, on island events and festivals.

• Create a positive team-oriented environment which focuses on the guest, through employee development and motivation.
• Ensure that training in service standards is taking place in each department using the steps to effective training according to Highgate Hotel standards, including compliance in all departments.
• Motivate, coach, counsel and discipline all personnel according to Highgate Hotel SOPs and ensure that managers are in compliance with the standards in their administration of counseling and disciplinary steps.
• Ensure that employees are at all times attentive, friendly, courteous and efficient in their interactions with guests, managers and all other employees.
• Ensure staff greets and welcome all guests in accordance with Highgate Hotel SOPs.
• Ensure implementation of all Highgate Hotel policies and house rules. Understand hospitality terms.
• Maintain direct contact with and monitor the development of new hires.
• Adhere to all Highgate Hotel policies and procedures and train new hires to ensure compliance.
• Conduct weekly staff meetings, including weekly training sessions presented by managers and self-using the steps to effective training according to Highgate Hotel standards, and the review of previous and future sales and operations efforts.
• Train individual departments and job classifications on their roles in contributing to the Guest Service and audit scores.
• Be involved in and/or conduct departmental and hotel training (One-to-One Training, etc.)
• Perform manager performance appraisals according to Highgate Hotel SOPs and ensure that managers are in compliance to the standards in their administration of performance appraisals to their staff.
• Use feedback from Meeting Planner evaluations to improve service and quality.
• Ensure that all employees receive fair and equitable treatment according to Highgate Hotel SOPs. Maintain pricing integrity and propose upscale menus for clients.

• Be in public areas during peak times, greeting guests and offering assistance as needed.
• Lead Manager on Duty Program to ensure leadership presence in the evenings and on weekends.
• Tour the operating departments daily, making adjustments as needed via department heads.
• Ensure the cleanliness and maintenance of the physical property through inspections and preventive maintenance programs with department managers.
• Interview all prospective final candidates for any vacant management position within the hotel prior to any offer being extended.
• Have comprehensive knowledge of all operational departments within the hotel; guest services, reservations, housekeeping, audio visual, switchboard, accounting, restaurants, bars, and engineering.
• Attend all hotel required meetings and trainings.

• Monitor industry trends, take appropriate action to maintain competitive and profitable operations.
• Work with department heads and keep them informed of F&B issues as they arise.
• Monitor quality of service and product.
• Participate in menu planning and preparation.
• Manage all purchasing and receiving operations to ensure best pricing and quality control.
• Oversee operations of the employee breakrooms and employee appreciation events.
• Ensure compliance with all local liquor laws, and health and sanitation regulations.
• Ensure compliance with brand standards to QA standards and to increase guest satisfaction.

• Support F&B budget process and monitor department performance with respect to the same. Perform any necessary follow-up, including forecasting.
• Maximize efforts towards productivity, identify problem areas and assist in implementing solutions.
• Analyze previous and projected data to generate an accurate reforecast.
• Prepare employee Schedule according to business forecast, payroll budget guidelines and productivity requirements.
• Assist with ensuring all invoices are paid in a timely manner; document all payments.
• On a monthly basis, forecast the hotel's financial position by estimating revenues and line-by-line expenses. Analyze previous and projected data to generate an accurate Reforecast.
• Review sales and labor costs for previous day; resolve discrepancies with finance and track actuals against budget.

• Ensure the cleanliness and maintenance of the physical property through inspections and preventive maintenance programs with third party vendors.
• Maintain a professional working relationship and promote open lines of communication with managers and employees of vendors.
• Interact with outside planners and vendors for event setups.
• Develop service standards for vendors to ensure all policies align with Highgate SOPs.
• Create a positive team-oriented environment which focuses on the guest, through employee development and motivation.
• Ensure implementation of all Highgate Hotel policies and house rules. Understand hospitality terms.
• Conduct weekly staff meetings, including weekly training sessions presented by managers and self-using the steps to effective training according to Highgate Hotel standards, and the review of previous and future sales and operations efforts.
• Develop selling guidelines to ensure market alignment on pricing and guest expectations.

• At least 6 years of progressive experience in a hotel or a related field; or a 4-year college degree and at least 3 years of related experience; or a 2-year college degree and 4 or more years of related experience.
• Must be proficient in Windows, Company approved spreadsheets and word processing.
• Must have knowledge of F&B preparation techniques, health department rules and regulations, liquor laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of overall entertainment operations.
• Flexible Long hours sometimes required.
• Must be available on nights, weekends and holidays
• Medium work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 20 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all level of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service oriented manner.
• Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.
• Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
• Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service-oriented manner.
• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotel Standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.
• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, including wearing nametags.
• Comply with Highgate Hotel Standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.
• Maximize efforts towards productivity, identify problem areas and assist in implementing solutions.
• Must be effective in handling problems, including anticipating, preventing, identifying and solving problems as necessary.
• Must be able to understand and evaluate complex information, data, etc. from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.
• Perform other duties as requested by management.
• Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor at all times.
• Must have valid driver's license for the applicable state.
• Experience with managing vendors and building relationships and partnerships.
• Local candidate with community connections; strongly preferred.