Director, Special Events at Tao Group

Tao Group Hospitality offers competitive benefits for all full-time team members such as:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

• 401(k) Retirement Program with Employer Match

• Life and Disability Insurance Plans

• Ancillary Insurance Plans

• Employee Assistance Program

• Fertility & Family Forming Support and Resources

• Pet Insurance

• Employee Discounts

• TAO Savings Marketplace

• Time off and much more!

The Director, Special Events is responsible for maximizing the event spaces for new Tao Group Hospitality concepts coming to a five-star hotel on Park Avenue in Manhattan’s NoMad district, with a focus on achieving and exceeding sales goals. This role will lead the solicitation, negotiation, and booking of new and repeat business through strategic outside sales, networking, relationship building, and other business development initiatives.

The Director, Special Events brings strong knowledge of food and beverage, hospitality, and catering practices and is responsible for ensuring the successful execution of booked business while delivering an exceptional guest experience. This role will lead and manage the catering and events team and drive the continued growth and success of the Sales & Catering department.

The Director, Special Events will develop and maintain comprehensive venue-specific expertise, including event capabilities, capacities, menus, and offerings, and will establish and maintain the company’s CRM system to efficiently develop proposals, contracts, and BEOs specific to the new Tao Group Hospitality concepts. This role works in close partnership with FOH and HOH operations and Tao Group Hospitality leadership to ensure strong communication, operational alignment, and consistent execution from initial booking through event completion.

• Builds awareness and knowledge of existing accounts through analysis and interpretation of ordering patterns and ordering trends to identify areas of growth potential within existing client base
• Helps to execute a strategic plan to acquire and develop new accounts 
• Develop new expanded clients 
• Proactively identifies, qualifies and solicits new business to achieve personal and company goals
• Responds to incoming social, private or corporate group sales leads in a timely and professional manner with  heavy emphasis on proactive solicitations and account saturation
• Prepares and sends out formal written proposals based on the client’s specifications
• Develop ongoing account sales analysis, market trends, and national benchmarking
• Assigns group function space effectively to maximize revenue opportunities
• Develops and maintains depth of knowledge regarding targeted market segments, their use of catering and  trends in most important industries and bases direction on identified and specific opportunities within those segments and industries
• Organize and prepare reporting on weekly, monthly, and quarterly sales and other areas as determined by 
• the Vice President of Sale
• Develops and implements ideas to capture more in-house guests and larger share of local market
• Meets financial objectives by forecasting requirements; preparing an annual budget; scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions
• Assists and/ or complete additional tasks as assigned

EDUCATION/WORKING KNOWLEDGE:

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive experience in special events, catering sales, hospitality sales, or a related field, preferably within a high-volume restaurant, hotel, nightlife, or luxury hospitality environment.
• Proven track record of achieving and exceeding sales goals through new business development, account growth, and proactive sales initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of food and beverage, hospitality, catering, and special events, including market trends and key client segments.
• Demonstrated experience managing the full sales cycle, including prospecting, lead generation, proposals, negotiations, contracting, and event execution.
• Proven ability to maximize event space, identify revenue opportunities, and develop strategies to grow the local and targeted market.
• Experience with sales forecasting, budgeting, financial reporting, and analyzing sales performance.
• Previous experience leading, mentoring, and developing a sales or catering team, with strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience launching or growing a new sales, catering, or events business is highly preferred, with strong organizational skills and the ability to collaborate closely with FOH, HOH, and Tao Group Hospitality leadership.

• Proficient in Windows Microsoft Office, POS systems, Oracle knowledge preferred

The work environment characteristics and/or physical demands described here are representative of those a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions

• Ability to write, read, and verbally communicate
• Must have strong problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Must have good positive energy throughout the day
• Must be able to read the computer monitors and print legibly
• Must be able to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time
• Must be able to move quickly through work and set the pace in the office
• Must be able to push and lift up to 25 lbs. with or without assistance 
• Small to Medium office environment
• Office, Casino, Nightclub, Bar, Lounge, and/or Restaurant working environment
• 5-25% Local Travel (United States) 
• Work in an environment that is subject to varying levels of noise, crowds, and smoke, the severity of which depends upon the guest volume
• May work extended hours irregular shifts, evening and/or weekend shifts, and holiday work may be required
• Maintain a professional, neat, and well-groomed appearance adhering to Company standards
• Must be effective as part of a team; ability to interact with internal and external customers, managers, and co-workers in a professional, courteous manner
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality

• Ability to handle a fast-paced, busy, and somewhat stressful environment