Salma Farid, Account Manager - Middle East

Salma Farid

Account Manager - Middle East

Booking.com

Location
United Arab Emirates - Dubai
Education
Master's degree, Industrial Organizational Psychology
Experience
20 years, 11 Months

Share My Profile

Block User


Work Experience

Total years of experience :20 years, 11 Months

Account Manager - Middle East at Booking.com
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • My current job since April 2013

• Set quarterly acquisition targets, identifying leads and acquire new accounts.
• Operate as the main point of contact for assigned region clients, responsible for account management - one to one meetings through traveling and arranging presentations.
• Build and maintain strong, long-lasting relationships with established clients and potential clients.
• Generate revenue to help meet quarterly targets.
•Provide commercial advice to key accounts clients to maximize the revenue.
• Ensure the timely and successful delivery of solutions according to customer needs and objectives.
• Identify grow opportunities within the market and collaborate with clients’ needs to ensure growth progress.
• Arrange workshops and presentation for clients in Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.
• Attend Travel events - ATM.

Senior Commercial Advisor at Embassy of Sweden
  • United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi
  • September 2012 to March 2013

• Identify opportunities for media involvement and its implementation and maintains a media and business contact database.
• Responsible for the translation of Arabic/English - English/Arabic press releases.
• Produce, screen and disseminate press releases and monitor Arabic-language press and information from the media on economic, commercial and other local general news in the region.
• Create digital stories and content for brand digital communities to ensure high levels of engagement with target audience.
• Coordinate and moderate the client’s digital channels and communities to ensure best experience for customers and stakeholders.
• Identify and adapt to social media channels and technologies, in line with industry trends.
• Support the execution of campaigns from conception to launch following deadlines and project plans.
• Arrange and coordinate visiting programs for official delegations and business groups.
• Maintain and develop official contacts with local ministries, governments, authorities, chamber of commerce and business councils in the region.
• Make researches, analysis and selection of valuable information to prepare reports and briefing materials for high level meetings.
• Provide consultancy service for companies about local market regulations, business opportunities and requirements for establishing and setting up businesses.
• Promotion of investment in Sweden and facilitation of Swedish direct investment abroad.
• Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility, R&D collaboration.
• Provide information for local companies in the region and imports and business opportunities from Sweden.
• Monitor and attend local trade and special business exhibitions and events, WFES, Arab Health, GITEX, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi Book Fair.
• Export market development and foreign market access.

• Arranged a program for Sweden’s Minister of Trade Oom and delegation visiting Arab Health Jan 2013.

• Arranged a program for Sweden’s Minister of Communication Borg and delegation visiting WFES Jan 2013.

• Arranged a reception on the occasion of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2012.

• Arranged a public discussion on the margins of the Sharjah Book Fair 2012.

• Arranged a program for the Stockholm County Council in UAE from 05 - 08 Nov 2012.

Trade Commissioner Assistant at Embassy of Canada
  • United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi
  • August 2009 to August 2012

• Arrange and coordinate visiting programs for official delegations and business groups.
• Maintain and develop official contacts with local ministries, governments, authorities, chamber of commerce and business councils in the region.
• Understand the Middle East market opportunities and deliver regular market awareness using SWOT analysis and following the key performance indicators in Oil & gas, Education and Consumer products, Ocean Technologies sector.
• Make researches, analysis and selection of valuable information to prepare reports and briefing materials for high level meetings.
• Provides consultancy service for companies about local market regulations, business opportunities and requirements for establishing and setting up businesses.
• Export market development and foreign market access
• Plan, arrange and organize events logistics, budget tracking and management.
• Monitor and attend local trade and special business exhibitions, conference and events, WFES, Arab Health and GITEX.
• Compile and develop international business contacts and potential clients.
• Plan, arrange and organize events logistics, budget tracking and management.
• Participated in the organization of the Middle East Education Initiative (MEEI) 2009, 2010 & 2011.
• Participated in the organization of the Canadian formal delegations visit to UAE.
• Minister Ed Stelmach.
• Premier of the Province of Alberta.
• Brain Mulronry, Former Prime Minister of Canada.
• Ron Liepert, Minister of Energy, Alberta.

Media & Public Relation Coordinator at Higher Colleges of Technology
  • United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi
  • June 2008 to July 2009

• Assist in the marketing and public relations and promotional materials.
• Produce, screen and disseminate press releases and monitor Arabic-language press.
• Plan, arrange and organize events logistics, budget tracking and management.
• Monitor and attend local trade and special business exhibitions, conference and events.
• Identify and adapt to social media channels and technologies, in line with industry trends.
• Support the execution of campaigns from conception to launch following deadlines and project plans.
• Participated in the organization of the Math Conference 2008 logistics.
• Organization and coordination for the Desert Rose Exhibition 2008.

Reservation Supervisor at Shangri-la Hotel
  • United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi
  • March 2007 to May 2008

Assist in the day-to-day operations of the Reservations Department
• Manage telephone, fax and email enquiries in a prompt and professional manner and in accordance with company standards ensuring accuracy and attention to detail at all times
• Understand seasonal and historical trends and work within them to ensure maximum occupancy and average room rates
• Identify new contacts, develop sales leads, and respond to sales opportunities in order to maximise revenue
• Produce quotations and written confirmation to all clients
• Monitor customer satisfaction regularly and resolve any outstanding issues to ensure future business
• Ensure Team Members are developed effectively, maintain a thorough understanding of hotel facilities and processes, and generate a culture of high quality standards for relationship building, customer service, selling techniques, and billing and processing contracts
• Ensure bookings are guaranteed and no show charges/late cancellation charges are applied where appropriate; and Reservations policies and procedures are followed to ensure Guest satisfaction
• Monitor the appearance, standards and performance of the Reservations Team with an emphasis on training and teamwork

Reservation Associate (Sales and Marketing) at Shangri-la Hotel
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • April 2005 to April 2006
Reservations Associate ( Revenue and Sales) at Ritz Carlton Hotel
  • Egypt - Sharm el Sheikh
  • July 2004 to March 2005
Concierge Agent (Guest Relations) at Four Seasons Resort
  • Egypt - Sharm el Sheikh
  • July 2002 to April 2004

Education

Master's degree, Industrial Organizational Psychology
  • at Northcentral University
  • January 2015

Masters of Arts – Undergraduate - Industrial Organizational Psychology - NorthCentral University – USA

Bachelor's degree, Guidance
  • at University of Alexandria
  • June 2002

• Bachelor of Tourism and Hotels, Guidance (Archeology) Department University of Alexandria, Egypt - Year of graduation: 2002

Diploma, Italian Language
  • at Centro Culturale di lingua Italiana di Alessandria
  • January 2002

Certificate in Italian Language - Centro Culturale di lingua Italiana di Alessandria (Dante Alighieri) 1999 - 2002

Diploma, French Language
  • at Centre Française Cultural d'Alexandrie
  • January 2002

Certificate in French Language Centre Française Cultural d'Alexandrie 2000 - 2002

Specialties & Skills

Market Awarness
Media & PR
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATABASE
EVENT PLANNING
MARKETING
RECEPTION
Social Media

Languages

Arabic
Expert
English
Expert
French
Intermediate
Italian
Intermediate

Training and Certifications

Global learning initiative/ Time management/ Diplomatic writing skills. (Training)
Training Institute:
Embassy of Canada
Date Attended:
September 2009
Official hospitality, logistics and travel directives. (Training)
Training Institute:
Embassy of Canada
Date Attended:
April 2009
Anti - Corruption global training. (Training)
Training Institute:
Booking.com
Date Attended:
May 2013
Art of influence. (Training)
Training Institute:
Booking.com
Date Attended:
June 2013
Managing conflict and problem solving and communication. (Training)
Training Institute:
Higher Colleges of Technology
Date Attended:
September 2008
Sales for performance (Training)
Training Institute:
Booking.com
Date Attended:
September 2013
Art of Management. (Training)
Training Institute:
Embassy of Sweden
Date Attended:
December 2012
Protecting sensitive information (Classification). (Training)
Training Institute:
Embassy of Canada
Date Attended:
March 2010