Meetings & Events Operations Manager – Crowne Plaza Geelong
At Crowne Plaza, we believe memorable stays start with exceptional experiences. Located on Geelong's vibrant waterfront, Crowne Plaza Geelong offers contemporary accommodation, premium dining, and versatile event spaces for meetings, conferences, weddings, and social celebrations.
As we continue to grow our Meetings & Events business and prepare for the exciting opportunities created by the opening of the Nyaal Banyul Convention Centre, we are looking for an experienced and driven Meetings & Events Operations Manager to take ownership of the delivery of our Meetings & Events offering across all spaces.
This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping and leading event operations during an exciting period of growth. You will be responsible for ensuring every conference, meeting, wedding and special event is delivered flawlessly while creating exceptional experiences for our guests and clients.
Reporting to the Director of Food & Beverage, you will oversee the day-to-day operation of our Meetings & Events team, ensuring every event is delivered to the highest standard while maximising guest satisfaction, operational efficiency, and departmental profitability. You will be hands on and available across 7 days per week; it could be early or it could be late or it could be both! We are looking for someone who will own this vital area of our business.
Lead the operational delivery of all meetings, conferences, weddings, gala dinners and special events.
Own the end-to-end execution of Crowne Plaza Geelong's Meetings & Events offering, ensuring exceptional delivery and client satisfaction.
Manage, coach and develop the Meetings & Events Operations team.
Review and execute Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) and event requirements to ensure flawless event delivery.
Conduct daily briefings, pre-event meetings and post-event reviews with operational teams.
Work closely with the Culinary, Food & Beverage, Commercial and Hotel Operations teams to ensure seamless coordination.
Oversee event setup, room configurations, audiovisual requirements, food and beverage service, and event breakdown.
Ensure all event spaces are presented to brand standards and guest expectations.
Act as the senior operational contact during events, proactively resolving issues and ensuring exceptional guest experiences.
Maintain strong relationships with clients, suppliers and internal stakeholders during event execution.
Monitor labour costs, productivity, roster management and departmental expenses.
Ensure food and beverage service standards are consistently maintained across all events.
Drive operational efficiencies and identify opportunities to improve service delivery and profitability.
Conduct post-event reviews and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
Ensure compliance with food safety, workplace health and safety, liquor licensing and hotel policies.
Deliver exceptional guest experiences that reflect Crowne Plaza and IHG brand standards.
Minimum one year of leadership experience as a Banquet Manager, Conference & Events Manager, Events Operations Manager, or similar leadership role within a hotel environment.
Hospitality or Hotel Management qualifications are highly regarded.
Strong Food & Beverage operational knowledge with experience managing conferences, banquets, weddings and large-scale events.
Demonstrated ability to lead, train and motivate operational teams.
Sound understanding of event logistics, banquet service styles, beverage operations and service standards.
Strong financial acumen with experience managing labour costs, productivity and departmental budgets.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to perform in a fast-paced environment while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
Experience using hotel systems such as Opera, Delphi and Microsoft Office is advantageous.
At IHG, we give our people everything they need to succeed - from competitive pay and global hotel discounts to world - class training and career growth opportunities.
We're committed to creating a culture where everyone feels welcome, valued and respected. IHG Hotels & Resorts is an equal opportunity employer that celebrates diversity and encourages you to bring your whole self to work.
As one of the world's leading hotel groups, we're here to deliver True Hospitality for Good - making every guest and colleague feel cared for, recognised and respected wherever they are.
Don't meet every single requirement? We still encourage you to apply - we'd love to get to know you.
Start your journey with us today.
Don't quite meet every single requirement, but still believe you'd be a great fit for the job? We'll never know unless you hit the 'Apply' button. Start your journey with us today.