Event Sales & Marketing Manager

About the Opportunity

An elevated hospitality concept is coming to Cleveland, Ohio, centered around exceptional food, world-class wine, refined service, and unforgettable guest experiences.

Located within a historic downtown property, the concept combines sophisticated design, upscale dining, curated wine experiences, and a hospitality-first culture to create a destination unlike anything else in the market.

The hospitality platform includes multiple guest-facing experiences designed to deliver distinct but connected offerings, including upscale dining, private events, wine-focused programming, and curated hospitality experiences. The property features private dining spaces, event capabilities, a premium wine cellar, and a hospitality-driven atmosphere built around luxury, warmth, and attention to detail.

The private events business will focus on curated corporate events, rehearsal dinners, wine dinners, business functions, social gatherings, and private dining experiences in a polished and highly personalized environment.

Position Overview

The Event Sales & Marketing Manager will serve as the driving force behind private event sales, event marketing, social media coordination, brand visibility, and guest relationship management for the organization's private events business and affiliated hospitality venues.

This role is equal parts sales, hospitality, relationship management, marketing, social media coordination, and operational execution. The ideal candidate understands how to sell and execute upscale events while creating an elevated and seamless guest experience from initial inquiry through post-event follow-up.

This individual will help build the event infrastructure, processes, sales strategy, marketing materials, and client experience from the ground up prior to opening. The role requires a highly organized, hospitality-first professional who is detail-oriented, responsive, polished, and capable of balancing salesmanship with operational execution.

The ideal candidate thrives in high-touch hospitality environments and understands how to balance the demands of a busy restaurant operation while simultaneously delivering exceptional private events.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Event Sales & Client Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all private event inquiries, delivering prompt, polished, and professional communication that reflects the organization's brand standards.
• Respond to all incoming leads, website inquiries, phone calls, and emails with a high sense of urgency and hospitality.
• Guide clients through the full sales process from inquiry to contracting and operational handoff.
• Develop customized event proposals, contracts, banquet packages, and event recommendations tailored to client needs.
• Actively close business and drive revenue growth for the private events business and affiliated event spaces.
• Conduct venue tours and build strong relationships with corporate clients, social clients, and community organizations.
• Maintain detailed client communication and ensure all event details, billing instructions, and operational notes are accurately documented.

Event Coordination & Operational Collaboration

• Work closely with culinary, beverage, and operations leadership to ensure smooth event execution and seamless handoff to the operational team.
• Coordinate event details including timelines, menus, beverage selections, room configurations, and special guest requests.
• Collaborate with leadership on event offerings, banquet packages, wine dinners, tasting experiences, and curated hospitality activations.
• Assist in developing systems, processes, and event management standards as the concept grows.
• Conduct post-event follow-up communication to gather feedback and cultivate repeat business and referrals.

Marketing & Brand Development

• Lead marketing efforts related to private events, dining experiences, and hospitality activations.
• Assist in building awareness of the private events business through strategic partnerships, community engagement, public relations opportunities, and promotional initiatives.
• Coordinate marketing materials including digital collateral, print materials, banquet packets, and promotional content.
• Help identify opportunities for media exposure, community partnerships, charitable activations, and brand-building events.
• Partner with leadership on seasonal promotions, campaigns, and experiential programming.
• Support broader awareness efforts that position the organization as one of Cleveland's premier hospitality destinations.

Social Media & Digital Marketing

• Help lead and coordinate social media marketing efforts related to private events, dining experiences, wine programming, and hospitality activations.
• Collaborate with leadership and external creative partners to develop engaging digital content that reflects the guest experience and brand identity.
• Assist in planning and executing content calendars, promotional campaigns, event announcements, and seasonal marketing initiatives.
• Coordinate photography, video content, event recaps, and behind-the-scenes storytelling opportunities tied to the property and events program.
• Help grow brand awareness and community engagement through strategic social media presence and hospitality-focused marketing initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to showcase the culinary program, wine experiences, chef features, seasonal offerings, and event capabilities across digital platforms.
• Assist in driving traffic, inquiries, and event bookings through creative marketing and brand positioning efforts.
• Support media appearances, community partnerships, charity collaborations, and local promotional opportunities that strengthen the organization's visibility within the Cleveland market.

Revenue Growth & Business Development

• Drive event revenue growth through proactive sales efforts, relationship development, and repeat business generation.
• Help establish annual sales strategies, booking goals, and marketing initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to maximize utilization across private event venues, wine-focused experiences, private dining rooms, and affiliated event spaces.
• Support development of both corporate and social event business.
• Track sales performance, lead conversions, and year-over-year revenue growth metrics.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in event sales, hospitality sales, catering sales, hotel sales, restaurant events, or upscale hospitality environments required.
• Strong preference for candidates coming from luxury hotels, upscale restaurants, hospitality groups, or high-volume event environments.
• Exceptional communication, organization, and follow-up skills.
• Basic budget/P&L understanding and event pricing strategy experience.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple moving pieces simultaneously.
• Sales-oriented mindset with confidence in relationship building and contract negotiation.
• Hospitality-first mentality with a passion for creating exceptional guest experiences.
• Experience with hospitality marketing, social media coordination, promotional initiatives, event marketing, and brand-building efforts preferred.
• Comfortable working collaboratively across culinary, beverage, service, and leadership teams.
• Ability to work flexible hours including occasional evenings, weekends, and major events.

Success in This Role Looks Like

• The organization develops a strong reputation as one of Cleveland's premier destinations for private dining and upscale events.
• Event inquiries are responded to quickly, professionally, and with exceptional attention to detail.
• Clients feel guided, supported, and cared for throughout the entire sales and event process.
• The event business demonstrates strong year-over-year revenue growth.
• The organization develops strong relationships within the local corporate, hospitality, and community landscape.
• The private events business becomes associated with elevated hospitality, thoughtful service, and memorable experiences.
• Social media and marketing efforts help establish the organization as one of Cleveland's most recognizable and sought-after hospitality concepts.