Regional Director of Sales & Marketing
SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises
Total years of experience :26 years, 4 Months
2010 - Present SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises
Hurghada, Makadi, Sharm El Sheikh, Marsa Allam, Luxor & Aswan
SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises (8 Resorts & 6 Cruises)
SENTIDO Hotels & Resorts (2 Resorts & 2 Cruises)
Festival Hotels & Resorts (3 Resorts)
Regional Director of Sales & Marketing
•Fully in charge of the strategic partnership between SUNRISE & major business partners and strategic allies, as far as contracting, yielding, marketing, concepts & quality are concerned, maintaining great communication channels with contacting managers / directors and heads of products in each source market (Germany, Belgium, Holland, UK, France and eastern Europe).
•Developing and implementing yearly joint SUNRISE/ Partner Tour Operator’s marketing plan & budget in cooperation with concerned marketing managers of each source market, closely controlling it's execution on yearly basis while ensuring the fine tuning with the actual market situation/ trends changes.
•Planning concepts in each resort in cooperation with Tour Operator’s product teams and coordination with property management teams the proper implementation and effective handling of each concept.
•Partially in charge of the strategic partnership between SUNRISE and Sentido Hotels and Resorts in the franchised Sentido and smartline resorts/ cruises including budgeting, marketing plans/ budgets, quality management and concepts management.
•Fully in charge of the sales & marketing division of all resorts and cruises with direct reporting line to the CEO and chairman through directing and coaching Sales, Marketing Communication, Revenue, E-commerce, Marketing Europe, Events and Admin departments in two regional offices in Cairo and Hurghada and two rep offices in Sharm El Sheikh & Luxor.
•Developing overall revenue budgets of resorts & cruises in line with company goals as liaised with different stake holders.
•Developing sales strategies and overseeing successful implementation to achieve and top budgeted figures while maintaining highest levels of profitability on both offline and online platforms.
•Planning, developing and directing of all marketing / promotional strategies /campaigns, trade shows, sales trips, road shows, events of all resorts & cruises in addition to the joint activities with Sentido management aiming at achieving highest levels of presentable exposure of all concerned brands both locally and internationally.
•Monitoring market trends and competition analysis on both offline and online platforms, and ensuring the proper yielding actions / promotion decisions are taken on proper time frames to derive highest revenues and maintain decent occupancy levels year round in cooperation with revenue department.
•Fully in charge on developing, maintaining strategic partnerships with all Tour Operators in the leisure segment to Egypt destinations from all markets (Russia, Ukraine, UK, Germany, Scandinavia, Italy, Holland, Eastern Europe, Turkish & GCC markets) in cooperation with sales & marketing teams.
•Attending all major international trade exhibitions, selected sales trips and road shows, Thomas cook / Sentido planning meetings in addition to twice yearly communication meeting with each central Europe source market.
•Overlooking the developing and managing of the different brand websites and deriving highest levels of innovation, exposure as well higher revenues utilizing all e-com channels and maintaining excellent relations with both b2b & b2c providers.
•Monitoring the proper implementation of company CI and different brand standards in all resorts & cruises in addition to providing technical assistance and training where needed property management teams in cooperation with marketing departments.
•Maintaining excellent relations and communication channels with both higher and lower reporting lines, regional department heads, property general managers, HR & financial departments aiming at running smooth operation and healthy business environment.
2006 - 2010 Tropitel Hotels & Resorts Sharm El Sheikh & Dahab
Tropitel Naama Bay Hotel, Resort & Casino - Sharm El Sheikh ( Five stars)
Tropitel Dahab Oasis - Dahab ( Four Stars)
Director of Sales & Marketing
• Ensured the efficient and effective management of the sales and marketing division towards the attainment of the overall company objectives and operational goals.
• Developed strategies for forecasting, analyzing sales needs, developing effective product awareness, and methods of measuring and evaluating results.
• Planned and developed yearly marketing plans for the two properties, to provide direction and a specific plan of action.
• Implemented new business partnerships with top producers to the respective destinations from all existing source markets, as well as approaching new markets resulting in continuous improvement in the products competitiveness and maximization of profitability.
• Planned, managed and evaluated the financial operations of the sales division to ensure cost effectiveness and optimum utilization of resources.
• Monitored credit policies with top producers to achieve up to date financial forecasting and maximized revenues.
• Implemented, directed and developed all sales and marketing activities, marketing campaigns, sales trips, international exhibitions, and road shows to achieve maximum exposure and product awareness of the company products.
• Directed, monitored and evaluated Sales Managers to effectively manage existing accounts and to identify and develop new business opportunities; to actively promote and sell all hotels services
• Ensured that all staff within sales and marketing department are adequately trained and developed in line with company policy.
• Guided and directed the whole team to ensure consistency of brand standards, high level of performance and service delivery.
2004 - 2006 Tropitel Hotels & Resorts Sharm El Sheikh & Dahab
Tropitel Naama Bay Hotel, Resort & Casino - Sharm El Sheikh ( Five stars)
Tropitel Dahab Oasis - Dahab ( Four Stars)
Deputy Director of Sales & Marketing ( In Charge): • Responsible for smooth and rational work sequences in the sales and marketing department and co-operation with the other departments in the hotel, in particular reservations and credit departments.
• Developed the marketing plans of the properties and the drawing up of sales targets on the basis of exact market analysis.
• Maintained proper co-ordination of the hotel's sales activities with the aim of optimal room occupancy, high accommodation, F&B sales and other revenues.
• Developed, designed and calculated attractive offers for individual customers, travel agents and tour operators according to the budgeted marketing plans.
• Ensured permanent observation of the market trends and competitors status.
• Monitored the hotel's sales activities plans, sales department results according to the marketing pan.
• Organized comprehensive information to existing and potential customers as regards the product range offered by the hotels, with the aid of the relevant sales resources and sales channels.
• Contracted, negotiated and prepared the company yearly contracts for the hotels in accordance with current business and price conditions.
• Represented the hotels at national and international specialist exhibitions and workshops achieving the highest levels of exposure and product awareness.
• Enticed, directed sales team and personally generated closed groups, meetings, and different functions, especially during difficult times to maximize occupancy and average rates, to meet and continuously exceed budgeted figures.
2003 - 2004 Tropitel Hotels & Resorts Sharm El Sheikh & Dahab
Tropitel Naama Bay Hotel, Resort & Casino - Sharm El Sheikh ( Five stars)
Tropitel Dahab Oasis - Dahab ( Four Stars)
Area Sales Manager: • Proactively identified, qualified and solicited new short/long term business opportunities to achieve personal and hotel revenue goals.
• Developed and maintained overall market overview of competitors' strengths and weaknesses, economic trends, supply and demand.
• Built and strengthened relationships with existing and new customers to enable future bookings through direct/indirect Sales calls, entertainment, FAM trips and orientations.
• Effectively utilized sales resources and administrative support to effectively fulfill the account's needs, hotel's objectives, and marketing activities of each assigned market/account.
• Continuously focuses on improving guest satisfaction to create customer loyalty and increase market share.
• Maintained continuous interaction with existing business partners to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels; effectively responded to and handled their problems and complaints.
• Identified new and existing markets/accounts that meet hotel's sales strategy and developed sales plans to generate business from identified markets/accounts.
• Prospected new business through phone solicitation, outside sales calls, customer visits to the hotel, trade shows, sales blitzes, direct mail, newspaper/journal research and other customer interaction or research.
• Developed marketing intelligence: new product ideas, competition activities, new customer trends and performance.
• Implemented training programs to improve sales and reservation staff efficiency and development (jointly discussed with the Director of Sales)
2002 - 2003 Tropitel Hotels & Resorts Sharm El Sheikh
Tropitel Naama Bay Hotel, Resort & Casino - Sharm El Sheikh ( Five stars)
Sales Manager:
• Maintained high level of exposure for the hotel through direct/indirect sales calls, soliciting and collecting individual and group business & meetings.
• Ensured comprehensive and complete coverage of own portfolio, covering all levels of accounts managerial & departmental executives for a comprehensive client servicing, achieving targets and maximum productivity.
• Implemented & executed all sales objectives and action plans to reach and exceed targets set.
• Ensured that selling strategies are adhered to during negotiations and maximized up selling opportunities whenever possible.
• Ensured comprehensive and up to date knowledge of properties unique selling points, features, amenities, services and policies.
• Issued corporate offer letters and yearly contracts and any other required business correspondence.
• Provided feedback on changing marketing conditions, including trends in the competition, as a result of direct sales solicitation, telephone or direct mail.
2000 - 2002 Sonesta Beach Resort & Club Sharm El Sheikh
Sonesta Beach Resort & casino - Sharm El Sheikh ( Five Stars)
Sonesta club - Sharm El Sheikh ( Four Stars)
Assistant Sales Manager:
• Implemented all sales action plans related to my marketing area as outlined in the Marketing Plan.
• Assigned major travel functions (i.e. trade shows, associations) that deal specifically with my marketing area.
• Established and maintains files on major active accounts within my marketing areas.
• Planed sales trips, under the direct approval of the Director of Sales, to major marketing areas, calling on accounts within their specific marketing area.
• Reported to the Director of Sales on potential markets needing coverage.
• Provided feedback to the Director of Sales on changing market conditions, including trends in the competition, as a result of direct sales solicitation,
• Conducted telephone and direct mail, in my market areas, arranged FAM/Site inspection trips to hotels by major clients and accompanies clients.
• Maintained high level of exposure of the hotel in major market areas through direct sales solicitation; telephone contacts, and written communication.
1998 - 2000 Sonesta Beach Resort & Club Sharm El Sheikh
Sonesta Beach Resort & casino - Sharm El Sheikh ( Five Stars)
Sonesta club - Sharm El Sheikh ( Four Stars)
Sales Executive:
• Implemented all sales activities to maximize business opportunities in my specific area of responsibility under the general guidance of the Sales Manager.
• Generated and maintained customers of defined accounts and areas through face to face sales calls, telephone calls, and entertainment.
• Maintained high level of interaction with customers to gather continuous feedback on the product services, handled their complaints and/or queries.
• Reported on regular basis to the Management of market trends, new business opportunities, and areas in need for coverage.
• Developed good knowledge of products' selling prepositions, strength and weaknesses.
1994 - 1998 Ain Shams University Cairo, Egypt Bachelor Of Arts • Department for English Language, History and Literature. • General Degree: Good.
1997 - 1998 American University In Cairo Cairo, Egypt D.P.S • Simultaneous Interpreting. ( Not concluded, due to job re-allocation)
1990 - 1993 Ismaiel El Kabbany School Cairo, Egypt Al Thanawya Al Aa'mma • Scientific Section with General Degree of 85%.