Event Meeting Manager
Reports to: Director of Sales, position is exempt
WHO WE ARE
Hotels done differently. It's not just a slogan or catchphrase; it is who we are in everything we do. We believe in the power of People, Place and Character; ensuring our properties are a place where individuals are valued and celebrated as a tribute to the neighborhoods and the people of the communities in which we operate; elevating our associates' pride in who they are, where they live and who we serve.
The Detroit Foundation Hotel has transformed the historic Detroit Fire Department Headquarters into a 100 room independent hotel that adds another piece to the ongoing Detroit renaissance puzzle. The hotel draws on the Motor- City's unparalleled past while proactively moving the city to its next incarnation as a national cultural, business and artistic touch- point. Featuring an inviting ground- floor restaurant, The Apparatus Room, the hotel partners with local distillers, brewers, farmer s and other edible sundry purveyors to deliver and authentic Detroit experience.
The hotel is managed by Aparium, which was founded in 2011, driven by the belief that all hospitality experiences should be fueled by the poetics of their surroundings, Aparium was born with an intense focus on unearthing the amazing moments unique to every city. Since its founding, Aparium has grown into a new kind of hotel brand, one that ventures off the beaten path, both geographically and philosophically. It is a sophisticated hotel brand known for its singular ability to combine the business acumen of large hospitality companies with the charm of boutique hotels, bringing disparate forces together in bustling, smaller markets. Since its founding, Aparium has grown into a new kind of hotel brand, one that ventures off the beaten path, both geographically and philosophically. It is a sophisticated hotel brand known for its singular ability to combine the business acumen of large hospitality companies with the charm of boutique hotels, bringing the disparate forces together in bustling, smaller markets.
THE ROLE
The Event Meeting Manager reports to the Director of Sales. This role requires the tenacity to create memorable experiences and unique events within our event spaces. If you are known to have the grit that is associated with an entrepreneurial spirit, then we invite you to your next career opportunity. This position will oversee all aspects of the details surrounding any group and/or events taking place in the hotel. An organized, detailed, and structured approach is required as you work alongside our operations team to flawlessly set up an event to provide the best-in-class experience for our clients and planners.
The Event Meeting Manager will prepare and execute banquet event orders and resumes to always ensure quality product delivery and customer satisfaction. The Event Meeting Manager will serve and assist in coordinating all function details with clients and meeting planners to include but not limited to space requirements, meeting times, equipment, menus, billing, etc.
You will quickly develop trusting relationships with clients, vendors, planners, and employees of the hotel. As a team member within Aparium Hotel Group you will work with a phenomenal group of peers who insist that you are collaborative, humble, experienced, and open-minded - no egos are allowed.
WHO YOU ARE
Your experiences have led you to understand that there is an art + science to the how and what a sales team member is responsible for; the passion to understand and support the direction of the business and the importance of knowing how people and clients drive the success of the company. You are an energetic, motivated self-starter with strong communication skills. You love problem solving and partnering with team members on how to fix the root causes of issues. You continually find ways to partner with your peers to identify how to improve the Sales team you are in.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Uphold and role model the company's principles of People, Place and Character; and ensure direct reports are also modeling the way of our values that drive collaboration, intuition and translocal hospitality
- You are the key Liaison between the hotel and client / planner. You will review and detail all the client's needs to ensure the successful execution and flow of contracted programs including but not limited to banquet event orders, all food and beverage, and meeting needs, rooming lists, ground transportation, special room service needs, group resumes, master account billing, audio visual and box handling
- You will lead Resume & BEO meeting to effectively coordinate with various departments and make updates to resumes for internal teams
- Meet and greet client, oversee a formal pre-con or informal needs review with appropriate hotel stakeholders
- Communicate with team and inspect that all details are correct and represent clients' expectation to the hotel
- Close out file by checking billing vs. menus and contract terms. You will work with accounting on any adjustments post-meeting and ensuring the billing is correct and aligned in the Delphi system.
- Problem solves with other departments as needed to service the business at the hotel, e.g., groups that have outgrown confirmed space by identifying other options the hotel has to offer.
- Build and maintain a trusting and transparent relationship with your clients and planners to create memorable experiences that meet and exceed their stated or unstated needs, know any request is never too small or too big of a request.
- On an ongoing basis, review function space blocking to maximize client flow and revenue optimization
- Work to upsell events to achieve higher B & C revenues, AV, and additional needs for client
- Assist in annual competitive analysis of banquet costs, development of new menus, food and beverage minimums, and meeting rental costs
- Conduct client site inspections post-contract phase, coordinate tastings for events
- Be aware of the overall set up and implementation of events and meetings
- Proactively communicate with relevant departments to ensure proper servicing of accounts
- Empower employees to intuitively serve each guest, employee, visitor, or client
- Follow your instinct and use your best judgment to create experiences for guests that are thoughtful and genuine
- Provide undivided attention to each guest
- Demonstrate a high degree of drive and determination
- Work cooperatively with other people to achieve a common goal in the best interest of the hotel
- Curate and detail all on-property hotel events.
- Meet tight deadlines while working in a very fast-paced environment and under considerable stress.
- Perform other services and duties as requested by the Director of Sale and/or hotel General Manager in support of a successful operation
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum of two (2) years of hospitality in either Catering, Convention or event servicing experience within a boutique or luxury hotel
- Delphi FDC system knowledge, preferred but not required
- Flexible in being present during events that occur in the evening or during weekends
- Bachelor's degree in related field of Hospitality Management or equivalent work experience
- Adaptable interpersonal skills to communication and address all employee levels of the hotel
- Professional proficiency of the English language in reading, writing and verbal communication
- Demonstrated experience in forming local connections, developing business and achieving sales targets.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, etc.
HOW YOU LEAD
- Engage others in general conversation tactics to build rapport quickly; leading and adapting communication and presentation tactics to engage your audience; displaying adaptable interpersonal skills for a wide range of audiences and clients
- Demonstrates business acumen and practices sound financial decisions by ensuring the actions and plans put into place support the achievement of Sales goals and budgets
- Approach fact-finding and discovery missions in a collaborative effort; valuing input and experiences of others that creates additional insight to uncover deeper issues that may need to be addressed or removed as a barrier to implementation.
- Value the importance of making decisions with integrity, maintaining confidentiality across internal workgroups, and knowing how to use discretion when appropriate; knows how to keep a secret by understanding the difference between transparency and confidentiality
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Aparium Hospitality Services celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment, and a sense of belonging for all associates. We do not discriminate and believe every individual should be proud of who they are, and where they come from and take pride in who we serve. Aparium is an E-Verify employer.
Aparium Hotel Group
Jul 31, 2025 