Operations Manager, Hospitality Events in London

An Amazing Career Opportunity for an Operations Manager. At Questex, you can make an impact by helping suppliers and buyers connect more efficiently and effectively. Questex is a leading global events, media, and business information company, yet we are still a place where your voice is heard, and your ideas are appreciated. So, you can make an immediate difference in our success while advancing your career.

Questex drives business forward through a rich engagement platform centered on leading events and surrounded by data insights and digital communities.

Questex is currently seeking an Operations Manager to lead in managing the event operations for the UK based Hospitality Events. This position manages all venue, food and beverage, and operational activities for assigned shows/conferences. Assists in supporting these functions from inception to completion, including performing initial site research and proposals, and implementing all contractual arrangements for vendor services, attends all assigned shows/conferences and is responsible for coordinating on-site operations. The successful applicant must be able to meet deadlines, handle multiple priorities, have strong interpersonal and organizational skills, and be detail oriented.

What is special about event planning at Questex is that our operations teams work very closely with the Questex in market teams who are incredibly knowledgeable in their industries and in tune with their customers' needs. This helps to ensure the logistics planned for each event are based on our customers' specific needs which result in an amazing customer experience.

For any type of event, the primary goal is always to ensure the best customer experience. From an operations perspective, we can make the greatest overall impact by focusing on the gatherings, seamless tech and brand experiences. At the receptions and gatherings, we create environments where the attendees, exhibitors and sponsors can interact with and learn from each other. We incorporate the best technology in our registration process to allow for great data collection while providing fast and easy check-in. And we try to create branded experiences where our attendees can interact with our exhibitors and sponsors and experience what they are learning in action.

As our Operations Manager, you'll support Questex's success by:

• Responsible for show specific financial management including budget creation, monitoring revenue/expense performance, and proper forecasting as requested by the Operations Director.
• Lead and contribute to the management of all aspects of conferences, meetings and events (pre-planning, onsite execution and post event wrap up).
• Communicates regularly with all contractors including the general services contractor, venue staff, sales, catering, banquet, and audio-visual and services managers to arrange for all event needs, food function menus, coffee service, social activities, and coordinates these functions with other staff.
• Supports Operations Director with negotiation when necessary, including negotiation of venue tenancy contracts for room rates, space requirements, complimentary rooms, percent increase limitations, cancellation policies, catering, security, audio-visual, parking and any additional needs; reviews and complies with all venue contracts and general contractor agreements.
• Develops and maintains communications with exhibitors to ensure their needs are being met and provide an open forum for them to ensure that problems are discussed and resolved.
• Develops and maintains solid professional relationships with all sponsors as well as other departments in the event group.
• Supports Marketing Director and Registration Director on event registration needs.
• Manage audio/visual and production planning and execution.
• Monitor onsite management of event set-up and execution including décor, production, transportation, and entertainment.
• Plan and attend site visits, creating meeting agendas and post visit reporting.
• Manage and maintain the operations timeline.
• Coordinate and manage all show orders and communications with venues and show vendors to include catering, room sets, electric, internet, rigging, exhibition booths, floorplans, security, audio visual, and registration.
• Develop an on-site attendee journey map and work closely with the creative design team on sign design and production.
• Manage the sleeping room blocks and arranges all travel and hotel accommodations.
• Manage event sustainability ensuring carbon emissions are reduced and measured where applicable, updating information on our Trace system.
• Coordinates exhibitor needs with the sales staff; manages the updating and creation of floor plans for each event to ensure proper exhibitor/sponsor placement, good traffic flow, adequate areas for registration and exhibitor service, and compliance with safety and facility requirements.
• Coordinates the production and positioning of all signage; provides input into the creation and maintenance of all operations contact with sponsor information packs, security briefs, temp staff briefs, onsite roles and responsibilities and onsite build and breakdown scheduling and all other activities pertaining to operations.
• Coordinates with Registration Manager all aspects of exhibitor and attendee registration, including advance and on-site registration, lead retrieval systems, staffing, lists, etc.
• Manages all on-site functions at assigned events, including exhibit hall, meeting rooms and coordinates with registration.
• Complies with all facilities contracts and general contractor agreements.
• Contribute effective, constructive ideas to the Operations Director in the planning, budgeting and execution process.
• Manages on-site and off-site functions at assigned events, including all meeting rooms, other event spaces, yoga and wellbeing sessions, exhibitor networking events.
• Travel both domestically and internationally and work overtime as needed to attend events and any client meetings.
• Maintain and manage all H&S requirements for the events.
• Manage, create and regularly update master files for each event.
• Maintain regular event reports to include financial status and overall logistical status.
• Performs additional duties as assigned by the Operations Director.

What we will love about your background:

• Cooperates with others and proactively contributes to a positive working environment.
• Strong interpersonal, time management and organizational skills, with the ability to multi-task and take direction.
• Must be highly detail oriented, with problem solving and conflict management abilities.
• Prefer staff management experience in order to train, motivate and develop staff.
• Ability to delegate and manage stress.
• Strong customer-service orientation.

Your Experience and Education include:

• A minimum of 3 years' experience in event production, hospitality or high-end meeting/conference planning.
• Working knowledge of personal computers and MS Office, cost management and budgetary responsibilities.
• Contract negotiations and implementation experience is critical.
• Experience with hotel and/or banquet sales or facilities management and planning.
• Ability to travel required.

Who you are as a Team Member:

• You proactively seek to adopt and implement diversity into your work, including valuing diverse backgrounds, experiences and thinking.
• You also embrace creating and nurturing a culture of diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong team player and ability to work well with others.

Why Apply?

Why we are here: Helping people live longer and live better by focusing on the Experience Economy.

What we do: We connect buyers and sellers.

How we do it: Easy to work with. We deliver superior results. Provide world-class experiences.

Our DNA is our guiding principles: Collaboration, Honesty & Transparency, Curiosity, Growth, Fun, Purpose Driven.

OUR CULTURE: At Questex, we listen to each other and to our customers. And we have fun in a fast-paced, vibrant and supportive environment. We're big on ideas, not on rigid processes, rules or org charts. We know that life can be unpredictable, so we're flexible and adaptable to change.

YOUR INITIATIVE: At Questex, you will join a fast-growing company of bright and ambitious but easygoing people from a diversity of professions, experiences and backgrounds. We keep it real. Like to take the lead? Go for it! We encourage innovative thinking and action. Whether you like to create things, manage things or sell things, you can make your mark at Questex.

OUR REWARDS/WHAT WE OFFER: Questex celebrates the contributions of every member of our team by providing a dynamic and caring work environment, competitive benefits package designed to ensure our employees physical and mental health are top priority.

Online Educational Learning Library of over 16,000 courses for employees to enhance and develop their skills.

Mission-driven culture with an enthusiastic, professional team.

Fiton online Fitness app.

The expected base salary for this position ranges from £45,000 - £50,000.00. Salary offers are based on a broad scope of factors including relevant skills, training, experience, education, and, where applicable, licensure or certifications obtained. Market, geographic and organizational factors are also considered.

DEI Mission: Our mission is to create inclusive experiences and opportunities for all, empowering individuals and communities, ensuring that everyone can see themselves represented in our offices, virtual spaces and our work.

With offices in Washington, D.C., London & Singapore, we are always on the lookout for talented people to join our team. Questex is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Expression/Age/Military or Veteran Status/Citizenship Status, or other protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.