Shawn Afonso, Front Desk Manager

Shawn Afonso

Front Desk Manager

Hilton

Location
United Arab Emirates - Dubai
Education
Bachelor's degree, Tourism Studies
Experience
27 years, 5 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :27 years, 5 Months

Front Desk Manager at Hilton
  • Canada
  • My current job since November 2011

A

Front Desk Manager at Marriott
  • Canada
  • October 2009 to October 2011

• Responsible for the direction, training and scheduling of the Front Desk team
• Responsible for resolving guest concerns
• Responsible for optimizing and realizing revenue targets
• Responsible for overall operations in the absence of an Executive Manager

Club Executive Manager at Jumeirah
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • May 2008 to September 2009

• Responsible for driving a team of 26 in Rooms and Food & Beverage operations
• Refreshed the standard operating procedures to reflect adjusted company guidelines
• Planned and successfully process managed sectional objectives supporting the departmental goals
1. Achieved an annual incremental revenue of $107, 000/- on up selling
2. Enrolled an annual total of 1, 400 guests into the company loyalty program - Sirius
3. Successfully managed the migration of operating system Fidelio to Opera
• Budgeted and managed the sectional profit & loss and capital expenditure projects for the year

Duty Manager at Jumeirah Beach Hotel
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • May 2007 to April 2008

• Oversee the operation of four receptions and allied areas including concierge, telephones, business centre
• Maximize sales, yield and revenue using yield management and selling strategies and drive KPI’s
• Review P&L and identify and action areas with concern
• Co-ordinate and supervise groups
• Identify and manage overbooked periods
• Process Manage the Customer Satisfaction Index
• Assist in identifying, managing and enforcing Departmental Objectives
• Work in tandem with department heads of Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Engineering, Security, Sports & Leisure, Finance and other relevant departments
• Maintain visibility, handle VIP’s and delegations, obtain guest feedback and manage guest concerns
• Appraise, develop and recruit colleagues
• Prepare the night clerk report, supervise the night audit procedure, manage discrepancy reports, compile market segmentation reports
• Represent hotel management in the capacity of a night manager and Front Office Manager in his absence during the day
• Conduct quality reviews
• Prepare weekly forecasts and daily figures
• Manage high balances and pending paymasters

Assistant Manager, Guest Services at Jumeirah Beach Hotel
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • August 2006 to April 2007

Spearheading hotel participation in creation of company wide guest history database
Nominated for a course in Front Office Management and Financial Management at the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management

Supervisor, Guest Services at Beit Al Bahar
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • August 2004 to July 2006

• Directly supervise a team of 10 Guest Services Colleagues and coordinate and oversee a team of 20 Food & Beverage colleagues and 20 Housekeeping colleagues
• Manage Front Office operations at the exclusive Beit Al Bahar villas of Jumeirah Beach Hotel
• Create and assess department standard operating procedures
• Train colleagues in Front Office and related trainings for Food & Beverage (Butlers) and Housekeeping
• Appraise and follow through with colleague development plans
• Interview and recruit
• Create and drive section objectives in line with department objectives and periodically communicate progress to colleagues and senior management
• Correspond with guests via email, telephone or fax
• Plan and action special event concepts at Beit Al Bahar for Easter, Christmas, special occasions/events, dinners etc.
• Plan annual department budget including Front Office, Housekeeping & Food & Beverage and maintain statistics since inception in 1999
• Monthly review of P&L statements and follow up action to maintain operating cost and maximize sales
• Plan and coordinate capital expenditure projects. Projects included inroom I.T. upgrade with wireless, plasma televisions, Bose music systems, club cars, pools, furniture etc.
• Initiate and enforce changes as per requirements and market trends
• Spearhead the Beit Al Bahar ISO certification project
• Coordinate Health & Safety management for the department

Guest Services Executive at Jumeirah Beach Hotel
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • March 2002 to July 2004

A

Butler at Jumeirah Beach Hotel
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • September 1999 to February 2002

• Pre-opened 64 cover, ideally located, Villa Beach Restaurant (Mediterranean) as acting supervisor February 2002
• Service the Burj Al Arab Beach

Banquet Supevisor at Cidade De Goa Beach Resort
  • India
  • September 1998 to August 1999

• Supervise daily operation of banquet action plans for functions upto 1500 pax
• Coordinate events with external contractors

Room Service Supervisor at Cidade De Goa Beach Resort
  • India
  • July 1997 to August 1998

• Supervise daily room service operations
• Plan and execute special events/occasions en-suite
• Maintain daily room service records

Intern at Fort Aguada Beach Hotel (Taj)
  • India
  • March 1995 to September 1995

Selected to serve the President during his stay in Goa, in June 1996

Internship at the Fort Aguada Beach Resort (Taj Group of Hotels), Goa, in Front Office, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage and allied areas from April to September 1995

Education

Bachelor's degree, Tourism Studies
  • at Indira Gandhi National University
  • March 2002

BACHELOR OF TOURISM STUDIES (4 years) WES Certified Indira Gandhi National University, India

Diploma, Food & Beverage Service
  • at National Institute of Hotel Management
  • May 1997

DIPLOMA IN HOTEL MANAGEMENT, CATERING TECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED NUTRITION (3 years) WES Certified May 1997 National Institute of Hotel Management, India

High school or equivalent, Arts
  • at Dhempe Colege of Arts & Sciences
  • May 1994

HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL (2 years) Goa Board of Education, India

Specialties & Skills

Rooms Division
Concierge Services
Event Management
Fidelio
Front Office
Microsoft Office
Fidelio

Languages

English
Expert
Arabic
Intermediate
Hindi
Expert

Training and Certifications

Smart Serve (Training)
Training Institute:
CIC
Date Attended:
June 2009

Hobbies

  • Carrom