Group Events Manager @ Sand Valley

Sand Valley is a golf resort and community settled gently upon 12,000 acres of rugged, pre-historic sand dunes in central Wisconsin. Here, residents and guests will find six world-class golf courses built in harmony with the land: Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes, Sandbox, The Lido, Sedge Valley, and Commons. Founded in 2016 by brothers Michael and Chris Keiser, the resort is known for its friendly hospitality and a community of golf and outdoor enthusiasts who have been drawn to the raw beauty and serenity of the vast Wisconsin Wilderness.

Beyond premier golf, Sand Valley is a year-round celebration of all the outdoors from fat-tire biking, hiking, and kayaking to ice hockey, skating, or a guided cold plunge. The resort now features a 13,000-square-foot Tennis Center with 16 grass tennis courts and the eleventh Court Tennis facility in the United States. Alongside soul-stirring golf and outdoor exploration, Sand Valley offers a variety of savory dining venues showcasing globally inspired and rustic Wisconsin cuisine.

The Sand Valley team works together to create experiences of a lifetime by asking questions and sharing ideas. With authenticity and a hard-working attitude, Sand Valley helps guide guests through an immersive experience in Wisconsin's natural beauty and away from the demands of daily life.

Position Summary

The Group Events Manager plays a pivotal role in organizing and executing special events for large groups, corporate outings, tournaments, and VIP experiences. This position ensures that guests receive exceptional customer service that meets or exceeds their expectations while also driving revenue growth through strategic sales initiatives.

Key responsibilities include managing group reservations, responding to leads, building event packages, producing month-end reports, and cultivating new business opportunities. The Group Events Manager also focuses on maintaining strong relationships with the resort's existing client base, ensuring repeat business and long-term partnerships.

Additionally, this role involves leading the Group Services team, collaborating with the Sales and Marketing department to develop business strategies, and promoting winter season amenities to maximize revenue through upselling of the resort's products and services. By combining operational excellence with sales and marketing expertise, the Group Events Manager enhances the overall guest experience while contributing to the resort's financial success.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform all functions of a Groups Event Coordinator while providing leadership and strategic oversight.
• Support large group reservations and events across all resort seasons, ensuring seamless execution.
• Document group requests and accurately organize all required booking documents.
• Maintain assigned leads, ensuring all steps of the booking and contract processes remain up to date.
• Compile reservation details into well-structured written proposals, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Secure signed contracts and deposits within established timeframes to finalize bookings.
• Establish and maintain an organized system for gathering and tracking all group reservation details, including room reservations, tee times, caddie requests, dining arrangements, and event logistics.
• Outline and communicate details of large group reservations, events, and tournaments to relevant departments to enhance collaboration and execution.
• Foster strong relationships with internal teams, particularly customer-facing staff, to ensure exceptional guest experiences.
• Conduct engaging and professional orientations and tours for guests, providing them with comprehensive information on resort facilities, amenities, services, and policies.
• Address customer inquiries and resolve complaints efficiently and professionally, following established policies.
• Develop a broad understanding of other key departments, including Golf Operations, Caddies, Retail, Food & Beverage, and Hotel Operations, to maximize upselling opportunities and fulfill special guest requests.
• Monitor guest activities, satisfaction, and event execution during their stay, proactively addressing any concerns.
• Audit folio statements throughout the event to ensure billing accuracy and oversee the timely collection of final payments for Master folio invoices.
• Oversee event logistics, ensuring all final arrangements are meticulously executed.
• Be present during key moments of group events, determining the most strategic times to interact with guests and optimize their experience.
• Assist in generating detailed month-end reports and other requested reports to support business analysis and forecasting.
• Assist in developing, pricing, and managing event packages to increase bookings and enhance the guest experience.
• Collaborate with the Revenue and Marketing teams to optimize sales funnels, promote winter season amenities, and cultivate relationships with new and returning clients.
• Stay informed of industry trends and competitor offerings to identify opportunities for growth and differentiation.
• Perform other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Hospitality Management, or a related field preferred.
• Proven experience in event management, group sales, or hospitality sales, preferably within the resort or luxury hospitality industry.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and motivate a team, ensuring the achievement of sales and event goals.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a strong customer service focus.
• Proactive, detail-oriented, and innovative in problem-solving and business development.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and CRM/event management software (such as Revinate, Delphi, Opera, or Salesforce preferred).
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and peak event periods.
• Highly organized, deadline-driven, and skilled in multitasking.
• Professional demeanor, high emotional intelligence, and a positive attitude.

Working Conditions

• Sand Valley team members work within a resort environment with both indoor and outdoor work settings. Work conditions may vary by role, season, and business needs.

Perks

• Golf Privileges
• Retail & Restaurant Discounts
• Employee Meal Program
• Uniform Benefit Provided
• Employee Assistance Program - Canopy

Sand Valley LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We participate in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility.

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We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.