Manager of Sales

• Jan 2021 - Present

Understanding ViralOctopus prospects, leads and clients’ deepest needs. Once the goals are fully understood, I help by recommending adjustments to optimise their current marketing strategies and suggestions for developing and deploying new strategies.ViralOctopus’ White Label Drop Service business model provides Modular Marketing Services which you can use in-house or re-sell to your clients at an affordable price that leaves plenty of room for profit.Our services are available as Custom Projects with multiple tasks or as Gigs - single tasks that you can pick and choose.Our clients at ViralOctopus are busy CMOs and Digital Marketing agency leaders who find themselves struggling when they rely solely on internal resources to fulfil their own marketing needs or those of their customers.

B2B Relations Director

• Nov 2020 - Present

The scuba diving industry is currently booming in the Middle East, with all training agencies confirming a steady and increasing rate of new instructors and new divers wanting to experience the beauty of the underwater world worldwide.As passionate scuba divers, snorkelers and freedivers, we noticed numerous gaps in the available online diving travel booking in the market, so we decided to create our own!Divehood was originally conceived in 2015 and was officially launched at the Middle East Dive & Fish EXPO in Dubai in 2019.The concept sparkled from the idea of Haitham Khaiyat, PADI Course Director and owner of Bateel Diver and Bateel Information Technology , located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.With his strong understanding of the scuba diving travel market and his hands-on experience, the founder Haitham Khaiyat joined his forces with Saud Al-Thomairy, another seasoned entrepreneur with whom he shares a passion for digital marketing and innovative strat-ups.I am the latest addition to the Divehood Team, bringing over 15 years of experience in the global scuba diving travel industry and a solid understanding of the scuba diving market in GCC and EMEA regions.

Marketing Consultant

• Feb 2020 - Present

Development of Alessia Zecchini’s website (World Freediving Champion).Re-branding of digital presence for numerous tour operators and OTAs (confidential) specialised in scuba diving holidays targeting the Italian market. Development of Alessia Zecchini’s website (World Freediving Champion).Re-branding of digital presence for numerous tour operators and OTAs (confidential) specialised in scuba diving holidays targeting the Italian market.

Writer

• Feb 2012 - Present

Author specialised in scuba diving, snorkeling, freediving, watersports, photography and marine environments. Editor of a regular column named “Ornella’s Bubbles”, focusing on scuba diving from a sociological perspective. Member of MyShot UW photography annual competition since its first edition in 2011. SCUBAZONE is the leading magazine in the Italian specialised press, available online and via “print on demand” on premium paper, published bi-monthly https://www.scubazone.it/mag/scubazone-english/ https://www.scubazone.it/mag/category/mag/ SCUBAPORTAL.IT is one of the top global scuba diving related portal, consisting of a 30.000 users online community, featuring forums, news section, UW photography, marine biology, directories, articles etc. https://www.scubaportal.it/

Independent Scuba Diving Industry Consultant and Subject Matter Expert

• Feb 2011 - Present

Numerous regular and exploration projects and tasks related to luxury & medium-budget diving destinations, and for products worldwide (Italy, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Mexican cenotes, Maldives Southern atolls, Sudan, Saudi Arabia)Business Development for UW photographers, scuba diving and free diving professionals, entrepreneurs, organisations, governmental bodies, tourism authorities and national parks. Onsite logistics and market assessments in remote and over-touristed areas, including a detailed overview of criteria traits backing up the understanding of the actual diving conditions in a given area, including:- recommendation based on actual assessed points and collected underwater footage- report including industry insights on diving traveller personas and typical traits of a scuba diving destination, both in mass tourism and remote scuba diving global destinations- identification of unique traits of the assessed area and selected benchmark destinations- recommendations on potential buyer personas, applicable target markets- outlining potential offer of hospitality/real estate products and services- sustainability and environmental related considerations based on rapid assessment methodologies.

Sales & Marketing Manager I Owner's representative

• Jul 2016 - Dec 2019

The multi-award winning Camel Dive Club & Hotel is the longest established scuba diving brand in Sharm El Sheikh and a dive-industry leader since 1986. With its highly-skilled professional team and integrated facilities, it offers a unique diving holiday experience to a yearly average of 10K divers from multiple markets.---Accomplishing business development activities by researching and developing marketing opportunities and plans; implementing sales plans; managing staff.Accomplishing marketing and sales objectives by planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating advertising, merchandising, and trade promotion programs; developing field sales action plans.Achieving marketing and sales operational objectives; preparing and completing action plans; implementing production, productivity, quality, and customer-service standards; resolving problems; completing audits; identifying trends; determining system improvements; implementing change. Meeting marketing and sales financial objectives by forecasting requirements; preparing annual budget; scheduling expenditures; initiating corrective actions; monitoring competition. Analyzing organization’s objectives, promotional policies, and building public relations strategies that influence public opinion and promote products, ideas, and services. Regular annual travelling for trade shows, conferences, presentations, professional training workshops. Organizing fundraising events and cross sponsorships.Planning and overlooking all company website updates (in English, Italian, German and Russian), SEO/DEM, email marketing, social media, and display advertising campaigns. SEO aware content creator for web, blogs, articles and advertorials in English and Italian. Designing, building, and overlooking company’s social media presence. Implementing new internal reservations procedures performed by email, phone, social media channels and face-to-face, aimed at increasing efficiency and minimizing costs.

Assistant Sales and Marketing Manager

• Feb 2015 - Jul 2016

Senior Sales Marketing Executive

• Nov 2014 - Feb 2015

Assisting with general marketing activities at all levels of the company, including Camel Hotel,Food & Beverage outlets and Diving Centres.Contributing to formulating sales and marketing strategies in different markets (mainly English,Russian, Italian, German, English and Turkish speaking guests).Writing news releases and content for print and electronic media e.g. magazines in print andonline, e-newsletters, company website, blogDeveloping and implementing strategy to increase traffic to company’s website.Coordinating design and production of ads and publicity materials (online and in print).Planning monthly media activities e.g advertising, news releases.Maintaining and updating photo and video libraries.Uploading content to website via content management system.Participating in social media activities (Facebook, Twitter, forums, etc).Organising and assisting with events e.g. business orientations, photo shoots, VIP events, journalists' visits, hospitality and dive shows, both B2C and B2B (in Egypt, England, Italy, Poland, Germany, Turkey, UAE and France).Representing the company at local and international events.Coordinating visits by journalists and other VIPs (including evening socialising).Contributing to monitoring and evaluation of marketing activities against targets and budgets.Keeping up to date with current marketing, travel industry, and online developments according tothe peculiarities of different markets.Assist with effective management of marketing activities at 3 levels (corporate, department,product/service).Apply analytical skills, marketing experience and judgment to make decisions and identify newopportunities.Demonstrate creativity in finding new marketing tools and ways to improve marketingeffectiveness.Leading role in the Italian market.

Marketing Assistant

• Jan 2011 - Oct 2014

Brand Strategy Consultant

• Jul 2018 - Jul 2019

Brand consultancy activities, aimed at revamping the image and reputation of this diving and water sports centre, exclusively reserved for property guests, offering private charter rentals and highly personalised activities. Working across all levels and departments of the organisation and the hosting resort to outline company uniqueness and communicate it; shaping the company's outward image by uncovering consumer insights and presenting potential marketing activities; outlining a growth strategy in preparation for the ongoing property extension. Main achievements: • creating scuba diving and mermaiding editorial products for children and reef conservation programs • outlining requirements for a new website and communicating with internal web developers • building a media archive via editing historical photo and video footage • outlining and coordinating company outlets' feel and photo-shoots’ needs • building up a profiled email contacts database of existing customers and prospects • outlining of priority tasks within a digital marketing strategy

Sales and Marketing Supervisor

• Feb 2010 - Apr 2011

Launched in 2002, GoRedSea.com quickly became the Red Sea’s strongest and most visited multilingual travel portal, offering the only complete online information source about Egyptian Red Sea destinations. GoRedSea provided the most up-to-date hotel listings from Taba to the remote South; a Travel Guide with the most comprehensive information on places to see, activities, dive sites, nightlife and entertainment. The guide also included interactive satellite maps, travel forums and photo galleries; a monthly online magazine; a booking engine for holidays, water sport activities and SPA packages. Through GoRedSea.com website and its international Call Centre, travellers could book holiday packages, hotels, diving activities, land transfers etc.; the website was available in English, German and Italian. GRS sadly ceased its e-commerce activity on 31.01.11 > https://bit.ly/2AZUIxf---Defining, coordinating and maintaining PPC campaigns and social media activities.Analysing and evaluating relevant reports in order to develop strategies according to collecteddata and seasonality issues.SEO activities both for organic and paid search: ranking analysis, keywords outline andoptimization, definition of alt tags, meta texts, URLs etc.Monitoring company’s online reputation.Developing brand awareness, product/price competition analysis, and go-to-niche market plans.Analysing target markets and by both monitoring competitors’ behaviour andevaluating Google Analytics data.Identifying content for online marketing campaigns and media advertising.Analysing pros and cons of different web marketing strategies according to available budget anddesired result (CPM/PPC/DEM/Newsletter etc.).Writing and maintaining content for the website (including travel guides and hotel descriptions).Attendance of several webinars focused on the assessment of advertising goals, analysis of existingcampaigns, tracking ROI, making the most of increased traffic during the holidays.

Call Center Supervisor

• Jan 2009 - Feb 2010

Ensuring service levels are satisfied by leading workflow distribution (13 full-time agents).Developing and implementing policies and procedures dedicated to the highest levels of customer satisfaction.Maintaining talk/wrap time, service, data, customers and suppliers satisfaction levels.Handling bookings of VIP customers, assisting them in ad hoc and special requests by providing clear information about hotels/locations/sport-related requirements etc.Handling group requests (for standard and sports holidays especially golfers, divers and kite/windsurfers).Dealing with conflicts and complaints both between the company and the customers and the company and suppliers, either via email and on the phone, while being aware of privacy and travel-related legal obligations.Invoice controlling and maintaining booking files in cooperation with Accounting Department.First screening interviews during recruiting periods for Call Centre Agent position.Creating and conducting training programs while maintaining a consultative coaching style.Collecting data and analysing Call Centre reports (monitoring of repeater customers; holiday and hotel type choices; “how did you hear about us” surveys).

Leisure Travel Consultant

• Dec 2007 - Jan 2009

Handling a high volume of inbound/outbound calls and email requests,booking travel arrangements, dealing with queries, converting enquiries into sales in a busy and noisy call centre environment, identifying customers’ travel needs and delivering high levels of service to medium/high budget customers.Maximizing sales opportunities through up-selling and cross-selling of additional services whilst ensuring high levels of customer service at all times.Checking and delivering travel documents.Handling and following up online and offline payments.