Katie Shannon, Four Seasons
In case you missed it, we’re having a wedding workshop on April 14th! Get the scoop here .
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Katie Shannon of the Four Seasons Hotel, Washington, DC shares what she loves about the hotel and the ins and outs of her job!
What is your job at the Four Seasons?
I am one of the two Social Catering Sales Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC. I recently transferred as a Catering Manager from Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore, MD which I helped open in November 2011.
Image Credit: ©2012 Geoff Chesman Visuals
What is a typical day like for you?
As a Social Catering Sales Manager, I wear many different hats each day. There will always be a few site inspections of the property, a few hours creating a custom menu for a wedding couple or social get-together, calls back and forth with vendors to brainstorm on the perfect band or decor for a themed Bar/Bat Mitzvah coming up and at least once a week – drafting out the perfect event floor plan for a Gala fund-raiser so they can maximize their revenue potential. Each day is completely different and every event is a new challenge. I can also say with this position, there is no such thing as a quiet day.
How did you get your start in the events industry?
After graduating from Auburn University with a degree in Psychology I moved to Annapolis, Maryland and was lucky enough to be the assistant to Ken Upton, owner of Ken’s Creative Kitchen. Ken has planned many fabulous weddings during his catering career including a multitude of features in “Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine”. I later moved to Baltimore, MD where I began my career in hotels as a Social Catering Manager at the InterContinental Harbor Court. When I heard the Four Seasons was opening a property in Baltimore I jumped at the chance to transfer to the hotel. My experiences there led me to transferring to Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC.
What makes the Four Seasons different than other DC venues?
It’s interesting when you transition to a Four Seasons Hotel. You first find out they all have more staff than even their largest competitors which really helps with the company mission to be beyond compare when it comes to delivering service. When we were opening Four Seasons Baltimore, we constantly heard about the success of the DC hotel and the catering and events team. They were all award winners, they all had the autonomy to be fully involved creating the entire event for their clients and they had a phenomenal reputation in the hotel – staff would do anything to make every event a WOW and every Event Planner felt like a part of the Four Seasons family. There is no cutting corners or sacrifices at this hotel. We hear constantly “What is the client asking for? What would make their experience one of a kind? How do we anticipate their needs without the guest having to even ask?”. I strongly stand behind the fact that we can offer a one of a kind experience here at Four Seasons Hotel, DC as opposed to anyone else.
Image Credit: ©2012 Geoff Chesman Visuals
What is the most memorable event you have been a part of during your time at the Four Seasons?
My most memorable event I have been part of was a wedding that I planned last year at the Four Seasons Baltimore. The bride, her sister and her mother own a very well respected event design company. They were very well known within the community and the wedding was extremely important for several reasons. First, it is always amazing to see what people in the industry are able to create and imagine for their own events. You can assume that you will see the best entertainment, over the top decor and flowers and a few surprises along the way to keep guests on their toes. Secondly, and most importantly, this would be the last big event that the bride’s mother would be planning and attending due to her ailing condition with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This was one of the only weddings I have ever been a part of that had a 100% attendance of everyone that was invited. This wedding above all others gave me an inside glimpse to all of the emotions that come together during a major life changing event. I was able to witness both the beginning of a new life together and the sad passing of the bride’s mother four days after the wedding. The wedding was handled so beautifully by the family, the attendees and the vendors that participated. I was completely honored to be part of the day.
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