Banquet Manager - Westin

Description

Job Title: Banquet Manager Department: Banquet Reports to: Director of Outlets/ General Manager Status: Exempt / Salary

Job Summary

The Westin Chattanooga is seeking a hands-on Banquet Manager who leads from the front. You'll run a department of 20-50 team members—captains, servers, bartenders, and setup crew—but this isn't a role you'll do from behind a desk.

When the schedule is light, you're working as a captain or server. When business is busy, you're the face of high-profile events, making sure clients feel taken care of and your team has what they need to execute flawlessly. You'll fine-tune existing systems to work their best, maintain what's working well, create new processes where gaps exist, and know when to strip things back to basics and rebuild.

This role is about execution. You're polishing silverware when it needs doing, coaching someone through proper setup standards, and catching the details others miss—the fork facing the wrong way, chairs spaced incorrectly, a wrinkle in the tablecloth. You'll handle client escalations with ease, manage budgets and labor costs, ensure all event revenues are posted accurately each day, and make sure every event meets our standards for service, billing, and guest satisfaction.

You'll work closely with the culinary team, event managers, and sales team to create events that guests remember. Your job is to take what's been sold and make it exceptional. We need someone with deep banquet knowledge who can keep the team on track and raise the bar on what we're capable of.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Lead execution of banquets from setup through breakdown—you're the point person clients see and trust during events
• Fine-tune operational systems and processes—some exist and work well, some need improvement, some need to be built from scratch
• Use your banquet expertise to identify what's working, what needs fixing, and when to go back to basics
• Train and develop captains and banquet staff so they can execute events with confidence
• Handle client escalations on the spot with professionalism and care
• Maintain high standards: proper billing, accurate guest counts, flawless service, clean spaces, proper presentation
• Ensure ABC compliance with zero violations—maintain certification records and enforce all alcohol service laws and regulations
• Manage labor costs and scheduling to hit budget targets while keeping your team strong
• Reduce department turnover and build an on-call staff of up to 50 associates
• Conduct pre-shift briefings for all events, reviewing event orders and ensuring team readiness
• Problem-solve creatively when challenges arise
• Serve as the front-of-house presence for every contracted event—be visible, take ownership
• Push for creative, memorable events that go beyond what was sold
• Ensure all staff maintain proper uniforms and grooming standards at all times, including during setup
• Generate guest checks and captain reports for each event
• Assign side work duties to staff and follow up to confirm completion
• Maintain clean, organized back-of-house work spaces
• Know fire alarm system and evacuation procedures
• Ensure compliance with health laws and inventory controls
• Complete daily wage tracking and submit required reports
• Achieve budgeted revenue and profit goals for the banquet department
• Drive Event Satisfaction Scores to the top 5% of the brand
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure smooth operations
• Keep all business functions confidential including financial information, guest details, and employee matters
• Act as Manager on Duty when needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Responsible for managing all banquet staff
• Ability to lead, direct and work with people.
• Must manage all associates in a firm and fair manner

Requirements

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Deep knowledge of banquet operations and best practices—you know what good looks like and how to get there
• Self-starter who sees problems and fixes them without being told
• Obsessed with execution and details—the kind that notices when something's not right
• Ability to stay calm and lead effectively during high-pressure moments with clients and staff
• Strong communication skills in person, on the…