Crowne Plaza - Conference and Banqueting Manager

Main Duties and Responsibilities

People

• Lead, manage, and develop the conference and banqueting management team and operational colleagues across meetings, events, and banqueting delivery.

• Recruit, train, and retain a high-performing team capable of delivering large-scale, complex events to consistently high standards.

• Set clear expectations, performance standards, and accountability across all levels of the department.

• Foster a positive, professional, and service-focused culture aligned with Crowne Plaza and Andras Hotels values.

• Manage employee relations issues effectively and in line with company policies and employment legislation

Guest Experience

• Deliver exceptional conference and banqueting experiences for corporate, association, social, and wedding clients.

• Ensure seamless planning, communication, and execution of events from enquiry through to delivery and post-event follow-up.

• Maintain full compliance with Crowne Plaza and IHG brand standards for meetings and events.

• Proactively manage client feedback, addressing issues promptly and using insights to drive continuous improvement.

• Work closely with Sales, Food & Beverage, Kitchen, Front Office, and AV partners to ensure flawless event execution.

Responsible Business

• Ensure full compliance with health and safety, fire safety, food safety, and licensing legislation across all meetings and events.

• Lead risk assessments and operational planning for large-scale events, ensuring guest and colleague safety at all times.

• Support sustainability initiatives, including waste reduction, energy efficiency, and responsible event practices.

• Ensure all third-party suppliers and contractors operate in compliance with hotel and legal standards.

• Promote a safe, inclusive, and compliant working environment.

 Financial

•  Take full ownership of the conference and banqueting budget, ensuring revenue, cost control, and profitability targets are achieved.

• Manage payroll, labour deployment, and resource planning to align with business levels and event complexity.

• Monitor and analyse financial performance, forecasts, and KPIs to identify opportunities for growth and efficiency.

• Maximise revenue through effective upselling, space utilisation, yield management, and collaboration with the sales team.

  Support the hotel’s overall commercial strategy, particularly in relation to large-scale conferences and events.

Accountabilities

• Be fully accountable for the performance of the conference and banqueting operation against agreed KPIs, budgets, and IHG brand standards.

• Lead preparation for and delivery of IHG quality audits, health and safety inspections, and internal compliance reviews.

• Provide accurate and timely reporting on departmental performance, challenges, and action plans.

• Take ownership of operational decision-making within conference and banqueting, escalating issues appropriately and delivering solutions.

• Act as a senior leader within Crowne Plaza Belfast, contributing to cross-departmental initiatives and wider hotel objectives.

How do I deliver this?

We genuinely care about people, and we show this through living out our promise of True Hospitality each and every day. It’s what connects every colleague in all Crowne Plaza hotels.

Crowne Plaza hotel brand delivers True Hospitality in their own way, and at the heart of it all are specific, core service skills.

• True Attitude: being caring, wanting to make a positive difference, and building genuine connections with guests

• True Confidence: having the knowledge and skills to perform your role, and giving guests the confidence that they can trust you, to help and support them during their stay

• True Listening: focusing on what your guest is saying, picking up on body language that is often overlooked, and understanding what the guest wants and needs

• True Responsiveness: is about providing guests with what they need, and doing so in a timely and caring manner

There’s so much more to the job than we can capture here. It’s simply about creating great experiences, doing the right thing and understanding people.

The statements in this job description are intended to represent the key duties and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be ALL responsibilities or qualifications of the job.

We are an Equal Opportunities employer and welcome applications from everyone. We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process.