Experience

Magna Hospitality Group, L.C.

• United States
• Hospitality
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Corporate Director of Sales and Business Development

  • Nov 2021 - Present



Magna Hospitality - Courtyard by Marriott Princeton

• Director of Sales

  • Jan 2018 - Nov 2021

  Upon accepting my position at Courtyard Princeton I was tasked with increasing revenue to where the hotel is expected to perform. Through building a strong sales team and executing a well thought out strategic sales plan we were able to exceed budget but moreover to exceed the prior year revenues by over $500,000. We accepted the challenge to "do it again" and again exceeded budget and prior year revenues by over $350,000. For performance through both years I won numerous awards including 2018: DOS of the Year, Leadership Team of the Year and 2019: DOS of the Year, RevPAR Award and Courtyard Princeton Manager of the Year. All of these awards would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication to serve of each and everyone of our TEAM members at the Courtyard Princeton.



Paramount Hotel Group

• United States
• Hospitality
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Sales

  • Jul 2017 - Jan 2018

  During my short time here at Hyatt Place I learned more about the Hyatt Brand and the strength of the above-property support the Hyatt has to offer. At this property I made an impact in the growth of group revenue and special corporate revenue all with the implementation of a detailed strategic plan and solutions-based selling. During my short time here at Hyatt Place I learned more about the Hyatt Brand and the strength of the above-property support the Hyatt has to offer. At this property I made an impact in the growth of group revenue and special corporate revenue all with the implementation of a detailed strategic plan and solutions-based selling.



Friendwell Group of Companies

• United States
• Real Estate
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Sales and Marketing

  • May 2016 - Jul 2017

  I received unforgettable advice from Jason Chen, CEO, upon my hiring in this role. "Learn from your team". The light bulb went off for me here. As a leader, our job is not to know more. Our job is to bring out the strengths of our team members to produce maximum results. I had the pleasure of working with 2 great sales teams at these hotels. During my time at each hotel we developed and implemented strategic sales plans, encouraged the renewal of the community in our properties and hit the pavement to spread the word about upcoming renovations and new ownership. As someone who has spent much of my time selling through renovations, I do wish I was there for the final product.



Hersha Hospitality

• United States
• Hospitality

• Director of Sales at Hilton Garden Inn Edison at Raritan Center

  • Apr 2012 - May 2016

  This hotel is located in the Raritan Center Business Park which is the largest business park east of the Mississippi River. Here we catered to corporate business as well as the many large conventions at the 150,000 sq ft NJ Expo Center. At this hotel I developed and executed strategic sales and marketing plans partnering with the many local accounts and catering to a wide variety of unique conventions.Through a complete renovation of the guest rooms and public space we sold through the challenges of both and lead the property to post-renovation growth in occupancy, ADR and RevPAR.



Remington Hotels

• United States
• Hospitality
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Director of Sales at Courtyard by Marriott Edison

  • Jan 2009 - Apr 2012

  I accepted this role in the midst of hte housing bubble recession of 2007-2009. While decreases in demand were a challenge I was able to secure an IT project using creative measures to fit the business into the property and take care of the client and their team. This business kept us in the #1 slot for Occ, ADR and RevPAR in STAR reporting through most weeks over the 1 1/2 years the project lasted. During this time the hotel had a full renovation of guest rooms and all public areas during which we maintained our fair share.



DoubleTree Hotel Princeton

• Corporate Sales Manager

  • May 2008 - Jan 2009

  During my tenure at the DoubleTree Hotel Princeton, I was tasked to increase corporate group sales for a recently renovated property of 238 rooms with 8,000 square feet of meeting space. My focus was developing the corporate group business from the ground up and increasing exposure to the property. Through aggressive proactive sales efforts, prompt response to inquiries and leads and active participation in MPI, NJSAE and Hilton events the hotel now has a running start to success with a strong database of meeting planners in the pharmaceutical, technology, financial and association markets locally and nationally.



Coakley & Williams Hotel Management Company

• United States
• Hospitality
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Sales at Holiday Inn Fort Washington/Philadelphia

  • Oct 2006 - May 2008

  The primary focus of my role here was to turn around a poor reputation, organize a sales department and sell through a full renovation of guest rooms and public space. Shortly after starting we were forced to transition the hotel to Fort Washington Hotel & Conference Center before later becoming Holiday Inn again after the full renovation. With the transition I was an integral part of the branding and selling of the then independent hotel. To reintroduce the hotel to the market we worked with Temple University to integrate a sales blitz of our market into the curriculum of a hospitality sales course. During this sales blitz which was highlighted in the local newspaper we shared information about the updated hotel and an invite to our Grand Reopening Celebration of the Holiday Inn Fort Washington. Our team planned a celebration with live entertainment, food and wine tasting, giveaways, site tours, early booking promos and much more. The reputation was restored and business was better than ever.



Cruise411

• United States

• Cruise Specialist

  • Jan 2004 - Oct 2006

  This was one of the most fun experiences. I never cruised before accepting this position. Once I started after my first full month of selling I won a cruise for highest sales. I told my friend, "Pack your bags! We're going to the Caribbean!" Shortly after I received the details of the cruise I won and we were off to ...CANADA?! So, not the Caribbean but free cruise here we come! In this role I enjoyed rewards for my hard work and learned to become very detailed. One mistake on a cruise booking can cause someone their vacation of a lifetime. While this was a very fun position I knew I needed to be around people and began looking for hotel sales positions. I am still a cruiser and hope the cruise industry makes a great comeback soon.



Marriott International

• United States
• Hospitality
• 700 & Above Employee

• Sales Manager at SpringHill Suites by Marriott Willow Grove/Philadelphia

  • Oct 2001 - Feb 2004

  This was my first position after leaving JWU and what an exciting time it was. I was originally hired to as the sales coordinator and split my time between the Residence Inn and the soon-to-open SpringHill Suites. Soon after opening the sales manager left for another opportunity and I stepped up to the plate expressing my interest in the role. While they considered my application to the position, as sales coordinator I began making calls to set up appointments for outside sales calls, packed up some goodies and sales kits and was on my way out to hit the pavement. Thankfully, my hard work and determination was met with the promotion to Sales Manager. I met my quotas of 10 outside sales calls, 50 prospecting phone call and 8 cold calls per week. Working in a cluster with Courtyard, Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites gave me the opportunity to cross-sell brands and learn to put business in the most appropriate product to fit the client/guest needs.