Director of Social Catering

The Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel, a member of the Marriott Autograph Collection, is seeking a Director of Social Catering to join our executive leadership team. Located in Columbia, MD, overlooking Lake Kittamaqundi, our luxury hotel offers upscale comfort and natural beauty. We aim to elevate guest experiences and are looking for a dynamic leader to shape our future.

The Director of Social Catering leads the Catering Sales Department, managing reactive and proactive catering sales efforts. This role is responsible for achieving revenue goals, ensuring guest and staff satisfaction, and overseeing departmental financial performance. The director ensures seamless coordination between sales and operations, maximizes revenue through up-selling, and accurately forecasts catering and group room revenues.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all social banquet catering events, conferences, and meetings booked through sales
• Negotiate food, beverage, function space, and hotel services within departmental guidelines
• Confirm group requirements via contracts, addendums, and banquet event orders
• Assist clients with menu planning, decor, room arrangements, and VIP services
• Conduct pre-convention meetings with clients and staff for larger events
• Verify head counts and manage deposits and payments
• Collaborate with sales staff to solicit new business and upsell events
• Coordinate with hotel departments to deliver services as promised
• Communicate event needs and prepare amenity requests
• Ensure proper setup of function rooms and guest satisfaction upon arrival
• Distribute and execute Banquet Event Orders and contracts
• Conduct tours and entertain clients to promote the hotel
• Follow up post-event to ensure satisfaction and secure future bookings
• Perform other duties as assigned

Education and Experience

• High school diploma required; a 2- or 4-year degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or related field preferred
• Minimum of 4 years in sales and marketing or related fields; a combination of education and experience may be considered