Reservations & Events Manager

Job Description

Job Title: Reservations & Events Manager

Location: Park Hotel Kenmare, Kenmare, Co. Kerry

Department: Reservations

Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday

Reports To: General Manager & Director of Sales

Job Summary:

Park Hotel Kenmare is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Reservations & Events Manager. This role is integral in managing reservations operations, optimising room revenue and ensuring a seamless booking experience in alignment with the hotel's luxury brand standards. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in high-end hospitality properties, exceptional organisational skills and a passion for delivering unparalleled customer service.

Key Responsibilities

Reservations Management

• Oversee and manage the reservations department to ensure efficient and seamless booking processes.
• Deliver exceptional guest service by handling all reservation enquiries (telephone, email and online) professionally and efficiently.
• Manage room inventory in collaboration with the Front Office and Sales teams to maximise occupancy, revenue and direct bookings.
• Perform daily arrival checks to ensure reservation accuracy, including guest profiles, payment details, company information and booking requirements.
• Act as the primary administrator for the Guestline Property Management System (PMS).
• Load and maintain contracted rates, FIT rates, group rates and promotional pricing.
• Create and maintain package rules, supplements and product configurations to support operational and revenue objectives.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of hotel facilities, services and promotions to maximise upselling and cross-selling opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with hotel policies, procedures and industry standards while maintaining accurate reservation records.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with VIP guests, travel advisors, corporate clients and booking partners.
• Resolve reservation-related guest queries and concerns promptly and professionally.
• Train, mentor and support the reservations and reception teams to optimise reservation processes, increase direct booking revenue and minimise revenue loss from cancellations and no-shows.

Events Management

• Plan, coordinate and deliver luxury events including weddings, private functions, corporate meetings and gala dinners.
• Act as the primary point of contact for clients throughout the event planning process.
• Liaise closely with the Food & Beverage, Operations and Front Office teams to ensure flawless event execution.
• Coordinate all event logistics including venue set-up, accommodation, catering, audio-visual requirements and guest experiences.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, vendors and external partners.
• Conduct property showarounds for luxury travel advisors, event organisers and prospective clients.
• Provide private art tours for guests and visitors when required.

Sales & Marketing Support

• Work closely with the Director of Sales to implement promotional strategies across all booking channels.
• Assist with promotional campaigns for accommodation, dining, spa, weddings, events and seasonal experiences.
• Support the hotel's social media activity, including content creation, community engagement and reporting.
• Contribute engaging content for the hotel website and social media platforms.
• Maintain and update website content to ensure information is accurate, current and optimised for SEO.
• Support email marketing campaigns, including database management, campaign creation and performance reporting.
• Assist with the creation of sales presentations, brochures and promotional materials.
• Monitor competitor activity and market trends, including completing competitive set (Comp Set) analysis.
• Collaborate with operational departments to identify and promote compelling guest experiences and hotel stories.

Qualifications

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business or a related discipline is desirable but not essential.
• Minimum of 3-5 years' experience in a luxury hotel reservations, front office, events or sales environment.
• Strong working knowledge of hotel Property Management Systems (Guestline, Opera, Hotsoft or similar PMS/CRS platforms).
• Proven understanding of revenue management, pricing strategies and yield optimisation.
• Excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail and strong analytical abilities.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure while maintaining professionalism and attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant hospitality software.

Key Competencies

• Exceptional customer service and relationship management skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and revenue focus.
• Excellent planning and organisational abilities.
• Ability to prioritise multiple tasks in a fast-paced luxury environment.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Professional presentation with a passion for luxury hospitality.
• Team player with the ability to motivate and develop others.

Additional Information

Some Of Our Benefits:

• Competitive & generousrate of pay.
• Discounted rates on rooms at Park Hotel Kenmare and other Relais & Chateaux properties.
• 50% off Food and Beverages/ 30% off spa treatments & 20% off spa products.
• Free use of spa/ gymfacilities.
• Excellent Training and Personal development.
• Complimentary healthy meals whilst on duty.
• Complimentary on-site parking.