Wedding and Events Manager - Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle upon Tyne

At the foot of the Mourne Mountains, bordered by golden strands of beach and renowned Royal County Down Golf Club, sits Slieve Donard, a landmark of grand Victorian style beloved by families, golfers, and holidaymakers - it's a place where hospitality comes to life. We exist to create unforgettable experiences for every guest, every time. Whether it’s a corporate event, special celebration or the most memorable day of their lives, we take pride in the moments we help create and celebrate with our guests.

At the core of everything we do are our REACH People Values:

• Respect– We treat every guest and colleague with kindness and dignity.
• Excellence– We go the extra mile in pursuit of outstanding service.
• Accountability– We take ownership of our actions and follow through on our promises.
• Cooperation– We work together as one team to deliver the best experience.
• Honesty– We act with integrity and transparency at all times.

How We Do It: We believe in leadership through example, teamwork, and a commitment to great service. We support our people to lead with integrity, empower others, and uphold our standards with consistency and care.

Role Overview: This is a commercially driven, client-facing role responsible for positioning Slieve Donard Hotel as one of Northern Ireland’s leading luxury wedding and events destinations. The Wedding & Special Events Sales Manager will proactively generate revenue, convert high-value business, and deliver exceptional, brand-aligned experiences. This role requires a balance of strategic sales focus and meticulous event planning, ensuring every wedding and special event reflects the prestige, heritage, and service excellence synonymous with Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts.

Key Objectives:

• Maximise wedding and special events revenue, profitability, and market share.
• Drive enquiry generation and conversion at premium price points.
• Deliver exceptional, personalised client journeys from first contact to post-event follow-up.
• Further cement Slieve Donard’s position as the leading luxury coastal wedding destination in Northern Ireland.

Commercial & Sales Performance:

• Own and deliver the wedding and special events sales strategy.
• Proactively source new business through partnerships, planners, and industry networks.
• Convert enquiries with a strong focus on rate integrity and upselling opportunities.
• Identify and target high-value and luxury market segments.
• Monitor competitor activity and market trends to inform pricing and positioning.

Client Experience & Relationship Management:

• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, delivering a seamless and highly personalised experience.
• Build long-term relationships to encourage repeat business and referrals.
• Handle VIP and high-profile clients with professionalism and discretion.
• Ensure every touchpoint reflects a luxury, detail-oriented service ethos.

Event Planning & Execution:

• Lead the end-to-end planning of weddings and special events.
• Collaborate very closely with operations, culinary, and front-of-house teams.
• Translate client vision into detailed, executable event plans.
• Oversee event delivery to ensure flawless execution and guest satisfaction.

Brand & Positioning:

• Represent the hotel in line with Marine & Lawn’s luxury brand standards.
• Host site visits, tastings, and showcase events onsite and externally to the utmost exceptional standard.
• Contribute to marketing content, social media, and promotional campaigns.
• Act as a brand ambassador within the local and regional wedding market.

Administration & Reporting:

• Maintain accurate forecasting, reporting, and pipeline management.
• Ensure contracts, proposals, and billing are completed to a high standard.
• Track KPIs including conversion rates, average spend, and revenue performance.

Key Skills & Experience:

• Proven success in a wedding/events sale’s role within a luxury hotel or venue.
• Strong commercial acumen with a focus on revenue generation and profitability.
• Excellent negotiation and closing skills.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building ability.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple high value events.
• Experience working with high-end or bespoke events is highly desirable.

Personal Profile:

• Polished, professional, and brand-conscious.
• Naturally warm with a passion for delivering memorable experiences.
• Detail-driven with a creative and solutions-focused mindset.
• Resilient, proactive, and target-oriented.
• Flexible and adaptable, with availability to support key events.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Total wedding & events revenue vs. budget.
• Average wedding value and upsell performance.
• Conversion rate (enquiries to confirmed bookings).
• Client satisfaction and post-event feedback.
• Referral and repeat business levels.

What we are looking for:

• Proven experience in wedding and event management, within a hotel or hospitality environment.
• Demonstrated success in planning and delivering weddings and large-scale events.
• Strong sales and upselling ability with a track record of meeting or exceeding revenue targets.
• Excellent client relationship management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple events simultaneously while maintaining high standards.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational skills with high attention to detail.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required.

The Perks:

• Meals whilst on duty.
• Opportunities for training and career development.
• Discounts on hotel stays and dining for you and your friends.
• Exclusive shopping discounts via our benefits platform.
• Team Member events.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Free Car Parking.

Equal Opportunities: We are committed to recruitment practices that do not discriminate against any job applicant because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity. We value diverse cultures, ideas, and people as part of our core DNA.

Right to Work: In line with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, we do require all applicants to have the eligibility to live and work in the United Kingdom. Documentation will be required at interview stage.