Director of Banquets and Events

The Director of Banquets & Events provides strategic leadership for banquet, catering, conference, and special event operations across the Auburn Hospitality Complex, including The Hotel at Auburn University, The Rane Culinary Science Center, The Laurel Hotel & Spa, Hey Day Market, the Jay & Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center, and other Auburn University venues.

This position is responsible for departmental financial performance, operational excellence, leadership development, and the successful execution of luxury hospitality experiences across multiple venues. Working collaboratively with Sales, Conference Services, Culinary, Marketing, and University partners, the Director advances the strategic goals of Ithaka Hospitality Partners while ensuring exceptional guest experiences consistent with AAA Four Diamond standards.

• Recruit, interview, select, onboard, coach, mentor, and develop banquet leadership and hourly team members.
• Foster a culture centered on servant leadership, accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct performance evaluations, succession planning, and career development discussions.
• Develop annual training plans and ensure completion of onboarding, certifications, and leadership development.
• Promote employee engagement through recognition, coaching, cross-training, and monthly departmental meetings.

• Provide operational leadership for all banquet and catered events throughout The Hotel at Auburn University, The Jay & Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center, The Rane Culinary Science Center, The Laurel Hotel & Spa, The Green space at Hey Day Market, Auburn University venues, and approved off-site locations.
• Develop annual departmental goals aligned with Ithaka Hospitality Partners' strategic objectives.
• Continuously evaluate banquet operations and implement initiatives that improve service, efficiency, profitability, and guest satisfaction.
• Lead innovation in banquet service styles, event execution, technology, and operational systems.
• Establish and maintain luxury service standards consistent with a AAA Four Diamond operation.

• Partner with Auburn University leadership, Ithaka Hospitality Partners, campus departments, community organizations, and event stakeholders to successfully execute university functions, donor events, athletic hospitality, alumni programming, commencement activities, conferences, festivals, and signature campus celebrations.
• Collaborate with Food & Beverage, Marketing, Sales, Conference Services, Culinary, and Hotel Operations to develop and execute annual activations that enhance guest engagement and position the Auburn Hospitality Complex as the premier hospitality destination in the region.
• Lead operational planning for large-scale campus activations by coordinating staffing, logistics, equipment, transportation, and service standards across multiple venues and operating teams.
• Identify opportunities to expand banquet and catering business throughout the Auburn Complex by supporting new programming, partnerships, and community events that drive revenue and increase utilization of event spaces.
• Champion collaboration across all Ithaka Hospitality Partners venues to maximize operational efficiency, share resources, and deliver a seamless guest experience regardless of venue.
• Support experiential learning opportunities for students within the Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management through mentoring, classroom participation, internships, event shadowing, and operational education as requested.

• Own the financial performance of the banquet department.
• Develop and manage annual operating budgets.
• Prepare monthly forecasts and…