Assistant Director of Food & Beverage – Banquets

Company description

Raffles Hotels & Resorts

The birthplace of stories and legends since 1887, Raffles is a legendary brand, steeped in history and loved by generations past, present, and future. At distinguished landmark addresses around the world, Raffles is the vibrant heart of its destination, curating experiences that are culturally enriching, intellectually stimulating, and always respectful of local communities, heritage, and the environment.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Join a dynamic team and be part of a network of 90 spectacular properties, with 34 more in the pipeline, across 30 countries around the globe. Our properties are located everywhere from the beaches of Hawaii and the unspoiled national parks of Canada to the heart of London and the deserts of the United Arab Emirates.

About Raffles & Fairmont Doha

Discover two distinguished luxury brands united within the iconic Katara Towers at Raffles Doha and Fairmont Doha, where extraordinary hospitality, timeless elegance, and world-class experiences come together.

Raffles Doha offers an atmosphere of intimate luxury and bespoke service, where every detail is thoughtfully curated to create meaningful and memorable moments. Rooted in a legacy of elegance and artistry, Raffles is renowned for delivering gracious hospitality with authenticity, sophistication, and emotional connection.

Fairmont Doha embodies the spirit of grand hospitality, blending contemporary style with the warmth and energy for which the Fairmont brand is celebrated worldwide. With a focus on exceptional service, vibrant guest experiences, and a deep sense of place, Fairmont creates unforgettable stays for today’s global traveler.

Together, Raffles & Fairmont Doha provide a dynamic and inspiring environment for hospitality professionals who are passionate about excellence. Joining our team means becoming part of a culture that values individuality, nurtures talent, and empowers colleagues to create remarkable experiences every day.

About the application process

At Raffles & Fairmont Doha, we want to bring out your highest potential. Shortly after applying, you will receive an email from our assessment partner prompting you to create a profile and complete a questionnaire. This is a mandatory step for your candidacy to be considered, as it enables us to explore your compatibility with this role and our culture of luxury excellence.

Job description

We invite you to join the world of luxury hospitality at Raffles & Fairmont Doha as our new Assistant Director of Food & Beverage – Banquets.

The Assistant Director of Food & Beverage – Banquets plays a key leadership role in supporting the overall performance, operational excellence, and strategic direction of the banquets and events operation across Raffles & Fairmont Doha.

Working closely with the Director of Food & Beverage, this role oversees the delivery of exceptional luxury experiences across conferences, weddings, social celebrations, corporate events, and large-scale functions, while driving revenue, profitability, guest satisfaction, and operational efficiency.

In close collaboration with Sales & Marketing, Culinary, Finance, Rooms, and Events teams, the Assistant Director supports the development and execution of banquet strategies, leads operational teams, optimizes resources, and ensures the seamless delivery of memorable, high-profile events in line with the standards of both luxury brands.

Key responsibilities

• Support the Director of Food & Beverage in leading the overall performance and strategic direction of the banquets and events operation across Raffles & Fairmont Doha.
• Drive banquet revenue, profitability, productivity, and cost efficiency in line with business objectives.
• Partner with Sales & Events to maximize business opportunities, conversion, and event revenue.
• Oversee the seamless planning and delivery of luxury weddings, conferences, corporate events, and social functions.
• Champion exceptional service standards, guest experience, and operational excellence across all events.
• Lead, motivate, and develop the banquets leadership and operational teams, fostering talent, engagement, and succession planning.
• Collaborate closely with Culinary, Sales, Finance, Rooms, and Events teams to ensure seamless event planning and execution.
• Optimize resources, staffing, equipment, and operational processes to enhance efficiency and profitability.
• Drive innovation in event experiences, menus, service concepts, and banquet offerings.
• Monitor market trends, guest feedback, and business performance to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and growth.
• Ensure full compliance with brand standards, food safety regulations, licensing requirements, and operational procedures.
• Act as a key operational leader within the Food & Beverage division, contributing to departmental strategy, business planning, and overall hotel performance.
• Represent the banquets operation in the absence of the Director of Food & Beverage, ensuring leadership continuity and operational excellence.

Qualifications

What will you bring to this role?

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6–8 years of Food & Beverage experience in luxury or five-star hospitality, including senior banquets leadership experience.
• Proven experience managing large-scale banquets, weddings, conferences, and corporate events.
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to drive revenue, profitability, and cost efficiency.
• Excellent leadership and team-development skills, with experience managing multicultural teams.
• Strong knowledge of luxury service standards, banquet operations, and guest experience.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to manage complex, high-volume operations while maintaining service excellence.
• Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance management.
• Experience with international luxury hotel brands is an advantage.
• Fluency in English; additional languages are an advantage.
• Embrace the Raffles & Fairmont brand promise and luxury in your role and in all your interactions.
• Foster an inclusive environment where every individual feels valued and respected.
• Create an environment where colleagues are empowered, supported, and recognized.

Additional information

Employee benefits

Join our team and enjoy a range of exclusive colleague perks, including complimentary upgrades, extended stays, discounted stays across Fairmont and Raffles properties, special dining and wellness discounts, and added luxuries to enhance your experience. We believe in taking care of our team and ensuring that your hard work is rewarded with exceptional benefits.

Our values

• Respect: We value the needs, ideas, and individuality of others. We treat everyone with fairness and dignity.
• Excellence: We make genuine connections, and we cherish every opportunity to make the people around us feel special.
• Belonging: We celebrate our differences. We support each other, and we always stand together.
• Empowerment: We have the authority to take initiative and anticipate moments that create unforgettable experiences.
• Integrity: We build trust through mutual respect and authenticity.

Diversity & inclusion

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where diverse talent thrives. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join our team.