Nicolas Wijnants

Group Director, Global Brands at HotelREZ Hotels & Resorts
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Contact Information
us****@****om
(386) 825-5501
Location
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, ES
Languages
  • French Native or bilingual proficiency
  • English Full professional proficiency
  • Spanish Full professional proficiency
  • German Limited working proficiency
  • Dutch Elementary proficiency
Skills

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Mariana Cuervo

I would do it again ... and again ... and again. I worked with Nicolas for 2 ½ years at World Rainbow Hotels. He is smart, efficient, with a strong sense of responsibility, but also fun and kind. I reported to a manager (and friend) who constantly encouraged me to pursue professional growth. Thank you for an extremely valuable experience Nico!

Terry Haney

Nicolas has a "joie de vivre" that is completely infectious. He is an inspiration to all that work with him, always motivating, training improving anything/anyone he touches. He is a very passionate person and that passion resonates in all he does. I would highly recommend him for any position he desired, knowing that if it is something he really wants, he will be extremely successful.

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Credentials

  • Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism
    GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council)
    Apr, 2021
    - Nov, 2024
  • First Steps in Making the Business Case for Sustainability
    University of Colorado System through Coursera
    Jun, 2020
    - Nov, 2024

Experience

  • HotelREZ Hotels & Resorts
    • United Kingdom
    • Leisure, Travel & Tourism
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Group Director, Global Brands
      • Jun 2010 - Present

      HotelREZ Hotels & Resorts, incorporating Best Loved Hotels and World Rainbow Hotels, is one of the world’s largest, yet tailored, companies dedicated to marketing and connecting independent hoteliers with bookers around the world. We provide hotel distribution, hotel representation and hotel marketing services and consultancy to over 1,500 independent hotels and small hotel groups in over 100 countries. The HotelREZ member portfolio includes a wide variety of hotels and resorts, from sleek boutique city gems, to country-house retreats full of charm and history. Show less

  • Best Loved Hotels
    • United Kingdom
    • Travel Arrangements
    • Group Director, Global Brands - Best Loved Hotels
      • Aug 2019 - Present

      Best Loved Hotels, acquired by HotelREZ Hotels and Resort in August 2019, is a long-established and internationally admired British hospitality brand founded in 1993. Best Loved Hotels has for many years been seen as the go to for agents with its iconic Gold Book gracing most high end agency desks. Today, Best Loved offers consumers access to a collection of over 250 curated boutique and independent properties. Highlights of the Best Loved Hotels collection include former castles, palaces, urban gems, exclusive hideaways and luxury islands resorts. Show less

  • World Rainbow Hotels
    • United Kingdom
    • Hospitality
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Group Director, Global Brands - World Rainbow Hotels
      • Jun 2010 - Present

      World Rainbow Hotels is the first ever Consortia targetting the gay and lesbian market, both on the GDS and online! Some 500+ gay & lesbian welcoming hotels in 119 destinations around the world have already been accepted into the 2011 edition of our program. World Rainbow Hotels is the first ever Consortia targetting the gay and lesbian market, both on the GDS and online! Some 500+ gay & lesbian welcoming hotels in 119 destinations around the world have already been accepted into the 2011 edition of our program.

  • AXEL HOTELS
    • Spain
    • Hospitality
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Brand Sales Manager
      • Dec 2008 - Jun 2010

      Responsible for Sales and Marketing for all 3 properties: Barcelona, Berlin, Buenos Aires Based at headquarters in Barcelona Responsibilities included: • Ensuring hotels’ best placement and visibility throughout all of distribution channels • Prospecting new partnerships and sales opportunity • Implementing aggressive rate strategy, creating creative promotions and packages. • Increasing direct web reservations through web content enhancements, special promotions, online publicity and booking engine optimization • Successfully establishing Axel Hotel Berlin in its first year of operation • Elaborating Sales & Marketing action plans and budgets for all 3 properties • Coaching Hotels’ General Managers, reservation and front desk staff • Selecting best technological solutions and contracting technological suppliers. • Representing the group at international trade shows and sales visits. • Liaising with G&L organizations worldwide; act as the company’s main representative. • Producing monthly guest communication action (newsletters and e-blast) Show less

  • The Perfect Hotels
    • Barcelona
    • Regional Director
      • Sep 2007 - Dec 2008

      Business Development role in exclusive hotel online reservation start-up. Main responsibilities incl. • Successfully opened 5 new destinations: BCN, SFO, Miami, Dublin and Prague • Visiting and selecting over 100 hotels (only 4-5 stars exclusive properties) • Creating each hotels’ profile on-line and training the hotels on the company’s extranet site • Creating and coordinating the destination’s sub-page material • Account-manage the hotels in terms of rates and availability • Create destination-wide promotions and promote them via newsletter Show less

  • Grupo Hotusa
    • Spain
    • Travel Arrangements
    • 400 - 500 Employee
    • Hotel Account Manager
      • Jul 2006 - Aug 2007

      Leading European chain of independent hotels Responsibilities incl: • Affiliated new hotels & opened new destinations • Managed over 50 hotel accounts, especially in USA, Canada and Marruecos • Supervised Rate Managers efforts in establishing best rate strategies • Collaborated in the creation of Hotusa’s new luxury brand “Style Hotels” • Sold complimentary services to hotels incl: branding, GDS rep, PMS development Leading European chain of independent hotels Responsibilities incl: • Affiliated new hotels & opened new destinations • Managed over 50 hotel accounts, especially in USA, Canada and Marruecos • Supervised Rate Managers efforts in establishing best rate strategies • Collaborated in the creation of Hotusa’s new luxury brand “Style Hotels” • Sold complimentary services to hotels incl: branding, GDS rep, PMS development

  • W Hotels
    • Hospitality
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Director of Front Office & Property Trainer
      • Jan 2003 - Aug 2005

      W Hotel San Francisco Part of Starwood Hotels, 404 rooms Responsibilities incl: • Managing 5 departments and about 40 employees • Designed corporate training manuals; and trained hotel’s new employees in customer service areas. • Opened W Montreal and W San Diego; took part of the recruiting process and trained new staff in W’s corporate standards. W Hotel San Francisco Part of Starwood Hotels, 404 rooms Responsibilities incl: • Managing 5 departments and about 40 employees • Designed corporate training manuals; and trained hotel’s new employees in customer service areas. • Opened W Montreal and W San Diego; took part of the recruiting process and trained new staff in W’s corporate standards.

  • Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
    • Hospitality
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Director of Front Office Operations
      • Oct 2000 - Dec 2002

      The Palace Hotel, San Francisco Part of The Luxury Collection brand, by Starwood Hotels, 553 rooms • Managing 6 departments and about 60 employees • Acquired strong experience in groups and congresses management The Palace Hotel, San Francisco Part of The Luxury Collection brand, by Starwood Hotels, 553 rooms • Managing 6 departments and about 60 employees • Acquired strong experience in groups and congresses management

  • Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
    • United States
    • Hospitality
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Assistant Director of Front Office
      • Sep 1997 - Sep 2000

      The Park Lane Hotel • Starwood Hotels, 305 rooms • Managing 3 departments and about 30 employees The Park Lane Hotel • Starwood Hotels, 305 rooms • Managing 3 departments and about 30 employees

Education

  • EADA Business School
    Master en Innovación y Sostenibilidad Empresarial, Sustainability Studies
    2022 - 2023
  • University of Cambridge
    Business Sustainability Management, 77.6 %
    2021 - 2021
  • Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne
    Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management
    1992 - 1996

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