Senior Event Manager

The Pearle Hotel & Spa – Burlington's premier luxury hotel and spa is located on the stunning shores of Lake Ontario. Founded by the Ciancone family in 1936, Pearle Hospitality prides itself on providing guests with genuine and thoughtful experiences.

Our vision is to create positive human connection and we do so by living our values; Collaboration, Kindness, Quality and Perseverance.

The Senior Event Manager curates unforgettable event experiences that exceed guest expectations through operational excellence and exceptional service. This role drives financial success, fosters a high performing, engaged team, and balances the demands of daily operations with strategic planning to achieve long-term business goals in an upscale hospitality setting.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Service & Operational Excellence

• Oversee and direct day-to-day events operations, ensuring exceptional guest service, efficient staffing, and operational follow-up.
• Ensure that all events adhere to the Pearle's brand standards and quality control guidelines.
• Organize and oversee wedding menu tastings to ensure an exceptional experience.
• Review and ensure execution of BEOs to ensure the correct flow of each event, ensures established timelines are adhered to and investigates any cause for deviance from set timelines.
• Serve as a visible and approachable presence on the floor, connecting with guests, providing hands-on leadership, and managing the guest service journey to reflect our core values of Quality, Kindness, Collaboration, and Perseverance.
• Facilitate weekly 10-day meetings and daily event briefings.
• Ensure steps of service are executed to standard, proactively observing team and guest interactions to identify and address potential issues.
• Oversees event alcohol inventory, assuring specialty drinks noted on BEOs are ordered.
• Liaises with Event Chef and oversees food service ensuring quality presentation, correct temperatures and guest satisfaction, paying special attention to any allergies and/or dietary restrictions.
• Take ownership of guest concerns related to guest satisfaction, ensuring necessary follow-up and action planning to prevent recurring issues.
• Review labor and staffing levels throughout the day to ensure all positions are effectively and efficiently covered.
• Collaborates with Special Events office to ensure alignment on client expectations, event details, scheduling, and customization, ensuring a seamless transition from sales to event execution.
• Provide feedback to the Sales Team post-event to enhance future planning and improve client satisfaction.
• Manage vendors and set up to Pearle and property standards.
• Ensures sound systems, microphones and music are set to proper levels and stays on top of adjusting levels to appropriate levels for events.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, maintain departmental cleanliness, and identify maintenance needs, promptly communicating them to the maintenance team for resolution.
• Ensure compliance with fire safety protocols and regulations by overseeing regular fire safety drills, training team members on emergency procedures, and ensuring all event equipment and materials adhere to safety standards.
• Oversee the Responsible Service Plan to ensure it meets and exceeds AGCO requirements, implementing policies and training to maintain the highest standards of service and legal adherence in all F&B operations.
• Fully understand and comply with all federal, provincial, and municipal regulations related to health, safety, and labor requirements, ensuring departmental cleanliness and meeting health department standards.
• Demonstrate a commitment to further developing skills and knowledge, initiating action to accomplish goals.

Team Leadership

• Oversee the recruitment and selection process to attract and hire top talent, partnering with the People & Culture team to ensure a smooth onboarding experience.
• Work with People & Culture team to create and implement training and onboarding plans, including 6–8-week check-ins for new hires to ensure they are set up for success.
• Foster a positive workplace culture that drives engagement and supports the development of team members, working closely with People & Culture to address performance and employee relations matters.
• Serve as a mentor to team members, embodying a strong service culture and setting high standards for performance.
• Identify and coordinate ongoing training and development to ensure team members have the necessary skills, knowledge, and leadership capabilities for operational excellence.
• Monitor and evaluate team member and event leadership performance, providing regular feedback and performance management conversations, documentation or terminations when needed.
• Create weekly schedules that balance labor budgets with team member requests, ensuring efficient staffing levels.
• Approve weekly labor and time-sheet approvals, including P&C forms, to ensure accurate records and compliance.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and one-on-one meetings with team members and culinary leaders to provide feedback, support their growth, and communicate key updates.
• Champion Pearle Hospitality's leadership qualities: Inspire Trust, Ownership, Authenticity, and Present, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Facilitate and lead productive team meetings and workshops to promote collaboration, share updates, and enhance team performance.
• Exhibit strong emotional intelligence and adaptability, responding effectively to both team and guest needs.

Financial Ownership

• Oversee forecasting, adhering to event budgets, to meet or exceed financial targets while maintaining alignment with the overall Events department goals.
• Review weekly labor and time-sheet approvals, ensuring staffing levels align with budgetary constraints while maintaining service quality.
• Monitor financial and service performance regularly, using data-driven decision-making to drive improvements and achieve budgeted goals.
• Implement control systems and SOPs to maintain financial acumen and ensure compliance.
• Maintain oversight of COGS and sales, driving revenue generation and ensuring alignment with budgeted targets.
• Submit monthly reports and weekly invoices in a timely manner, ensuring all financial documentation is accurate and up to date.
• Submit inventory audits, ensuring optimal stock levels and adherence to budget, and submit findings for review and action.
• Collaborate with Finance to manage budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting, ensuring effective cost control, profitability, and alignment with overall business objectives.

Additional Duties:

In addition to the accountabilities listed above, there may be other duties as assigned by your manager. These duties may vary slightly depending on the property.

This position is full time and would require working weekends.

Advantages of joining The Pearle Hotel & Spa Team:

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Discounts at all Pearle Hospitality properties (restaurants, hotels, and spas).
• World-wide Marriott Discounts
• Training and Development to support personal & professional growth.
• Career opportunities across all Pearle Hospitality properties.
• A fun place to work with an amazing team & company culture.
• Employee & Family Assistance Program
• Extended health & dental care benefits
• Life insurance

Pearle Hospitality and affiliated companies, including The Pearle Hotel & Spa, accommodate the needs of job applicants throughout its recruitment and selection processes in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Accommodation needs must be provided in advance. To discuss your needs, please contact the hiring manager.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $90,000.00 per hour

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Burlington, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Application question(s):

• Are you presently or have you ever been employed by any affiliated Pearle Hospitality properties? If YES, List location (ETT: Bread Bars, The Pearle Hotel & Spa, Cambridge Mill, Elora Mill Hotel & Spa, Ancaster Mill, Spencer's At The Waterfront, Whistle Bear Golf Club)

Experience:

• leading food and beverage for up to 350 guests: 5 years (preferred)

Work Location: In person