Special Events Sales Manager

Job Description

Job Description

About Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group

Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group is built on a legacy of culinary excellence, innovation, and exceptional hospitality. With award-winning restaurants across premier destinations including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, Maui, and Orlando, Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group continues to set the standard for elevated dining experiences around the world.

Our restaurants are recognized for delivering unforgettable moments through extraordinary cuisine, genuine hospitality, and a commitment to excellence. Every member of our team plays an important role in creating experiences that reflect the Wolfgang Puck legacy.

About the Role

The Special Events Sales Manager owns the full sales cycle for private dining and group events—prospecting, qualifying, closing, and executing business. This role is equal parts strategic sales driver and client experience leader, responsible for generating new revenue, maximizing existing opportunities, and ensuring seamless execution from initial inquiry through event completion.

You will serve as the primary client contact while partnering cross-functionally with culinary, beverage, and operations teams to bring each event to life at the highest level.

*This role offers a clear and exciting growth trajectory, with the opportunity to evolve into senior leadership positions within the organization for high performers who consistently drive results and build strong client relationships.

Essential Responsibilities Sales & Business Development

• Generate, qualify, and convert leads for private dining, group events, off-site events, and full restaurant buyouts.
• Achieve and exceed annual revenue goals for special events and private dining.
• Develop and execute strategic sales plans, including quarterly outreach and market development initiatives.
• Respond to all event inquiries within 24 hours with menus, availability, and pricing.
• Build and maintain relationships with corporate clients, hotel concierges, DMCs, wedding planners, studios, and local partners.
• Proactively prospect within the local market through networking events, client meetings, and industry engagements.
• Maintain and grow client databases to support repeat business and ongoing outreach.
• Identify upsell opportunities and cultivate long-term client partnerships.

Event Planning & Coordination

• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients from inquiry through planning and pre-event coordination.
• Prepare proposals, estimates, contracts, and Banquet Event Orders (BEOs).
• Manage all event details including menus, pricing, minimums, timelines, and logistics based on client needs.
• Coordinate closely with culinary, beverage, and operations teams to align on menus, availability, and event requirements.
• Guide clients through the planning process, including menu selection, floorplans, vendor coordination (AV, rentals, florals), and scheduling.
• Confirm final guest counts, menus, floorplans, and event specifications prior to execution, ensuring all updates are accurately communicated internally.
• Maintain accuracy of all event documentation and updates within CRM/event management systems.
• Conduct thorough pre-event communication and post-event follow-up, including thank-you outreach and relationship management.

Event Execution & Operations Support (As Needed)

• Support onsite execution for full restaurant buyouts and larger-scale events as needed.
• Collaborate with Banquet Captains and service teams to ensure smooth service flow and adherence to planned event details.
• Address client needs onsite with professionalism, discretion, and urgency when present.
• Ensure alignment between planned event details and execution standards.

Cross-Departmental Collaboration

• Partner with culinary teams on seasonal menu development and event-specific offerings.
• Coordinate with beverage teams on wine selections and banquet beverage programs.
• Work with operations and scheduling teams to communicate staffing needs for events.
• Participate in BEO meetings and maintain alignment across departments on upcoming events.
• Ensure all internal teams are fully briefed and prepared for event execution.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate records of all client communications, contracts, and event details in CRM/event systems.
• Coordinate with accounting on invoicing, deposits, and accounts receivable (A/R).
• Send post-event invoices and assist with payment tracking.
• Support financial reporting and ensure accuracy across systems.
• Assist with maintaining documentation and updates related to event sales performance.

Brand Representation

• Represent Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group at industry events, networking functions, and community activations.
• Partner with marketing on outreach initiatives, promotions, and database growth.
• Contribute to brand visibility through consistent client engagement and relationship-building efforts.

Hospitality Standards & Culture

• Consistently uphold Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group service standards and brand values.
• Act as a brand ambassador in all internal and external interactions.
• Maintain professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality at all times.
• Foster a collaborative, service-oriented culture across departments.

Qualifications Education

• High School Diploma required.
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management or related field preferred.

Experience

• 3–5+ years of experience in event sales, catering sales, private dining sales, or luxury hospitality.
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets.
• Experience managing full-cycle event planning and client relationships.
• Background in hospitality, sales, account management, or luxury service preferred.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong sales, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple clients, events, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and CRM/event management platforms.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Comfortable collaborating across culinary, operations, marketing, and accounting teams.
• Ability to remain composed and professional in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

Schedule & Work Environment

• This is an onsite, Monday–Friday position.
• Flexibility is required to adjust schedule as needed for client meetings, business development activities, occasional evening or weekend commitments, and some holidays which may include corporate holidays.
• Onsite support for events may be required periodically, particularly for larger events and full restaurant buyouts.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand for extended periods of time, twist at the neck and trunk, bend at the waist and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, reach overhead, above shoulders, and horizontally.

Employees will use hands to handle objects and tools and operate service equipment. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40-pound objects.

Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Employees may use vision to monitor food quality and quantity and may also order supplies, etc.

Work Conditions

May require evening and weekend hours and occasional travel. While performing the duties of this job, the employee generally works in an indoor front-of-house and kitchen environment with exposure to heat from ovens, hot foods, steamers, cleaning chemicals, fumes, equipment, and metal objects.

The employee will typically split time between restaurant dining spaces, event spaces, and kitchen environments. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may be loud depending on the specific work site and equipment operation.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive; it is intended to identify major responsibilities and requirements of the job. The employee in this position may be requested to perform other job-related tasks and responsibilities than those stated above.

Wolfgang Puck Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants due to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, or on the basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.