CHRIS THOMPSON
White House,Tennessee
Summary
Innovative business professional offering unique expertise in operations, inventory optimization, Food & Beverage leadership, customer service and retail industry. Passionate about excellence and able to translate vision into action. Undeterred by challenging operating environments. Proven hands-on leader who mentors and motivates team members to breakthrough levels of success.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Food and Beverage Director
Westgate Resorts
Orlando, FL
08.2023 - Current
- Oversee food and beverage operations for 2200 room resort, across 11 restaurants and bars, and 60,000 sq ft of banquet space. generating over $14.5M annually.
- Developed and implemented innovative food and beverage strategies to generate increased RevPOR profitability.
- Streamlined operations for efficiency, enhancing overall guest and team satisfaction, reducing labor costs while producing all-time high guest satisfaction scores.
- Bridged Corporate-level purchasing with Resort-level operations to lead Retail Marketplace sales to $3.2M annually while reducing retail inventory by 30% in 3 months.
- Developed and implemented strategies to enhance team performance, improve processes and boost results.
Food and Beverage Director
Marriott / Westin Hotel
Nashville, TN
01.2021 - 08.2023
- Company Overview: Marriott / Westin Nashville
- Oversaw F&B operations for 456 room luxury hotel, including full-scale in-room dining, 4 outlets and 30,000 square feet of banquet space
- Managed annual F&B budget of $11M.
- Generated a Q1 revenue of $2.6M and increased profits to 44% in first quarter.
- Optimized systemic operations through attention to customer experience and employee satisfaction, rebuilding F&B Leadership team, and executing multi-faceted and variable operational strategies on the short- and long-term scale.
- Re-envisioned restaurant operations to optimize customer experience, generating double-digit increase in GSS scores, leading F&B Operations to record performance in hotel history.
- Marriott / Westin Nashville
Food and Beverage Director
Davidson Hospitality Group
Nashville, TN
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Company Overview: Margaritaville Hotel Nashville / Pre-opening team
- Opening team member for new hotel, including two flagship outlets for brand and ownership.
- Multi-unit support and training for new openings and implementations.
- Managed annual F&B budget in excess of $9M, establishing monthly forecasts and expenditures, and ensuring company resources are optimally allocated across 3 departments.
- Directed and supervised day-to-day operations across hotel property.
- Drove operational performance through processes management and improvements that resulted in record breaking earnings and return for investors, across all F&B, Franchise, and Retail.
- Led, mentored, developed, and engaged teams to maximize team contributions, including recruiting, training, managing performance, and succession planning.
- Developed retail strategies and product lines to achieve 600% profit increase in the first 30 days.
Training Store Manager/District Manager
Starbucks Coffee Company
Hendersonville/Nashville, TN
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Led retail business through consistent in-depth training and business knowledge to achieve record breaking year-over-year store sales, customer connection, and brand protection.
- Oversaw multi-unit implementations of systems and food safety standards across district.
- Demonstrated Subject Matter Expertise in company standards and customer acquisition.
- Generated a new high-volume store opening, including recruiting and training of new team.
- Led new Licensed store openings and training of multiple teams and leaders.
- Trained Corporate Store Managers and District Managers.
- Consistently achieved all business metrics and drove sales comps of 14-22%, month over month, for consecutive two years.
Owner/Operations Manager
T4Music Management
White House, TN
01.2014 - 01.2017
- Implemented full service retail fulfillment, merchandise contracts, and web services to artists in the music business.
- Started and managed all facets of business to offer services to musicians including tour management and production, product development, sales, and promotion.
- Oversaw event design and production, branding, and marketing.
- Achieved $500K in sales in first year as a startup.
- Executed international tour production and design.
- Oversaw successful product design and releases through Sony and Universal Music.
- Negotiated merchandise manufacturing and shipping throughout US and Europe.
Operations Manager / Project Manager
Radiant Records
Nashville, TN
01.2010 - 01.2016
- Directed all facets of domestic and international operations, overseeing production and design teams for independent record label and music publishing company.
- Oversaw logistics, project development, tour scheduling and execution, product design and procurement, event production, negotiations, budget management, new artist recruiting, marketing and branding.
- Managed 4 successful US/European tours with increases of net revenue, year over year.
- Oversaw highest selling album and tour in the label’s history.
Education
Certification - Hospitality Administration And Management
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL06-2020
Skills
- Hospitality Management
- Business Strategy
- Budget Management
- Inventory Management
- Retail Management
- Product Development
- Leader Development
- Operational efficiency
- Strategic planning
- Merchandising
Certifications And Memberships
- Food Safety Manager Certification
- TABC and eTips Certification
- AHLEI Hospitality Management
- CAPM: Member of Project Management Institute
Timeline
Food and Beverage Director
Westgate Resorts
08.2023 - Current
Food and Beverage Director
Marriott / Westin Hotel
01.2021 - 08.2023
Food and Beverage Director
Davidson Hospitality Group
01.2019 - 01.2021
Training Store Manager/District Manager
Starbucks Coffee Company
01.2016 - 01.2019
Owner/Operations Manager
T4Music Management
01.2014 - 01.2017
Operations Manager / Project Manager
Radiant Records
01.2010 - 01.2016
Certification - Hospitality Administration And Management
Florida Atlantic University