Vishal Sood, Director of Business Development & Contracting

Vishal Sood

Director of Business Development & Contracting

Royal Park Tourism Services LLC

Location
United Arab Emirates - Dubai
Education
Diploma, Hotel Management
Experience
33 years, 6 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :33 years, 6 Months

Director of Business Development & Contracting at Royal Park Tourism Services LLC
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • My current job since May 2008

 Creation and growth of the Contracting Department for the organization. From a one member team, grown to a 14 member team.
 Negotiating with over 500 Hotels in UAE and develop a consistent and harmonious relationship
 Liaising with key Agency partners from all over various markets to develop products in line with the requirements and achieve growth of these partners in their respective markets.
 Design and Launch the Online Management System for the organization
 Expertise and training in Yield Management and Costings
 Creation of SOPs for ISO certification and maintenance of standards for all related department.

Negotiation/ Strategic Planning/ New Set Ups/ System Implementation

 Initiating and finalization of formulation of budgets and ensuring adherence to planned targets
 Initiating various systems on Process improvement and quality to enhance efficiency.
 Constantly reviewing tasks and systems to ensure competitiveness
 Establishing new business and devising short and long term goals and strategies for business in line with organizational objectives.




Contracting

 Establishing new standards of contracting and achieving best results in a short period of time.
 Thorough knowledge of contractual terms and conditions and financial and legal implications of every contract signed
 Yield management and Incentive programs linked with production of room nights
 Leading an energetic team ensuring a high level of accuracy and speed, constantly upgrading internal systems
 Ready to innovate at a short notice and keep up with the market conditions.
 Devising short and long term goals/ strategies for business in line with organizational objectives.

Sales & Marketing

 Planning, organizing and implementing sales programs and strategies and conducting product presentations for continuously securing business.
 Driving sales initiatives and achieving desired targets.
 Conducting competitor analysis by keeping abreast of market trends & competitor moves to achieve market share metrics.
 Implementing promotional activities in coordination with external agencies to spearhead product launch, brand promotion and event management initiatives.
 Marketing Collaterals, Advertising and Media relations.

Business Development / Key Account Management

 Initiating & developing relationships with key decision makers in target organizations for business development.
 Identifying prospective clients, generating business from the existing in from various segments.
 Evolving market segmentation & penetration strategies to achieve targets.

Client Relationship Management

 Ensuring high quality services, resulting in customer delight and optimum resource utilization for maximum service quality.
 Ensuring maximum customer satisfaction by closely interacting with potential clients & understand their requirements and customizing the product and services accordingly.
 Forecasting and pre-empting client requirements and creating a Wow-factor.

Director of Sales & Marketing at Kabul Serena Hotel
  • Afghanistan
  • July 2003 to March 2008

- Setting up the launch of the product.
- Set up of the department, recruitment.
- Policies & Procedures for the department.
- Development of the Critical path, marketing plan, budgets, etc.
- Pricing, positioning and related surveys.
- Developing F& B concepts.
- Development of the business plan.
- Conceptualization of marketing collateral.
- Conceptualization of room categories.
- Website concept and updating.
- Departmental Training.
- Development of Core training programs for the hotel
- Developing Loyalty program.
- In charge of the IT department for 18 months controlling all IT activities.
- In charge of the Security department for 4 months

Director Sales at Crowne Plaza Surya
  • India
  • October 2001 to July 2003

- Re-organization of the department.
- Revitalization of the Team.
- Re-launch the product.
- Achieving a higher market share.
- Coordination with International Sales offices.
- Developing communication channels for International offices.
- Development of Sales Tools.
- Standardization of marketing collateral.
- Website development.
- Launching of loyalty programs.

Director Sales India at Yak & Yeti
  • Nepal
  • October 1999 to September 2001

- Overall charge of pushing sales from India.
- Increasing market share, introducing Nepal as a destination to new markets.
- Setting up Franchise offices.
- Launching the largest Conference & conventions centre.
- Restructuring offices to ensure cost viability.
- Ensuring proper system for collection of out standings.

Marketing Manager at Sita Holiday Resorts
  • India
  • September 1998 to October 1999

- Setting up Marketing as a function
- Planning, Market Research for both properties.
- Launching all inclusive plan for Goa.
- Pricing, Packaging, Advertising, Media.
- Sales Activities for Goa, sales blitzes.
- Setting up of offices.
- Tying up with Travel Agencies for promotions, target based.

Sales Manager at Cidade de Goa
  • India
  • August 1995 to September 1998

- Setting up of the Delhi office
- Coverage of Northern India
- Increasing Market share
- Targeting of specific market segments
- Package development and marketing with Travel Agencies
- Incentive schemes for Agencies.

Various Positions in Front Office, Housekeeping, F&B Service, Sales at Cidade de Goa
  • India
  • October 1990 to August 1995

- Joined as Sr. Front Office Assistant in October 1990.
- Promoted as Front Office Supervisor in April 1991.
- Promoted to Lobby Executive in April 1992.
- Further Promoted to Asst. Lobby Manager in April 1993.
- Deputed to Mumbai for three months May 1994 - July 1994 to take over Reservations & telesales.
- Transferred to Sales & Marketing as Sales Executive in September 1994.
- Promoted as Sales Manager, North India in 1995.
- Various functions of Front Office
- Staffing, training, guest relations, etc.
- In house selling, package development
- Blitzes in neighboring states
- Positioned as a Guest facilitator with background in key operational tasks
- Led take over of 100 rooms from Projects to hand over to Operations

Education

Diploma, Hotel Management
  • at Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology
  • May 1990

Diploma of Hotel Management, a three year course, equivalent to a degree today.

Specialties & Skills

Management
Hotel Management
Market Research
Marketing
Microsoft Office

Languages

English
Expert