Experience

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  CWT Meetings & Events

  • United States
  • Events Services
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • North America Supplier Manager

    • Oct 2022 - Present

    Manage all hotel and DMC supplier partnerships and strategy for the CWT M&E North America region, in collaboration with our global supplier management team. Responsible for negotiating partnership agreements and executing strategies to optimize revenue. Identify opportunities for new supplier partnerships while building strong business relationships with our existing partners. Engage and equip the CWT M&E team through internal strategy and education to drive the value of those partnerships to successfully execute and enhance the meetings and events of our customers.

  • Meetings & Events Sourcing Specialist

    • Dec 2006 - Oct 2022

    •Source and contract hotel space for over 100 meetings a year for a dedicated account.•Consult with client planners to determine meeting needs, preferences, and objectives. Search for hotel space based upon those specifications•Compare available hotels and present options and recommendations to client•Negotiate hotel concessions and terms to maximize cost-savings and minimize liability for client, and ensure hotel contracts comply with client legal requirements•Track cost-savings and cost-avoidance, and capture meeting spend data across hotels and chains to provide client with leverage for future negotiations•Mitigate contract cancellations and seek potential re-booking opportunities

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  Carlson Marketing

  • Plymouth, MN

  • Purchasing/Planning Manager

    • Mar 2004 - Nov 2007
    • Plymouth, MN

    •Wrote proposals for numerous Fortune 500 companies seeking a travel company to manage their meeting and incentive trips•Created budgets for these trips including airfare, hotel room, catering, meeting and AV costs, activities, transportation, special events, and staffing•Negotiated pricing and terms with hotels, cruise lines, destination management companies, and special event suppliers on behalf of clients•Presented proposals, highlighting capabilities, creativity, and value-adds

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  BI WORLDWIDE

  • Edina, MN

  • Senior Account Manager/Travel Purchasing Manager

    • Mar 1989 - Feb 2004
    • Edina, MN

    Travel Purchasing Manager (2001-2004):•Consulted with Sales Manager to determine meeting needs, preferences, and objectives for clients. Searched for hotel space based upon those specifications•Presented available hotel recommendations to Sales Manager•Negotiated hotel concessions, terms, and legal requirement to maximize cost-savings and minimize liability for BI•Mitigated contract cancellations and seek potential re-booking opportunities•Maintained strategic relationships with our supplier partnersSales Manager, Meeting Services (1997-2001):•Facilitated strategy meetings with clients to determine their meeting requirements, objectives, and budget•Built RFP's for vendor bids•Wrote customized proposals and presented them, highlighting capabilities, creativity, budget and negotiationsSenior Account Manager/Team Leader, Meeting Operations (1993-1997):•Supervised and advised five other meeting planners•Reviewed client budgets with associates and approved purchase orders•Assigned workload and conducted performance reviews•Coordinated client travel programs with budgets of $500,000-$5,000,000, and ranging in size from 200-5,000 attendees•Managed hotel room block, attrition, deposit, and cancellation terms•Coordinated all elements including: attendee registration and communication, rooming lists, meeting room set-up, AV, food and beverage, airport transportation, entertainment, decor, group leisure activities•Managed hotel room block, attrition, deposit, and cancellation terms•Maintained client budget, while enhancing program content through re-buysProgram Manager, Meeting Operations (1989-1993):•Same duties as above, only smaller meetings and no supervisory role

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  American Collectors Association

  • Edina, MN

  • Assistant Meeting Planner

    • Jan 1988 - Feb 1989
    • Edina, MN

    •Worked on 20 meetings per year, ranging in size from 40-1,000 attendees•Handled attendee registration and communication•Logistics planning: rooming list, room set-ups, menus, AV, and surveys

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  Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

  • Minneapolis, MN

  • Rooms Supervisor

    • Jun 1987 - Dec 1987
    • Minneapolis, MN

    •Inspected 180 rooms per day and turned back into inventory for re-sale•Responsible for 12 room cleaners