Role Overview
The Director of Banquet at Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait leads the strategic planning, operational execution, and financial performance of all banquet and event operations within this iconic luxury property. This senior leadership role demands a seasoned hospitality professional who thrives in a high-touch, detail-obsessed environment where every event — from intimate private dinners to grand state functions — reflects the Four Seasons brand promise of personalized, anticipatory service. Based in Al Asimah, the capital governorate of Kuwait, this position oversees a multi-functional team across banquet service, culinary coordination, event planning, and venue setup, ensuring flawless delivery across ballrooms, meeting rooms, and outdoor event spaces.
Key Responsibilities
- Direct end-to-end banquet operations management including staffing, scheduling, budgeting, and quality assurance for 200+ annual events
- Partner with Director of Catering & Events and Executive Chef to design customized menus, floor plans, and service sequences aligned with client vision and brand standards
- Lead banquet service team of 50+ associates — including captains, servers, setup crew, and stewards — through recruitment, training, performance coaching, and succession planning
- Own P&L accountability for banquet division: revenue forecasting, cost control (labor, F&B, linen, equipment), and margin optimization
- Ensure compliance with Four Seasons Global Standards, Kuwait Ministry of Health regulations, and HACCP food safety protocols across all event touchpoints
- Drive guest satisfaction scores (GSS/TrustYou) through proactive service recovery, real-time feedback loops, and post-event debriefs
- Collaborate with Sales & Marketing on site inspections, proposal development, and conversion strategies for high-value corporate, wedding, and government accounts
- Manage vendor relationships for rental equipment, floral design, AV production, and specialty decor with negotiated contracts and SLAs
- Champion sustainability initiatives — zero-waste events, local sourcing, energy-efficient lighting — aligned with Four Seasons Environmental Commitment
Requirements
Hard Skills & Qualifications
- Minimum 10 years progressive luxury hotel banquet management experience, including 5+ years as Banquet Manager or Assistant Director of Banquets in a 5-star / Forbes 5-Star / AAA 5-Diamond property
- Proven track record managing large-scale events (500+ guests) with multi-day production timelines and complex logistics
- Expertise in Opera PMS / Delphi.fdc / Tripleseat for event booking, BEO generation, and revenue tracking
- Advanced F&B cost control proficiency: recipe costing, inventory management, waste analysis, and menu engineering
- Fluent in English (written/spoken); Arabic proficiency strongly preferred for local client engagement
- Certified in ServSafe / HACCP / ISO 22000; familiarity with Kuwait Labor Law and municipal event permitting
Soft Skills & Leadership Competencies
- Anticipatory service mindset — ability to read client needs before articulated and empower teams to deliver "wow" moments
- Crisis leadership — calm, decisive decision-making during last-minute changes, weather disruptions, or VIP protocol shifts
- Cross-cultural fluency — experience serving diverse international clientele (GCC royals, diplomatic corps, multinational corporations)
- Coaching & talent development — history of promoting internal talent to supervisory/management roles
- Strategic agility — balances operational rigor with creative flexibility to customize each event experience
Why This Role
This is a rare opportunity to shape banquet excellence at the Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya — a landmark property in the heart of Kuwait City that sets the benchmark for luxury hospitality in the region. You will lead a world-class team in a property renowned for its architectural grandeur, culinary innovation, and legendary service culture. The role offers direct exposure to high-profile events — state visits, royal celebrations, global summits — while providing the autonomy to innovate within a globally supported brand framework. For a hospitality leader who measures success in flawless executions and lifelong guest loyalty, this position delivers both professional prestige and meaningful impact in one of the Middle East's most dynamic luxury markets.