Lorenza Dowd
North Bergen,NJ
Summary
Seasoned Director of Special Events and Sales with 15+ years of experience driving revenue growth, leading high-performing teams, and executing high-profile corporate and social events within luxury hospitality and lifestyle venues. Proven ability to build scalable event programs, develop SOPs, cultivate strategic partnerships, and deliver exceptional guest experiences. Highly organized, process-driven, and calm under pressure, with strong outbound sales expertise and relationship-building capabilities.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS
The Loeb Boathouse Central Park
New York, NY
01.2025 - Current
- Lead planning, sales, and execution of high-profile events aligned with organizational revenue goals and brand standards.
- Execute strategic sales plans to maximize event revenue and maintain competitive market positioning.
- Partner with Marketing to develop digital and social messaging that increases venue visibility and client engagement.
- Analyze market trends and competitive landscapes to continually refine event offerings and pricing strategies.
- Lead, mentor, and motivate the events sales team to exceed revenue targets and foster a high-performance culture.
- Build and maintain relationships with corporate clients, preferred vendors, and event planners to generate new business.
- Collaborate closely with the Executive Chef and General Manager to design customized, profitable event menus and packages.
- Develop and implement SOPs across the Events department to improve efficiency, consistency, and profitability.
- Collect and evaluate client feedback to enhance service quality and guest satisfaction.
- Annual Team Revenue: $5.3M with 42% YOY Growth
- Selected Clients: Netflix, Amazon, J.Crew, A24, Coach, BMW, FIFA, Volkswagen, Bloomberg, Central Park Conservancy, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ralph Lauren, Saturday Night Live
SENIOR CATERING SALES MANAGER
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
New York, NY
02.2024 - 01.2025
- Focused on high-end corporate and social catering sales with strong emphasis on budgeting, forecasting, and hands-on servicing.
- Drove approximately $1M in personal revenue through applied selling strategies and proactive prospecting.
- Developed seasonal and market-segmented sales plans to optimize revenue flow.
- Qualified and cultivated new prospects while maintaining and growing an active sales database.
- Conducted competitive analysis and captured client feedback on food quality, service, and presentation.
- Managed all event logistics including menus, timelines, floor plans, and guest counts.
- Participated in weekly BEO meetings with Food & Beverage and Events teams to ensure flawless execution and anticipate operational challenges.
- Monitored quality control of products and services to uphold luxury brand standards.
- Team Revenue: $7M | Personal Contribution: ~$1M
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS & SALES
Sony Hall / Blue Note Jazz Group
New York, NY
01.2023 - 02.2024
- Rebuilt and scaled the events business for the venue located within the Paramount Hotel.
- Managed the full event life cycle including sales, planning, marketing, and administrative functions.
- Implemented innovative event programming and collaborated with the corporate chef to create creative, profitable menus.
- Partnered with Marketing and PR to produce content that increased venue visibility through digital and email campaigns.
- Cultivated strategic partnerships to drive brand awareness and incremental revenue.
- Oversaw execution of large-scale, high-profile events and managed vendor and production teams.
- Delivered monthly performance reports to ownership and analyzed calendar and revenue trends.
- Managed on-stage technical elements including audio, lighting, staging, and video.
- Annual Revenue: $2M
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS
Gerber Group
New York, NY
11.2015 - 01.2023
- Hired as Special Events Manager and promoted to Director after successfully scaling the events business without additional staffing.
- Built and led event departments across five property locations, establishing SOPs, training programs, and sales benchmarks.
- Launched and supported high-profile venue openings including Mr. Purple, The Campbell, The Crown, Nearly Ninth, Daphne, and The Club by Mr. Purple.
- Directed a team of four, fostering collaboration and consistent achievement of sales goals.
- Enhanced profitability through regular menu reviews, financial controls, and performance tracking.
- Coordinated complex events with union hotels, MTA/MNR properties, and production partners.
- Worked closely with Marketing and PR to amplify brand reach through event-driven campaigns.
- Developed strong relationships with corporate clients and film productions, generating repeat and cross-property business.
- Grew Annual Event Revenue from $1M to $5M with 20% YOY Growth
SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER
The Standard Hotel
New York, NY
10.2009 - 11.2015
- Managed end-to-end coordination of special events ranging from intimate meetings to full-hotel buyouts.
- Served as primary on-site point of contact for clients, vendors, and internal teams.
- Developed detailed BEOs, timelines, and post-event evaluations to exceed client expectations.
- Demonstrated extensive knowledge of room configurations, service styles, and BOH coordination.
- Selected Clients: MET Gala, Sony Playstation, NFL, Vogue, UBS, Virgin Music, Moët Hennessy, Michael Kors, Coach, Supreme
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communications, Fine Arts
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NYSkills
- Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Salesforce, Delphi
- Tripleseat, Prismm, SevenRooms
- Canva
- Avero
- Floral Décor & Event Design
- Bilingual: English & Spanish (Professional Proficiency)
- Event Sales Strategy & Revenue Growth
- Luxury & Corporate Event Management
- SOP Development & Operational Excellence
- Strategic Partnerships & Vendor Relations
- Client Servicing & Relationship Management
- Marketing & Brand Activation Collaboration
- Budgeting, Strategy and Sales
LANGUAGES
Spanish
Professional Working
Timeline
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS
The Loeb Boathouse Central Park
01.2025 - Current
SENIOR CATERING SALES MANAGER
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
02.2024 - 01.2025
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS & SALES
Sony Hall / Blue Note Jazz Group
01.2023 - 02.2024
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS
Gerber Group
11.2015 - 01.2023
SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER
The Standard Hotel
10.2009 - 11.2015
Bachelor of Arts - Communications, Fine Arts
Hofstra University