Eileen Ginya

Eileen is a polished and highly experienced Events and Hospitality professional with over 15 years of experience across luxury hospitality, conferencing, corporate events, lifestyle brands, and business development. Having worked with respected hospitality groups including Village n Life and Life & Brand Portfolio, she brings a strong combination of operational knowledge, sales expertise, and high-level client relationship management. Throughout her career, Eileen has successfully managed high-end conferences, VIP functions, corporate events, weddings, launches, and large group bookings across multiple luxury venues and hospitality brands.

She has extensive experience coordinating all aspects of events management including client liaison, budgeting, quoting, contract management, menu planning, supplier coordination, invoicing, and operational execution. Her ability to build strong client relationships while ensuring exceptional service delivery has contributed to increased revenue growth, repeat business, and long-term partnerships. Most recently, Eileen has been working as Business Development Manager at Beluga Restaurant in Cape Town, where she focuses on strategic partnerships, group sales, private events, and marketing exposure.

Prior to this, she worked as Groups and Events Manager for Village n Life, managing luxury group bookings, conferences, and VIP events across premium hospitality properties including The Bay Hotel, Camps Bay Retreat, and Harbour House Hotel. Her experience closely aligns with the requirements of the Groups and Events Manager role, particularly in coordinating large-scale events, leading communication between departments, managing client expectations, and ensuring operational excellence throughout the guest journey. Eileen is known for her strong organisational skills, attention to detail, professionalism, and calm approach in high-pressure environments.

She has experience working closely with General Managers, Executive Chefs, Operations teams, Housekeeping, Reservations, Finance, and external suppliers to ensure seamless event execution. Her background in both hospitality operations and corporate events gives her the ability to confidently manage luxury client expectations while maintaining strong commercial awareness and revenue focus. With her passion for service excellence, proven events management background, and experience within premium hospitality environments, Eileen would be a strong addition to the company.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER at BELUGA RESTAURANT (2025-08 – 2026-06)

• Driving strategic partnerships, group bookings, and private event sales within a premium hospitality environment.
• Managing corporate client relationships and identifying new revenue opportunities through conferencing and events.
• Coordinating group dining experiences, custom menu planning, and operational event requirements with the Operations and Kitchen teams.
• Negotiating budgets, preparing quotations, issuing invoices, securing purchase orders, and following up on payments.
• Conducting client meetings and site inspections to convert inquiries into confirmed bookings.
• Working closely with Concierge, Marketing, and operational departments to maximize brand exposure and guest satisfaction.
• Building strong relationships with travel agents, tour operators, and event management companies.
• Ensuring service delivery standards align with luxury hospitality expectations and guest experience standards.
• Assisting with planning and execution of high-end functions and group experiences.

GROUPS AND EVENTS MANAGER at VILLAGE N LIFE (2024-09 – 2025-07)

• Managed luxury group bookings, conferences, VIP functions, and corporate events across multiple hospitality properties including The Bay Hotel, Camps Bay Retreat, and Harbour House Hotel.
• Coordinated all event logistics from initial inquiry through to final execution and guest follow-up.
• Prepared quotations, contracts, invoices, rooming lists, and event documentation accurately and timeously.
• Liaised daily with General Managers, Head Chefs, Reservations, Housekeeping, Security, and operational teams to ensure seamless event delivery.
• Conducted site inspections and client meetings to secure profitable bookings and maintain strong client relationships.
• Negotiated rates, menus, budgets, and dietary requirements while ensuring maximum revenue opportunities.
• Managed weekly events calendars and distributed event information to relevant departments for operational planning.
• Followed up on payments, outstanding accounts, and client confirmations while maintaining high levels of communication.
• Oversaw event setups and operational requirements to ensure service excellence and luxury guest experiences.
• Assisted in driving sales conversions and achieving departmental revenue targets through strong follow-up and client service.

EVENTS MANAGER at LIFE & BRAND PORTFOLIO (LA PARADA, HARBOUR HOUSE, TIGER’S MILK, LIVE BAIT) (2022-09 – 2024-09)

• Managed event requests, VIP bookings, weddings, launches, conferences, corporate functions, and activations across multiple premium restaurant brands.
• Responded to all event and group inquiries efficiently and professionally, ensuring strong conversion of leads into revenue.
• Prepared and managed quotations, contracts, invoices, and payment follow-ups in line with company procedures.
• Coordinated menus, beverage selections, entertainment, suppliers, DJs, photographers, and event logistics for each function.
• Conducted venue site inspections and client meetings to showcase venues and secure bookings.
• Worked closely with Area Managers, COOs, Finance, and operational teams to ensure all events met company standards and client expectations.
• Distributed weekly function sheets and communicated all event updates and operational changes to relevant departments.
• Managed supplier relationships and ensured all vendors delivered according to operational and service standards.
• Oversaw event setup and execution on-site to ensure smooth operations and exceptional guest experiences.
• Assisted with strategic event concepts, marketing initiatives, and revenue-generating activations across the hospitality brands.

Events and Venue Manager at The Argyle

Building & Events Manager / Sales Manager / Account Executive at Cube Exhibitions (2017-02 – 2020-12)

Business Sales Executive at Allmed Medical Professional Staffing (2021-08 – 2022-09)

Account Executive at Scan Display Solutions (2015-08)

Matric – Mandela High School (1999)