Senior Meeting & Events Manager

The Role The Senior Meeting & Events Manager is responsible for proactively driving Meetings & Events business to the hotel through new business acquisition, development of existing accounts and conversion of MICE opportunities. The role has a strong focus on external sales activity, account development and lead generation, with the objective of maximizing Meetings & Events revenue, group room nights and Food & Beverage contribution. Key Deliverables and Responsibilities Planning & Organizing: Proactively identifies, targets and develops new Meetings & Events business opportunities for the hotel. Develops business from corporate accounts, government entities, DMCs, PCOs, event agencies, associations and other potential MICE partners. Conducts regular external sales calls, client appointments, sales blitzes, networking activities and client entertainment to generate new MICE opportunities. Develops and maintains a qualified pipeline of prospect, tentative and definite MICE business and ensures consistent follow-up to maximize conversion. Identifies new prospect accounts and prepares individual account action plans with clear revenue potential and conversion objectives. Proactively targets business for hotel need periods and low-demand dates in coordination with the Cluster Director of Sales & Marketing and Revenue team Assess group business to maximize contribution from available public space, generating room revenues whilst achieving Meetings and Events budgets Yields all leads prior to the offer letter being sent out, in terms of, venue assigned or rates offered especially in an area set up, and seeks the required approval to take the booking Ensures that Sales and Catering PMS is well managed, maintained and updated as per company policy & standards Supervision and communication with Meetings and Events Operations during events and assuring guest satisfaction throughout the event. Operations Maintains a sales call pattern averaging 25 calls a week. Minimum two accounts entertainment per week. Establishes and maintains histories on every account with his/her market segments. Seeks intelligence information from accounts and competition. Interacts and liaise closely with Front Office, Reservations, Food & Beverage, and Banquet & Conference Departments. Assist with Sales Blitz, coordinated by the Asst. Director of Sales. Solicits and service both Corporate and Groups business Arranges site inspections of hotel. Where applicable, closely coordinate and communicate with the international sales office with regards to RFP accounts/markets that are serviced by Outbound Sales Maximizes up selling opportunities whenever possible. Qualifications Education Bachelor's Degree or Diploma in Hospitality Management, Hotel Management, Business Administration, Event Management, Marketing, or a related field. Professional certifications in Event Management or Hospitality Management are an advantage. Experience Minimum 3-5 years of experience in Meetings & Events, Conference & Banqueting, Event Management, or Sales within the hospitality industry in Dubai, U.A.E. At least 1-2 years in a supervisory or management role preferred. Experience in a 4-star or 5-star hotel environment is highly desirable. Proven track record of successfully planning and executing corporate events, conferences, weddings, and social functions. Technical Skills Strong knowledge of banquet and event operations. Experience with hotel PMS, sales and catering systems (Opera Cloud, Anis, Cvent, Passk, or similar platforms). Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Ability to prepare event proposals, contracts, budgets, and forecasts. Key Competencies Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Strong organizational and project management abilities. Excellent negotiation and sales skills. Ability to manage multiple events simultaneously and work under pressure. Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills. Leadership and team management capabilities. Customer-focused mindset with a passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences. Financial awareness with the ability to manage budgets and maximize revenue.