Asyia Ahmed
Summary
Dynamic and accomplished, with years of experience in events management, venue management, and food and beverage operations. A savvy program strategist coordinates all aspects of food and beverage, including events, restaurants, bars, and the in-room dining team.
Demonstrates well-established skills that add value in marketing, sales, social media strategies, presentations, collective bargaining, and contract negotiations. Proficient in collaborating with various departments, showcasing strong organizational skills and the capacity to manage multiple projects. Recognized for creative problem-solving abilities and effective performance under pressure, leading to successful outcomes. Proven track record in vendor negotiation and relationship management, achieving cost-effective solutions.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Event Management & Operations
Kalahari Resorts & Convention Center
Pocono Manor, USA
08.2019 - Current
- Appointed as the Director of Events Management & Operations and charged with providing leadership for the planning, booking, marketing, and operations of a 200,000+ sq. ft.
- Provide direction for all operations & planning, ranging from banquet, catering, and convention services, set-up, and the audio-visual teams
- Fostered collaborative partnership with the sales executive and revenue management team on the formulation of effective strategies for the successful launch and completion of events
- Upheld established standards by consistently evaluating guests' and the resort's viewpoint.
- Apply financial acumen skills with allocating resources by ensuring all expenses remained compliant with the set budget and taking action on budget variance items
- Key source of innovative solutions and a driving force behind the successful expansion of the convention center.
- Designed, directed, and supervised filler events, such as Luxury Holiday Dinner for several seasonal celebrations that garnered ancillary revenue exceeding $300K.
Director of Operations - Events, Conferences, and Banquet
Fairmont Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, USA
05.2018 - 08.2019
- Successfully established and maintained working connections with external partners, vendors, and stakeholders in order to facilitate successful food and beverage operations
- Conceived and managed the execution of strategic plans for the smooth running of events and conferences; and oversaw the timely completion of all event service deliverables
- Completed a competitive analysis of the corporate and social catering menu options market, resulting in price changes that boosted banquet revenue by $2M yearly.
- Collaborated with culinary, stewarding, beverage, restaurant, and purchasing departments to acquire all OS&E resources for each venue; decreased rogue spending and lowered total processing costs
- Directed all profit-and-loss (P&L) forecasting analyses to boost event profitability and lessen the likelihood of going over budget; delivered on-target monthly reports to the executive team to guide their decisions
- Boosted top-line revenue for Fairmont through the identification of new engaging programs for the restaurant and bars
- Recruited, trained, and motivated a high-performing management and supervisory team to exceed expectations and significantly boost the efficiency of the operations
- Ensured the implementation of company safety programs and maintained the timelines and schedules for compliance items
Regional General Manager
Levity Entertainment Group
Pittsburgh, USA
11.2017 - 05.2018
- Collaborated with the booking team on the strategic planning and execution of annual shows and events while leading and supervising all venue operations in the Eastern United States
- Partnered with the VP to identify promising sponsorship opportunities and establish productive ties with local governmental organizations and community leadership
- Fostered partnerships with various media outlets for the promotion of new venues and shows, as well as marketing and communications via different social media platforms
- Ensured the upkeep of the physical facility and grounds, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and kitchen equipment maintenance
- Supervised contractual press tours and made certain that performing talent finished each tour as scheduled
- Verified that all events and venue operations complied with applicable federal, state, and local laws
- Oversaw the completion of the pre-renovation inventory and the liquidation of equipment and sourced brand-new equipment for the venue.
General Manager
Live Nation
Philadelphia, USA
12.2015 - 11.2017
- Provided management oversight for Punch Line Philly Comedy Club in PA and served as interim GM for Cobb's Comedy Club in CA
- Led the pre-opening construction activities to ensure the on-time opening of the venue by establishing a critical path.
- Ensured all arrangements for the proper scheduling and conduct of the pre-opening city inspections were in place
- Effectively managed the planning phase by preparing annual budgets and capital expenses for venues to control spending and revenues and to track/measure the success of venue performances
- Reviewed talent agreements and contracts, booked supporting acts for each show, and ensured that requirements were met
- Identified, acquired, maintained, and determined the scope of FF&E and OS&E for the venue pre-opening.
- Led menu development, pricing, cost determination, and tasting for the venue
- Successfully implemented a weekly brunch program, which resulted in substantial increases in top-line revenue for the venue.
- Collaborated closely with talent buyers to source a wide range of regional and local talent for the club's performances; coordinated payments between performers and promoters and priced tickets accordingly
- Partnered with media outlets, performing talents to develop high-impact content for online sharing, promote the venue booked shows.
- Held pre-opening drills and practiced emergency evacuation procedures with employees
Director of Operations - Banquets, Conferences, Nightlife, & Events
W Dallas Victory Hotel & Residences
Dallas, USA
07.2014 - 12.2015
- Supported the Director of Hotel Operations and the General Manager of the Hotel by directing the activities of the food and beverage department.
- Designed in-house services and made them available to residents to increase the F&B revenue.
- Established and maintained productive connections with group clients and vendors to guarantee proper event execution.
- Led the design and rollout of training programs to ensure enjoyable presentations and memorable guest experiences.
- Took the lead in establishing departmental operating procedures and quality standards, implementing a continuous improvement strategy to guarantee efficient, effective, and guest-centric service.
- Kept all events on schedule by making sure they were set up in accordance with the rules and regulations regarding space and functions.
- Coordinated purchasing efforts to provide accurate par levels and supply/equipment inventories.
Education
Bachelor's Degree - International Relations and Marketing & Branding
University Of Cairo
Cairo, EgyptSkills
- Venue Management
- Event Planning & Management
- Food and Beverage Operations and Management
- Menu creation
- Menu costing
- Competitive set research
- Audio-visual management
- Conflict resolution
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Creative direction
- Brand awareness
- Social media strategy
- Sponsorship acquisition
- Client Consultation & Team Leadership
- Account Management
- Project Management
- Venue Selection
- Event Activities
- Budgets Management
- Contract Negotiation
- Vendor Management
- Sales/Revenue Growth
- Proposals
- Presentations
- Business Development
- Team Building
- Communication
- Microsoft Office
- Salesforce
- Zoom Web Conference
- Skype for Business
- Microsoft Project
- Asana
- Analytical thinking
- Team leadership
- Vendor management
- Hospitality management
- Strategic planning
- Contract negotiation
- Contract management
- Team leadership and motivation
- Large scale events
- Budget oversight
- Excellent communication
- Decision-making
Websites
Custom
- Implemented strategic revenue solutions that generated over $90,000 in revenue without a headliner during a 3-day period for the Made in America Weekend in Philadelphia.
- Increased guest service satisfaction from a 3-star rating to a 4.5-star rating by driving continuous improvement initiatives and through staff empowerment training programs.
- Established an excellent guest service framework and successfully increased guest satisfaction scores from 3.5/5 average to 5/5 by driving continuous improvement initiatives and through staff empowerment training programs.
- Organized, planned and executed a successful Halloween and New Year's Eve events that helped amass over $45,000 in beverage sales and $35,000 in ticket sales.
- Earn widespread acclaim and recognition as the 'Leader of the Quarter' for excellent contributions and impact in standardizing equipment for all outlets, resulting in a significant cost saving.
Custom
- Food and Beverage Operations Manager, Rosewood Crescent Hotel, Dallas, TX
- Banquet & Events Manager, The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, NV
- Banquet & Convention Services Supervisor, Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa & The Water Club Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ
- Lifestyle & Gaming Events Supervisor, Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, Atlantic City, NJ
Timeline
Director of Event Management & Operations
Kalahari Resorts & Convention Center
08.2019 - Current
Director of Operations - Events, Conferences, and Banquet
Fairmont Pittsburgh
05.2018 - 08.2019
Regional General Manager
Levity Entertainment Group
11.2017 - 05.2018
General Manager
Live Nation
12.2015 - 11.2017
Director of Operations - Banquets, Conferences, Nightlife, & Events
W Dallas Victory Hotel & Residences
07.2014 - 12.2015
Bachelor's Degree - International Relations and Marketing & Branding
University Of Cairo
Similar Profiles
Marisa HruskoMarisa Hrusko
Double Cut Steakhouse General Manager at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Center PoconosDouble Cut Steakhouse General Manager at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Center Poconos
Mashudu NekhumbeMashudu Nekhumbe
Front Desk Agent at Kalaharin Resorts And Convention CenterFront Desk Agent at Kalaharin Resorts And Convention Center
Jovelita MalubagJovelita Malubag
Housekeeping Room Attendant at Mahalta Resorts And Convention CenterHousekeeping Room Attendant at Mahalta Resorts And Convention Center