Business Consultant
Freelance
Total years of experience :29 years, 2 months
• Provided consultancy services to various clients in different industries on project management, performance improvement and strategies planning.
• Assisted clients in streamlining business processes and optimizing operations for maximum efficiency and profitability.
• Developed marketing plans to assist clients in creating and implementing the best possible strategies to reach their target audience.
• Engaged with owners of start-ups, established and growing companies owners to provide solutions for day-to-day operational challenges in the areas of: providing market research, customer retention, contracts negotiation and developing sales and marketing standard operational procedures manual.
Rotana is one of the leading hotel management companies within the MENA region. Brought on board as Sales & Marketing Director for Hazmieh Rotana Hotel - 150 keys. Supervised a team of 4 people.
• Lead and drove the yearly Marketing Plan committee and finalize yearly plan along with all related revenue, expense budgets, strategies & programs.
• Developed, maintained and carried out promotional activities for all market segments, covering all aspects of the business including room promotions, Food & Beverage events and Conference & banqueting offers.
• Maintained a consistent rapport with the Outbound Sales Offices.
• Handled international and national liaison with the travel & trade market.
• Developed sales strategies pertaining to new potential markets.
• Developed strategies to address the unsecure situation at that time (war) and anticipated future market conditions.
• Ensured that marketing guidelines and policies are enforced and adhered to in all marketing activities, advertising and collaterals.
• Coordinated with the PR agency.
• Supervised the sales of the Loyalty Program. gracenasser@gmail.com
• Developed talents and conducted yearly performance review of direct reporting and ensured that same is conducted by Sales & Marketing key personnel to all subordinates.
• Recruited, hired and lead sales & marketing personnel and maintained annual evaluations of their performance.
• Taught Sales & Trade Promotions course for postgraduate students.
• Wrote course materials such as syllabi, homework assignments and handouts.
• Guided students in using different matrix of trade promotions to increase market penetration and revenue in real life examples.
• Evaluated company performance to meet business goals and objectives. Determined areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement or policy change.
• Managed day-to-day operations including: scheduling, preparing clients quotes and customer service.
• Negotiated contracts and agreements with vendors.
• Managed internal controls and administrative processes.
• Created and evaluated marketing strategies based on business objectives, market conditions and costs.
• Developed pricing strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Ensured customers satisfaction/retention.
Recruited to develop growth strategies and drive initiatives to facilitate all sales and business development activities in Abu Dhabi to reach a goal of $4 million; managed team of five and administrated $2.7 million expense budget.
Selected Accomplishments:
• Generated $4.5 million in revenue.
• Increased the Floor occupancy to 100% and maintained YTD occupancy of 98% despite weak market conditions and high competition.
• Increased the Virtual office packages sales from 99 to 180 packages (78% increase).
• Generated $1.4 million in operating profit. The budgeted profit was set at $800K.
• Exceeded the Top target set by the CEO and the Area General Manager $170K.
• Addressed the misallocation of services and implemented a new control procedure which has been positively reflected on the revenue.
• Proposed a complete new online marketing campaign plan for the Middle East to the CEO and Area General Manager which has initiated the company to appoint an online marketing specialist to create and improve its online presence.
Brought on board as senior executive member of the preopening team to set up the Sales & Marketing department for the new hotel chain. Supervised and evaluated team of 11 people including four direct reports: Two Sales Manager, one Marketing Manager and one Reservation & Revenue Manager. Responsible of $15 million budget in Sales driven leisure/business, transient, group, third party Internet and wholesale market segments, Food & Beverage and Recreation. Worked alongside with the CEO, CMO, Financial controller and Corporate Chef and provided necessary Business development feasibility study for all prospect properties to be added to the group portfolio.
Selected Accomplishments: 1. Preopening:
• Developed the Sales, Marketing, Reservations and Revenue Standard Operations Procedures.
• Developed the corporate identity of One To One Hotels and the brand guidelines.
• Developed One To One Hotels internal and external marketing and public relations plans. 2. Post opening:
• In charge of the Sales & Marketing for One To One Hotels first two properties in Abu Dhabi and Beirut.
• Lead and drove the yearly Marketing plan committee and finalize yearly plan along with all related revenue, expense budgets, strategies and programs.
• Developed sales strategies pertaining to new potential markets.
• Planed local and regional direct Sales activities.
• Analyzed all related reports and developed strategies to enhance current situation and anticipated future market conditions. gracenasser@gmail.com
• Secured YTD 22% BOB reflected in $2.2 million revenue, through long term stay agreement with the American aerospace and security company Lockheed Martin for their project in UAE and Abu Dhabi Media Company.
• Reviewed and increased the corporate contracted rate, which represented 31% of the hotels business mix, by 16% which has generated $7.7 million in revenue and place the hotel on the top of the competition set with REVPAR of $165 vs $141 in the previous year.
• Designed and planned aggressive online presence with the assistance of TIG Global, a UK based company specialized in E-Marketing. The same drove $817K in revenue from the online bookings.
Monroe Hotels is a privately owned group of 3 hotels - 279 Keys. Brought on board as Corporate Sales & Marketing Director in charge of the group. Supervised a team of 6 people.
• Lead and drove the yearly Marketing Plan committee and finalize yearly plan along with all related revenue, expense budgets, strategies & programs.
• Developed, maintained and carried out promotional activities for all market segments, covering all aspects of the business including room promotions, Food & Beverage events and Conference & banqueting offers.
• Handled international and national liaison with the travel & trade market.
• Developed sales strategies pertaining to new potential markets.
• Developed talents and conducted yearly performance review of direct reporting and ensured that same is conducted by Sales & Marketing key personnel to all subordinates.