Senior Event Planning Manager

Summary:
Alila Marea Beach Resort is seeking an experienced and organized Senior Event Planning Manager to join our events team. This is an on-site position based at Alila Marea Beach Resort in Encinitas, California.

This role will serve as the lead planning contact for corporate groups, meetings, retreats, incentive programs, and other group programs contracted by the Group Sales team. As needed, may assist with social events and weddings to support colleagues during PTO or leave; this support is occasional and not part of a directly assigned event portfolio.

The Senior Event Planning Manager will be responsible for all planning and detailing required once group business has been turned over from Sales. This includes managing client communication, program logistics, banquet event orders, resumes, timelines, internal coordination, billing details, and operational execution.

This position is ideal for a motivated events professional who is looking to grow into an Associate Director of Events role. The Senior Event Planning Manager will work closely with the Director of Sales & Marketing to gain experience in event forecasting, revenue strategy, labor planning, and department leadership. Over time, this role is expected to take ownership of forecasting for the Events team and play a key role in the department's continued growth and performance.

While this role will not directly manage a team, the Senior Event Planning Manager will be responsible for helping support the growth and development of the Event Planning Manager and Event Coordinator. This includes providing guidance, sharing best practices, supporting training opportunities, and helping prepare each team member for their next stage in event planning, event sales, and overall hospitality leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead planning contact for corporate groups, meetings, retreats, incentive programs, and group programs contracted by the Group Sales team.
• Manage all planning and detailing responsibilities after contract turnover, ensuring a seamless transition from Sales to Event Planning and Operations.
• Lead client planning communication, including planning calls, site visits, pre-conference meetings, timelines, agendas, and final program reviews.
• Prepare, review, and distribute accurate banquet event orders, group resumes, diagrams, timelines, and internal planning documents.
• Coordinate all program logistics, including meeting room sets, food and beverage, audio visual needs, transportation timing, VIP arrangements, billing instructions, amenities, special requests, and operational requirements.
• Partner closely with Group Sales, Banquets, Culinary, Audio Visual, Front Office, Housekeeping, Engineering, Spa, Valet, Finance, and other operating departments to ensure successful group execution.
• Review contract terms, food and beverage minimums, room block details, deposits, cancellation terms, attrition, billing instructions, and program requirements.
• Identify opportunities to upsell food and beverage, meeting enhancements, wellness experiences, spa services, resort activities, and other ancillary revenue.
• Ensure all client expectations and program details are clearly documented and communicated to internal teams.
• Monitor planning deadlines, deposits, guarantees, menu selections, program changes, and final details.
• Attend and support assigned programs as needed, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on group activity.
• Resolve client questions or concerns promptly and professionally throughout the planning process and on-site execution.
• Maintain accurate event documentation in Hyatt systems and property files.
• Support post-event communication, final billing review, client feedback, and program recaps.
• Work closely with the Director of Sales & Marketing to learn forecasting, event revenue strategy, pacing, and department reporting.
• Eventually take ownership of forecasting for the Events team, including tracking definite business, tentative business, event revenue, food and beverage contribution, and other key performance indicators.
• Support the growth and development of the Event Planning Manager and Event Coordinator by providing guidance, sharing best practices, and helping strengthen their skills in planning, client communication, operations, and event sales.
• Assist in preparing the Event Planning Manager and Event Coordinator for their next stage of career growth within event planning, event sales, and hospitality leadership.
• Support department leadership initiatives and help foster a collaborative, high-performing Events team culture.
• As needed, may assist with social events and weddings to support colleagues during PTO or leave; this support is occasional and not part of a directly assigned event portfolio.
• Uphold the service standards and luxury positioning of Alila Marea Beach Resort.

The salary range for this position is $70,400 to $88,600. Decisions regarding individual salaries will be based on a number of factors, including experience, qualifications and education.

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status


Qualifications:

• Minimum of 3-5 years of event planning, conference services, group services, or luxury hospitality experience preferred.
• Experience in a luxury resort, lifestyle hotel, or full-service hotel environment strongly preferred.
• Strong background in planning corporate meetings, executive retreats, incentive programs, group programs, and multi-day events.
• Strong knowledge of event operations, banquet service, food and beverage, room blocks, group resumes, banquet event orders, diagrams, and billing procedures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple complex group programs and deadlines simultaneously.
• Professional presence and ability to work directly with corporate clients, executives, third-party planners, destination management companies, and VIP guests.
• Ability to remain calm, organized, and solutions-oriented in a fast-paced, high-touch environment.
• Proficiency with hotel event systems, CRM platforms, Microsoft Office, diagramming tools, and related business applications.
• Interest in growing into a department leadership role, including future advancement toward Associate Director of Events.
• Interest in mentoring and supporting the growth of other event professionals, even without direct management responsibility.
• Ability to work fully on-site at Alila Marea Beach Resort in Encinitas, California.
• Flexible schedule with the ability to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays as business needs require.