THE JOB / Senior Hospitality Manager (Accommodation) (Global Soccer) (Oil & Gas Client) (Contract)

EXPERIENCES / Responsible for planning, budgeting, scheduling, and managing all guest and staff travel logistics.

WHERE YOU’LL WORK

Our headquarters are in Stamford, CT, but the location of this position can be flexible with priority given to candidates open to hybrid work (3 days week in office) in one of our office locations - - Stamford, CT, New York, NY, Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, GA, Chicago, IL, and Miami, FL. We will also consider a remote-based working arrangement for qualified candidates with East Coast working hours as a prerequisite

WHEN YOU’LL WORK

Contract Dates: March 1,2026 to August 15, 2026

Contract Type: W-2 Employment

THE WORK YOU’LL DO

Octagon is looking for an experienced Senior Manager of Accommodations and Travel to join a dynamic team, working with a key global client and Worldwide Partner of FIFA, with sponsorships of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. 

This could be the perfect role for you if you have exceptional project management skills, are a real team player and have an interest in working with a global hospitality team in the host market of this event. A love of sports is not a prerequisite – a passionate marketer is our priority – but this could also be great opportunity for you to apply your personal interests and passions to your work

The candidate must have relevant experience in the planning and delivery of inter-city travel management areas for a hospitality program. On behalf of our client, you’ll be responsible for planning, budgeting, scheduling and managing all guest and staff travel logistics leading up to and during the event. Roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Manage hotels and reservations (room blocks, meeting space, F&B and other group requirements) for guests, client and workforce across all host cities
• Coordinate with internal teams, hotels and client to align inventory availability and delivery timelines with operational requirements
• Work closely with internal teams on reservations, payments, preferences and special requests for core groups and VIP guests
• Manage and approve reservation adjustments in collaboration with department heads and client
• Brief hotel management and relevant departments on program operations, room lists, service levels, workforce needs and transportation schedules
• Conduct room and suite pre-checks, ensuring correct setups and readiness
• Ensure hotels comply with all contractual obligations
• Serve as the primary on-site point of contact for accommodation-related matters between Octagon Client Team, Hotels and Client
• Facilitate smooth and efficient check-in & check-out processes for guests, VIPs as well as Octagon and client workforce
• Support transport with arrivals & departures, large group movements and VIP car services as needed
• Be responsible for Accommodation hosts & hostesses (training, shifts, etc.)
• Resolve all on-site operational challenges promptly and professionally – whether raised by hotels, client, guest or staff
• Ensure hotels correct any unmet needs or discrepancies immediately
• Monitor all invoices provided by hotels, verifying that daily charges match actualized room and service usage
• Conduct daily checks of rooming lists, inventory releases, function space usage and guest changes
• Support onsite during tournament window (June-July) and help resolve guest issues and last-minute change requests
• Reconcile final invoices across rooms, function space, catering, F&B and other services post event

THE BIGGER TEAM YOU’LL JOIN

Recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work in Sports”, Octagon is the global sports, entertainment, and experiential marketing arm of the Interpublic Group.

We take pride in being Playmakers – finding insightful, bold ways to create play in our work, our lives, and in the world. We believe in the power of play to create big ideas and unlock potential for our clients and talent.

We can put ourselves in the shoes of fans because we ARE fans – of sports, entertainment, and culture at large. This expertise allows us to continually evolve the fan experience across sports and entertainment alongside some of the biggest brands and talent in the world.

The world needs play more than ever. Are you a Playmaker?

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• Previous work experience on large logistically complex hosting programs in similar scaled major events
• Have previous experience in a travel management role at large-scale events with a demonstrable understanding of travel logistics
• Have proven event experience with a track record of high attention to detail and organizational skills, staying focused on the task at hand ensuring nothing is missed
• Experience in hotel property management and reservation systems
• Additional languages an advantage
• You have an affinity for high end hospitality program with an understanding of various cultures and their needs.
• An ability to connect with people from various backgrounds, cultures and an ability to handle high end B2B clients and B2C guests equally
• Have excellent computer skills – Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) 
• Comfortable using digital tools for logistics, daily reporting, inventory management, and check-in preparation
• Highly organized, dependable, and focused; nothing slips through the cracks under your watch
• Collaborative by nature - you enjoy helping others succeed and thrive in a team-focused culture
• Willingness to work weekends, holidays, and non-traditional hours, as required
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position at least 50% of the time
• Flexibility and willingness to travel domestically, and work weekends or holidays as needed. Anticipated travel level: Moderate (20-45%)

This position pays an annualized rate of $82,000, and is not overtime-eligible. Contract roles with Octagon are not benefits eligible

Octagon is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.