Courtney Smith
Scottsdale
Summary
Dynamic Senior Event Manager with over 10 years of experience, specializing in orchestrating large-scale corporate events and enhancing guest experiences in luxury hospitality. Proven expertise in event management, logistics coordination, and vendor collaboration, ensuring seamless execution from inception to completion. Continuously delivering exceptional service to boost client satisfaction and encourage repeat business. Committed to mentoring team members and enhancing operational efficiencies through creative training and communication. Passionate about creating memorable events that exceed client expectations, and drive business growth.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Event Manager
THE PHOENICIAN, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT
Scottsdale
09.2022 - Current
- Manages and coordinates all aspects of large corporate group events, resort buyout programs, local catering events and stays for NBA, NHL, MLB sports teams
- Responsible for overseeing the execution of events in partnership with the operations team
- Fulfills client specifications to ensure the smooth execution of all meeting logistics and food and beverage events
- Creates full estimated event spends for groups to review and approve prior to collecting pre-payment
- Collaborates with vendors and operational departments to ensure smooth logistics and transparent communication from planning to operational execution phase
- Hosts weekly training opportunities for the Event Coordinators on event orders, creating estimated spends, diagrams and additional learnings to help them learn and grow to become Event Managers
- Intent to Recommend, 100; Event Planning Responsiveness, 100; Transition from Sales to Event Planning, 100
Senior Event Manager - Task Force Assistance
THE RITZ CARLTON, LAKE TAHOE
Truckee
07.2023 - 08.2023
- Assisted Meetings and Special Events Department as a Task Force Senior Leader for two months while the property was searching for a new Director of Event Management
- Supported Event Managers and Event Coordinators with pre-planning arrangements as well as the event execution while on property
- Hosted weekly trainings on group forecasting, CI/TY Property topics and group billing
- Worked closely with the Sales Department to ensure there was a smooth turnover process
Event Manager
THE PHOENICIAN, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT
Scottsdale
10.2021 - 09.2022
- Managed and coordinates all details of corporate, small group events for 643 room luxury resort
- Conducts planning sessions as well as pre- & post-conference meetings
- Creates full estimated event spends for each group to review and approve to ensure payment is collected, prior to group arrival
- Conveys logistic information and ideas to internal departments through variety of communications methods, CI-TY system, internal resume, and schedule of events
- Serviced 102 groups from October 2021 – September 2022 prior to being promoted to Senior Event Manager
- Intent to Recommend, 92.7; Event Planning Responsiveness, 92.7; Transition from Sales to Event Planning, 100
Event Manager
JW MARRIOTT TUCSON STARR PASS RESORT & SPA
Tucson
06.2019 - 10.2021
- Managed and coordinated all details of social, corporate, and large conferences for 575 room luxury resort
- Provided extensive communication on all changes and controlled expenses - worked closely with vendors to ensure price negotiations and food estimates are met
- Forecasted catering and sleeping room revenue while seeking opportunities to up-sell and increase revenue
- Planned single and multi-day meetings and conferences from 10 to 1,000 attendees
- Planned single and multi-day weddings from 50-400 attendees
- Intent to Recommend, 92.3; Event Planning Responsiveness, 100; Transition from Sales to Event Planning, 100
Event Manager
MARRIOTT KANSAS CITY OVERLAND PARK
Overland Park
12.2017 - 06.2019
- Established and maintained rapport with clients, exceeding expectations for service and encouraging repeat business through GuestVoice and Medallia platforms
- Actively participated in onboarding and training of Administrative Coordinator with job responsibilities, systems operations, and event management skills
- Certified Marriott Wedding Planner
- Worked as only Event Manager on property from January 2019 through April 2019
- Leader of the Quarter Award Q1 2019
- Intent to Recommend, 100; Planning Overall Experience, 91.70; Overall Event Experience, 94
Task Force Assistance
MOANA SURFRIDER, WESTIN RESORT & SPA
Waikiki
11.2018 - 11.2018
- Assisted Housekeeping Department for Task Force, two weeks
Event Sales Administrative Coordinator
MARRIOTT KANSAS CITY OVERLAND PARK
Overland Park
06.2017 - 12.2017
- Provided executive level administrative support to the Event and Sales Department team
- Created and maintained event-related documentation to provide consistent and strong levels of service throughout the pre-event, event, and post-event phases of property events
- Pulled proposals and contract drafts from CI-TY for the Catering Sales Executives approval
- Crossed-trained as an Event Manager and serviced over 75 groups as an Administrative Coordinator
Event Operations - Voyage Program
MARRIOTT KANSAS CITY OVERLAND PARK
Overland Park
05.2016 - 06.2017
- Performed banquet service management activities; Developed and directed team activities to provide consistent, high-quality service; achieved positive ESS scores; effectively communicated performance expectations to team members
- Creatively displayed food for weddings, holiday parties, and corporate events
- Scheduled banquet service staff to support forecast and service standards; Led shifts and actively participated in the servicing of events
- Managed departmental inventories and maintained property and equipment
Disney College Program – Internship
WALT DISNEY WORLD COMPANY
Orlando
01.2015 - 08.2015
- Selected to work in Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort in the Food and Beverage Department; worked in various positions while providing exceptions guest service, cash handling procedures, and maintained merchandise presentation and stocking
- Promoted to the role of being a Trainer further into my internship where I trained future employees from all over the world
Banquet Server
UNIVERISTY PLAZA HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTER
Springfield
05.2014 - 12.2014
- Performed the set-up activities for large events of up to 1,000 guests: responsible for set-up, serving, maintaining, and breaking down banquet rooms
- Explained menu items and food content to guests and staff as needed
- Ensured a high degree of consistency in the preparation for and performance of banquet services
Education
Bachelor’s Degree - Hospitality and Restaurant Administration with emphasis in Hotel Management
MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
Springfield, MO05.2016
Skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office software
- CI/TY Property
- Revenue forecasting
- Budget management
- Team training
- Time management
- Vendor service coordination
- Menu planning
- Meeting Matrix
- Social Tables
- PMS
- GuestVoice
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Client management
Skills Honors Awards Certifications
Proficient in Microsoft Office software, Marriott systems, Meeting Matrix, Social Tables, PMS, GuestVoice, Missouri State University Graduate, Marriott Spirit to Serve Awards, Leader of the Quarter Award 2019, Walt Disney World Resort College Program, Marriott International Global Voyage Leadership Development Program, Missouri State University-Hospitality Leaders of Tomorrow (HLOT), Take Care Well Being Committee, Luxury Committee – The Phoenician Resort & Spa
Certification
- Walt Disney World College Program - Issued January 2015
- Voyage Marriott Global Leadership Development Program - Issued May 2016
- Marriott Wedding Planner Certification - Issued July 2017
Accomplishments
- Leader of the Quarter Award - Q1 2019
- Spirit to Serve Awards
Affiliations
- Luxury Committee - The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort - November 2022 to present
- Hospitality Leaders of Tomorrow (HLOT Program) - August 2015 - May 2026
Timeline
Senior Event Manager - Task Force Assistance
THE RITZ CARLTON, LAKE TAHOE
07.2023 - 08.2023
Senior Event Manager
THE PHOENICIAN, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT
09.2022 - Current
Event Manager
THE PHOENICIAN, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT
10.2021 - 09.2022
Event Manager
JW MARRIOTT TUCSON STARR PASS RESORT & SPA
06.2019 - 10.2021
Task Force Assistance
MOANA SURFRIDER, WESTIN RESORT & SPA
11.2018 - 11.2018
Event Manager
MARRIOTT KANSAS CITY OVERLAND PARK
12.2017 - 06.2019
Event Sales Administrative Coordinator
MARRIOTT KANSAS CITY OVERLAND PARK
06.2017 - 12.2017
Event Operations - Voyage Program
MARRIOTT KANSAS CITY OVERLAND PARK
05.2016 - 06.2017
Disney College Program – Internship
WALT DISNEY WORLD COMPANY
01.2015 - 08.2015
Banquet Server
UNIVERISTY PLAZA HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTER
05.2014 - 12.2014
Bachelor’s Degree - Hospitality and Restaurant Administration with emphasis in Hotel Management
MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
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