Director of Banquets

Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in major U.S. gateway cities including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a growing Caribbean and Latin America footprint. The hospitality forward company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate has a proven record of developing its diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts with contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in New York, Chicago, Dallas, London, Miami, and Seattle. www.highgate.com.

Park Lane New York, situated on Billionaires' Row - home to the world's most coveted addresses on
Central Park South - has been completely reimagined as a departure from its neighbors and serves as a
unique and inclusive retreat within walking distance of the city's cultural hubs including Lincoln Center,
Carnegie Hall, 5th Avenue shopping, and the Museum of Modern Art. The 47-story property features 610
rooms - nearly half of which provide sweeping park-facing views - and 11,000 square feet of reimagined
indoor and outdoor event space. A fitness center perched on the fifth floor offers state-of-the-art
equipment and its own separate outdoor terrace. The reimagined hotel features three new food & beverage venues throughout the hotel including an 80-seat lobby bar with an outdoor promenade, an intimate restaurant on the hotel's second floor, and CentralPark South's only rooftop lounge atop the hotel. Perched on the 47th floor, the cocktail bar will treat guests to a one-of-a-kind experience against the backdrop of Manhattan's sprawling skyline and park.

The Director of Banquets is responsible for coordinating, supervising and directing all aspects of the hotel's banquet operations, while maintaining a profitable operation and high quality products and service levels. He/she is expected to share ideas to promote business; reduce employee turnover; maintain revenue and payroll budgets; and meet budgeted productivity while keeping quality consistently high.

Employees must, at all times, be attentive, friendly, helpful, and courteous to all guests, managers, and fellow employees.
• Oversee all aspects of the daily operation of the hotel's banquet operation.
• Supervise all banquet personnel.
• Respond to guest complaints in a timely manner.
• Work with other F&B managers and keep them informed of F&B issues as they arise.
• Keep immediate supervisor fully informed of all problems or matters requiring his/her attention.
• Coordinate and monitor all phases of Loss Prevention in the banquet operation.
• Prepare and submit required reports in a timely manner.
• Ensure preparation of required reports, including (but not limited to) Wage Progress, payroll, revenue, employee Schedules, quarterly actions plans.
• Monitor quality of service in banquet operations.
• Ensure compliance with all local liquor laws, and health and sanitation regulations.
• Ensure compliance with SOP's in all outlets.
• Ensure compliance with requisition procedures.
• Conduct staff performance reviews in accordance with Highgate Hotel standards.
• Understand and be able to prepare payroll and tip distribution.
• Be involved in and/or conduct departmental and hotel training (CARE, One to One), etc.
• Coordinate all banquet related food and beverage requirements with the appropriate departments.
• Keep kitchen informed of accurate counts for plating.
• Review menu/service with catering managers and banquet chef.
• Maintain-up-to-date details on banquet functions and communicate to supervisors.
• Conduct ongoing training of captains/hourly employees to maintain standards of service.
• Make personal contact with guests and assist them with any requests.
• Supervise proper tabulation of all banquet checks and ensure that all checks are presented to guests for signature.
• Requisition liquor, etc. for banquet bars.
• Ensure safety, sanitation, and cleanliness of service areas.
• Oversee banquet set-up assignments.
• Ensure inspection of all banquet areas for cleanliness and maintenance on a regular basis.
• Conduct menu classes and line-ups for all functions.
• Supervise the work of banquet management and captains, and observe the performance of hourly service personnel.
• Control and maintain all service equipment. Write service requests as necessary.
• Ensure overall guest satisfaction.

• At least 4 years of progressive experience in a hotel or a related field; or a 4-year college degree and at least 1 years of related experience; or a 2-year college degree and 2 or more years of related experience.
• Must be proficient in Windows, Company approved spreadsheets and word processing.
• Strong knowledge of service standards, and different service types (French, Russian, etc.).
• Knowledge of food and beverage preparation techniques, health department rules and regulations, liquor laws and regulations.
• Long hours sometimes required.
• 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.
• Attend all hotel required meetings and trainings.
• Participate in M.O.D. coverage as required.
• 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.

Salary: $95K - $105K annually