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(Banqueting Manager, Events Manager, Venue Manager, Conferencing and Banqueting Manager)
Hospitality & Tourism
Salary
€38,000 - €65,000/yr
Level
Professional
Outlook
Stable
Sector
Hospitality & Tourism
As a Conference and Banqueting Manager you plan, coordinate and oversee all events held at a hotel, conference centre or dedicated venue, ranging from corporate meetings and seminars to weddings and gala dinners. You liaise closely with clients to understand their requirements, then translate those needs into detailed event plans covering catering, room layouts, audio-visual equipment, staffing and budgets. On the day of an event you supervise front-of-house and kitchen teams to ensure food quality, service standards and timing all meet expectations. You also monitor expenditure, handle any client complaints swiftly, and work with sales colleagues to maximise bookings and revenue across the venue's events calendar.
Listen: a day as a Conference and Banqueting Manager
You arrive at the hotel at seven-thirty on a Tuesday morning, earlier than most of your team. Your first task is to walk every event space booked for today: a corporate training day for forty delegates in the Liffey Suite, a private lunch for twelve in the boardroom, and a site visit later from a couple planning their wedding next June. You check that the overnight porter has set the Liffey Suite to the correct classroom layout, that the projector and lapel microphone are working, and that the delegate registration table is stocked with name badges and conference pads. By eight-fifteen you are at your desk reviewing the function sheet, which is the detailed running order sent to every department the previous Friday. The kitchen has a query about dietary requirements for the training day: two guests are coeliac and one is vegan. You confirm this with the head chef in person and update the banqueting software so the floor supervisor knows which place settings need flagging.
A Leaving Certificate with subjects such as Business, Home Economics, Mathematics and English provides a solid foundation for this career. The typical entry route is an NFQ Level 7 Ordinary Bachelor's degree or Level 8 Honours Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Hotel Management or Events Management, available at institutions such as TU Dublin, ATU, MTU, SETU and TUS. Some candidates enter through a QQI Level 5 or Level 6 PLC course in Hospitality or Event Management at a College of Further Education and progress to a degree via add-on routes. Relevant work experience — particularly in food and beverage service, front office or event coordination — is highly valued by employers alongside formal qualifications. No statutory registration body applies to this role, but professional membership of bodies such as the Irish Hotels Federation or Meetings Industry Ireland can support career development.
Most Conference and Banqueting Managers begin their careers in junior hospitality roles such as banqueting supervisor, food and beverage assistant or events coordinator, building hands-on operational experience. Progression typically moves through supervisory positions — such as Assistant Banqueting Manager or Events Supervisor — before reaching full managerial responsibility for a venue's events operation. With a strong track record, experienced managers may advance to Director of Events, Food & Beverage Director or General Manager roles within larger hotel groups or dedicated conference centres. Some professionals move into event management consultancy or establish their own events companies.
AI tools are beginning to assist Conference and Banqueting Managers with tasks such as dynamic pricing, event scheduling optimisation and analysing client feedback to improve future events. Automated booking platforms and AI-powered customer relationship management systems are streamlining enquiry handling and contract generation, reducing administrative workload. However, the core of this role — building client trust, leading teams in high-pressure environments and delivering personalised experiences — relies on human judgement and interpersonal skills that AI cannot readily replicate. Managers who embrace AI-assisted planning tools while maintaining strong leadership and client-facing capabilities will be best placed in the evolving landscape.
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Organisations in Ireland that employ people in this occupation.
Spencer Dock, Dublin 1
Manage large-scale conferences, gala dinners and corporate events nationwide.
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Oversee weddings, corporate banquets and international conference operations.
Nationwide
Support and develop conference and events tourism product across Ireland.
Naas, Co. Kildare
Plan and deliver weddings, banquets and corporate meetings at dedicated venue.
Charlemont Place, Dublin 2
Coordinate multi-day corporate conferences, gala dinners and social events.
Saggart, Co. Dublin
Ireland's largest hotel manages major exhibition, conference and banqueting events.
Kilkenny City
Deliver weddings, gala dinners and regional corporate conference programmes.
Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway
Manage full conference and banqueting operations across multiple Irish properties.
Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny
Oversee luxury corporate incentive events, banquets and exclusive wedding packages.
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Plan and execute large public, trade and corporate events at iconic venue.
Galway City
Coordinate west-of-Ireland conferences, weddings and banqueting food and beverage.
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