My Career: ‘A big part of my role is anticipating what could go wrong’

Name: Janice Casey

Age: 49

Lives: Castlelyons

Job title: Meeting & Events Sales Manager at the Metropole Hotel

Salary bracket: Enough to enjoy some lovely holidays and quality time with my family.

Education background: I recently completed a Diploma in Business Administration and Management, General, at Kilroy College, graduating in June, 2025, with Distinction. I’m a big believer in life-long learning, and I really enjoyed returning to study while balancing work and family life.

Hobbies: Making memories with my husband and our two wonderful boys is what I enjoy most. Travel is a huge part of our lives, and I love socialising and catching up with my warm circle of friends. I’m also a planner at home. My husband and I sit down on Sundays and plan the week ahead, and I often joke that I have a “function sheet for my home life”! That said, I also love the occasional weekend with absolutely no plans, just time to relax and chill.

Describe your job in five words: Organising, planning, selling, problem-solving, delivering.

Describe yourself in five words: Organised, passionate, reliable, positive, driven.

What personality is needed for your job?

You need to be organised, approachable, calm under pressure and able to communicate with lots of different people. You also need patience, emotional intelligence, and the ability to think on your feet. In events, things can change very quickly, so being adaptable and solution-focused is essential. I would say emotional intelligence is one of the most important as you are dealing with so many different situations and personalities.

How long have you been doing this job?

I have worked in the hospitality and events industry for over two decades, with extensive experience in event management, wedding planning and client relations. In my current role as Meeting & Events Sales Manager, I bring that experience together with a strong focus on sales, organisation, and creating the best possible experience for our clients.

How did you get this job? My career has developed through a combination of executive support, administration, event management, wedding planning and sales. I have worked across a number of industries, including technology and healthcare, as well as spending over two decades in hospitality. Each role has given me different skills, from managing busy executive diaries and travel arrangements to planning weddings, conferences and corporate events. I’ve always enjoyed roles where I can bring structure to busy environments, solve problems, and make things happen.

Do you need particular qualifications or experience?

My experience spans event and conference management, wedding planning, client relations, sales and office management. executive and administrative support, and personal assistance. I have also recently completed a Diploma in Business Administration and Management, General, with Distinction. I’ve learned a huge amount through experience, working with people and continually developing my skills.

I do think my best qualification is my personality. I genuinely love people and making special events such as weddings and family celebrations come to life so that the memories will live on with those people.

Describe a typical day:

No two days are ever the same. My day can involve meeting with clients, responding to enquiries, preparing proposals, planning events, coordinating with different departments, managing bookings, dealing with suppliers and making sure every detail is in place. A big part of my role is anticipating what could go wrong and trying to solve it before it does. I love the variety and the fact that there is always something to achieve.

How many hours do you work a week?

I work 9am–5pm, Monday to Friday, and I work from home on Wednesdays. Being a mom is the most important role in my life, so having a career that allows me to balance work and family is hugely important to me. I feel very fortunate to have a work-life balance that works for our family.

Is the industry male or female dominated?

I think hospitality and events is a real mix of both, and I’m delighted to be part of an industry where I have had the pleasure of working alongside some incredibly strong women while becoming one myself, while also learning so much from the strong men I have worked with throughout my career.

I really value the different strengths, experiences and perspectives that people bring.

Is your job stressful? How? Rate it on a scale of 1-10:

Probably around 7 out of 10 on a busy day. Events are naturally deadline-driven, and there can be lots of moving parts. But I enjoy the challenge. I’m happiest when I’m busy, organised, and working towards a successful event.

Do you work with others or on your own?

Although there is a lot of independent work involved in sales, planning, and client management, I believe successful events are always a team effort. For every event, I rely on so many different departments, from the kitchen and front office to operations and all the teams behind the scenes, to come together and deliver a great experience for the client.

For me, the trust you place in your team is incredibly important. I really enjoy working with different departments and seeing how everyone comes together to make an event successful.

I also think it is really important to recognise the team when things go well. Sharing the ‘well dones’, celebrating everyone’s contribution and simply taking the time to say ‘thank you’ can make a big difference.

Ultimately, a successful event is never down to one person, it is the result of everyone working together and supporting each other.

When do you plan to retire or give up working?

I don’t have a retirement date in mind. I enjoy working, meeting people and having a sense of purpose, so I’m happy to keep going for as long as I’m enjoying it. Knowing me, I’ll probably still be organising something when I retire and still be doing housework in heels.

Best bits? For me, it’s the people, the variety and seeing everything come together. There is a real sense of achievement when you have worked with a client from the very first enquiry right through to a successful event, and you get to see all the planning and preparation come to life.

One of the best parts for me is weddings. You can start working with a couple up to two years before their wedding day, so you have the opportunity to build a really lovely relationship with them throughout that time. You get to know them, understand what is important to them, and help bring their vision for the day to life. Then, when the wedding day finally arrives, being there to make sure everything runs to plan and seeing the couple and their families enjoying themselves is an incredible feeling. Knowing that you have played a part in helping to create such an important and memorable day is very special.

I also really love the wedding anniversary celebrations we host. the Metropole has been hosting weddings for over 100 years, so there is a wonderful history and connection with families who return to celebrate their anniversaries here. Sitting with couples and their families while they plan these celebrations, listening to their stories and hearing about the memories they have made over the years is something I could honestly do all day.

There is something very special about hearing what the Metropole means to different generations of the same family.

And, for me, that connection is particularly personal. My own parents got married here 55 years ago, in January.

Worst bits: The pressure and the unexpected challenges. Events are live and once the day arrives, you have to deal with whatever happens. But I suppose that is also what makes the job exciting, you have to stay calm, think quickly, and find a solution.

Advice to those who want your job?

Believe in yourself, be willing to learn, and don’t be afraid to put yourself forward. Hospitality and events can be fast-paced, but there are so many opportunities to develop and progress. Build good relationships, treat people with respect and always try to be the person who finds a solution rather than just pointing out a problem.

Any other comments?

I feel very lucky to have built a career around something I genuinely enjoy. I love working with people, creating experiences and being part of a team.

At the same time, being a mom and making memories with my family is the most important part of my life. For me, success is having a career that I’m passionate about while still having time and energy for the people who matter most. To make people smile is one of the greatest gifts and hospitality lets me do that every day, all while planning the next outfit and heels to be fabulous in.