Reservations & Events Manager

Park Hotel Kenmare is one of Ireland’s most distinguished and exciting luxury destinations. Nestled along the shores of Kenmare Bay, Park Hotel Kenmare offers timeless luxury, warm Irish hospitality, and exceptional personalised service. As a proud member of Relais & Châteaux and holder of two Michelin Keys, the hotel is internationally recognised for its refined elegance, culinary excellence, and commitment to creating unforgettable guest experiences. With a proud heritage dating back to 1897, the hotel blends historic charm with contemporary comfort, welcoming discerning guests from around the world seeking tranquillity, authenticity, and understated luxury.

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 & 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.

Some Of Our Benefits:

• Competitive & generous rate 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/ gym facilities.
• Excellent Training and Personal development.
• Complimentary healthy meals whilst on duty.
• Complimentary on-site parking.