Rich Cimilluca

Experience

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  The Forrestal at Princeton - Benchmark Hospitality

  Jul 1995 - Mar 1999

  Director of Sales & Marketing

  • Rebranded the 290 room conference center from its previous identity as The Scanticon during an $11,000,000 million dollar renovation, • Repositioned the property to pursue higher rated executive conferences. • One of two executive committee members retained during transition of management companies. • Increased total revenue 43% – from $17,123,000 to $24,601,000.• Increased collection of cancellation and attrition fees 878% – to $1,625,000.

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  The North Maple Inn at Basking Ridge ~ Benchmark Hospitality

  Jan 1999 - Jan 2005

  Staff Support, Director of Sales & Marketing

  • Repositioned the 171 conference center from its previous identity as the AT&T Learning Center. • Transitioned to a fully open market conference center resulting in increased revenues of over $17,000,000.• Created the identity of “300 North Maple” for social catering at the AT&T Learning Center resulting in new social catering revenues of $1,300,000 annually.• Field Sales & Marketing Staff Support duties fulfilled as required by the corporate office, including property reviews and business development opportunities.• Recognized by Lodging Hospitality Magazine for four consecutive years (2002- 2005) as ranking within the top five revenue performers per key inthe suburban hotels category. ($87,285 -$99,412 per key) Show less

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  The Heldrich - Benchmark Hospitality

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2007

  Director of Sales & Marketing

  • Lead pre-opening sales and administrative office for 248 room hotel and conference center constructed as part of a mixed-use urban facility, featuring the hotel, dining and retail space, luxury condominiums and academic offices.• Prepared and launched the marketing plan, public relations plan and direct sales efforts of this urban redevelopment project.• Recruited and trained the sales team of seven, catering team of three, and revenue team of two.• Acquired International Association of Conference Centers status during pre-opening and booked the IACC annual conference at The Heldrich within six weeks of opening resulting in extensive media and endorsement opportunities.• Achieved 72.7% YTD RevPar index with the first five months of opening in the conference center set and 74.5% YTD RevPar index in the local hotel set. Show less

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  The Palace at Somerset Park

  Apr 2008 - Apr 2009

  Director of Sales & Marketing

  • Evaluated and implemented changes in sales and catering personnel, systems and procedures, collateral, print and on-line marketing and public relations.• Successfully targeted the corporate market to fill space midweek with meetings.

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  Pyramid Global Hospitality

  Apr 2009 - Sept 2009

  Director of Sales & Marketing

  • Initially hired to direct sales and marketing initiatives for 364 room Doubletree.• Within 45 days, assigned responsibilities for sales and marketing at nearby sister property, 405 room Hilton East Brunswick.• Analyzed sales team resources for both properties and effectively removed redundancy, reducing two teams of twenty to a single “complexed” team of ten. • Redeployed territories and responsibilities and increased team quotas.• Successfully introduced the Complete Meeting Package concept resulting in increased sales, improved customer satisfaction and greater profitability. Show less

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  Hamilton Park - Destination Hotels & Resorts

  Dec 2009 - Oct 2012

  Director of Sales & Marketing

  • Upon hiring, immediately tasked with leading the direct sales effort to recoup the loss of 25,000 meeting package room nights from former clients.• Progressed through a series of marketing initiatives and promotions to reposition the hotel from a conference center to a full service upscale hotel. • Increased IBT room nights by 7,000 in a three year period.• Launched updated property website including full mobile device optimization and behavioral targeting, resulting in improved user experience and increased conversions. Show less

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  Crowne Plaza Princeton - Conference Center

  Nov 2012 - Jul 2014

  Complex Director of Sales & Marketing

  • Hired to transition and reposition the 368 guest room Wyndham Princeton. The comprehensive renovation and re-launch includes two IHG hotels including a 300 guest room Crowne Plaza hotel and a 62 room Holiday Inn Express. The complex also includes an IACC certified conference center offering 54 event rooms.•Evaluated and reorganized the sales & conference planning staff.•Negotiated and secured agreements with the two largest corporate demand generators in the Princeton market.

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  CHS

  Aug 2014 - Feb 2015

  Task Force Director of Sales & Marketing

  CHS; Director of Sales & MarketingTask Force Director of Sales & MarketingInitiatives and services include:• Driving revenue and sales• Building and inspiring great sales and catering teams• Facilitating daily, weekly and monthly revenue generation meetings • Weighing the value of each piece of business against hotel objectives • Utilizing yield management techniques by profitably negotiating room rates and function space commitments in order to enhance the hotel’s financial performance • Using Revenue Management resources to help make informed decisions and maximize revenue • Preparing hotel sales reports, owner reports, forecasting and budgets • Creating new sales strategies and promotions and quickly changes or terminates ineffective sales strategies or promotions • Using competitive market and market segment knowledge to devise innovative sales strategies • Recruiting the best possible sales team and reducing turnover through coaching, counseling and training • Training and empowerment of sales team members to exercise good judgment to make profitable business decisions • Setting expectations, leading people, managing processes and holding people accountable for the agreed upon activities and timelines • Maintaining effective communication, giving direction, support, timely feedback and recognition of performance • Communicating with the team to keep them informed of hotel, regional and corporate procedures • Providing support and coaching for team members to drive high levels of performance, job satisfaction and personal growth Show less

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  Benchmark Hospitality - Downtown Conference Center (Property closed due to the pandemic)

  Mar 2015 - Jun 2020

  Director of Sales and Marketing

  • Managed the direct sales effort of the Downtown Conference Center at Pace University resulting in a 20% revenue increase in year one, followed by increases in each subsequent year. • Developed and implemented a successful marketing plan.• Collaborated with Interactive Sites to build a new responsive website and an ADA compliant website resulting in a significant increase in page views and booking conversions.• Continually improved processes such as the implementation of a secure electronic e-signature system greatly improving PCI protocol.• Earned Platinum Club status all five years by achieving 110% or greater of goal each year.• Achieved Meeting Planner satisfaction scores of greater than 99% from 2016-2020 as measured by Unifocus. Show less

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  Meet Hospitality now Arch Meetings & Events

  May 2021 - now

  Pre-opening and opening Director of Operations for MEET at 1166 Avenue of the Americas. Focused on account development and sales office procedures.

  • Director Of Operations

    Jul 2021 - now

  • Hospitality Consultant

    May 2021 - Jul 2021