Palak Shah

Experience

• 

  Fortune Select Trinity

  Sept 2002 - Apr 2004

  Sales and Marketing Executive

  • Liaised with clients & served key corporate accounts. • Achieved sales targets and handed sales issues.• Planned and organized food festivals and promotions. • Event Management and PR management.• Market Research & Evaluation.

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  Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts

  May 2004 - Dec 2004

  Sales and Marketing Executive

  • Promoted and developed new business prospects. • Handled both leisure and business sector for domestic and international properties of Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts. • Emphasized on group business, mainly conferences. Introduced & promoted various International travelers programs. • Prepared MIS reports on weekly / Monthly / Quarterly basis.

• 

  Marriott International

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2011

  • Design and implement new market strategies• Design and run marketing campaigns including outdoor advertising, print media and social network for F&B outlets and food festivals• Work closely with advertising agencies to create ads complying to company’s marketing guidelines• Analyzed market information by using sales systems and implements strategy to achieve hotel’s financial room and catering goals with the hotels revenue leader.• Monitored all day to day activities of direct reports in reservations, sales centre and proactive sales team.• Provided positive and assertive leadership to ensure maximum revenue potential (e.g., sets example with personal booking goals).• Worked with revenue leader and sales strategy team to ensure understanding of sales strategy and effective implementation of this strategy for total segments.• Recommended booking goals for sales team members and managed relationships with key stakeholders, both internal and external.• Assisted Revenue Management with completing accurate projections.• Approved space release for catering to maximize revenue (DOS, Group).• Developed, implemented and sustained aggressive solicitation program focused on increasing business.• Worked with management team to create and implement a sales plan addressing revenue, customers and the market led by the DOS (Depth of Sales).• Worked collaboratively with off-property sales channels (e.g., Market Sales, GSO) to ensure the property needs are being achieved and the sales efforts are complementary, not duplicative.• Participated in sales calls with members of sales team to acquire new business and/or close on business.• Worked with Human Resources, Engineering and Loss Prevention teams to ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations and/or union requirements.• Reviewed sales and catering guest satisfaction results to identify areas of improvement.• Ensured that a customer recognition program is in effect throughout Sales. Show less • Handled Medical fraternity (Pharmaceutical companies, Hospitals, Medical Institutions & Societies) and primary target area of Hitech & Gachibowli (New Business district of the City).• Developed the corporate segment and drove incremental revenue by providing support & building relationships with a portfolio of key accounts.• Built strategic plans to influence a variety of business sectors and supervised the implementation of the same.• Targeted MICE segments of the corporate and implementation of all procedure and the operational and administrative functions of all the departments. • Generated various MIS. Update and supervise the online RFP tool of Marriott (MarRFP)• Identified new source markets and business opportunities.• Strategies and implementation of food festivals. Show less • Marketed Marriott International hotels amongst corporate accounts (including Finance, Pharmaceuticals & IT industries), Travel Management Companies (TMC), Travel Agents, Tour operators and MICE organizers• Handled markets of Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Kolkata for both Corporate and Intermediaries• Lead and focused on implementing strategy for major corporate accounts TMC’s for all India GSR team• Developed the corporate and intermediary segment and drove incremental revenue through electronic distribution by providing support & building relationships with Corporate Accounts, Travel agencies, TMCs and GDS companies in the India• Developed and maintained business relationships with major Corporate Accounts, TMCs & top travel agents & a portfolio of key accounts• Built strategic plans to influence a variety of business sectors and supervise the implementation of the same• Generated various MIS – Activity Report• Actively worked with GDS companies to partner in joint promotions and provided training & support to the travel trade segment • Conducted focused seminars for the corporate accounts and the travel trade segment• Identified new source markets and business opportunities• Oversaw GSR Sales team in India and regularly monitored activities with the all India team for events with Corporate Accounts and TMC’s• Participated in joint promotional activities with Corporate Accounts and Travel partners, e.g. - FAM trips, Customer events Show less

  • Director of Sales Marketing

    Jan 2009 - Jan 2011

  • Associate Director of Sales & Marketing

    Apr 2007 - Jun 2009

  • Sales Manager

    Jan 2005 - Mar 2007
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  The Pride Hotels,India

  Feb 2005 - Dec 2005

  Sales and Marketing Assistant Manager

  • Heading the Mumbai regional sales office, with team of two sales executives and a sales coordinator. • Developed chain wide Business and handling corporate and travel trade sales. • Coordinating with the concern departments of 3 Hotels for the room bookings from Mumbai.• Meetings with actual users in the corporate sector who had stayed in our hotels and giving feedback to the respective hotels. • Emplaned our group of hotels in many company’s preferred list for their business travels & worked with premium accounts for their group bookings & conferences.• Finalize packages for the hotels and working with travel agents. Show less

• 

  IHG Hotels & Resorts

  Apr 2011 - now

  Regional Director Sales - South West Asia - IHG

  • Driving New Business by implementing strategic account plans • Monitoring sales & marketing activity and performance for the region • Leading, guiding and grooming and development of the team • Managing relationships with key clients/agents/airlines/ third-party intermediaries etc. • Managing and building key external / internal relationships• Working across a wide variety of cultures and markets, develop and deliver tailored approach and behavior to understand key differentiators and leverage best practices accordingly• Design strategic and tactical marketing promotions to maximize revenue in need periods, working closely with key need of the company to identify touch points within the account portfolio• Design segment strategy plans and annual account planning• Design and drive analytical capability to understand market share in order to promote company preference through client• Strategically driving system delivery through preferred distribution channels in line with IHG expectations• Developing a clear understanding of client requirements from designated account portfolios in order to leverage market share and increase revenue• Completing and updating Global Key Account plans and ensuring consistent communication to assigned networker base• Actively profiling new customers within the account base in order to achieve greater understanding of touch points and increase account knowledge• Working in conjunction with Regional Sales Centre, Hotel/Area Sales Directors and Sales and Marketing personnel across the globe to execute the strategies• Engaging with key stakeholders across the business in order to maximize resource effectiveness and increase efficiency• Developing a thorough understanding of industry trends and updates for IHG • Providing feedback on market trends and customer needs within all segments Show less

• 

  Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts

  -

  Vice President Sales