David Sanders
Houston,TX
Summary
Talented Manager with expert team leadership, planning and organizational skills built during successful career. Smoothly equip employees to independently handle daily functions and meet customer needs. Diligent trainer and mentor with exceptional management abilities and results-driven approach. Strong leader and problem-solver dedicated to streamlining operations to decrease costs and promote organizational efficiency. Uses independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to positively impact company success.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Transient Manager
Doubletree Suites by Hilton Houston by the Galleria
2019.05 - Current
- Redeveloped Local Negotiated Market by moving under-performing accounts to a dynamic pricing model and developing and strengthening larger accounts to increase production
- Developed and executed dynamically changing sales strategy through the pandemic and post-pandemic start up
- Developed and grew the medical extended stay market
- Medical Stay Room Nights have increased by 30% over 2019 numbers
- Strengthened account relationships within the Oil and Gas and Energy Market for local, national and international companies
- Developed New Accounts outside of the Energy Market to compensate for office relocations and decrease in corporate business travel post pandemic
- Networking with In-House Guests to determine reason for travel and method of booking and offering easier more cost-effective bookings and growing the small and mid-sized business travel and opening new channels of business
- Consistent Contact with local negotiated accounts through quarterly account reviews
- Increased revenue in this market segment by 12%
- Promoted the hotel’s suites to Insurance Housing Companies and developed a new market for the Hotel’s Suites
- Planned and Conducted Site Tours for the Medical Market, International Travelers, Construction/Insurance Stays, City-Wide Event Planning Teams among others
- Solicited past and new group business
- Prospected and qualified all forms of leads
- Wrote the business transient portion of the annual budget and marketing plan
- Maintained Account Relationships throughout COVID
- Worked with Catering and Events and Housekeeping Departments during the COVID slow down to ensure continued hotel operations.
Director of Sales
Doubletree by Hilton Houston Hobby Airport
2018.04 - 2019.03
- Managed a team of five employees
- Implemented new market assignments for sales team, resulting in improved account penetration and management
- Oversaw airline contracts and maintained relationships with contracted airlines
- Added new corporate accounts during annual RFP process, netting additional corporate group and transient room nights
- Increased hotel’s partnership with VIP entertainment travel agencies; and agencies focusing on sports travel
- Performed quality assurance (QA) requirements for department.
- Managed and motivated sales team to increase revenue 12% in one year.
Sr. Sales Manager – Business Transient Manager
Doubletree by Hilton Houston Downtown
2007.10 - 2018.04
- Grew an under-performing national transient account to having the largest amount of transient room nights of any Hilton branded hotel in the world
- Worked as a team with Group Managers and Catering Managers to penetrate Corporate and Large Local Accounts to strengthen relationships with and uncover new meeting planners
- Replaced an unexpected loss of 5000 room nights through new business development and internal growth of current accounts
- This occurred simultaneously as the loss was happening
- Increased the hotel’s transient market share by 10% over comp set hotels
- Created Marketing Paraphernalia and Collateral to use at trade shows, client events and corporate presentations
- Developed Sales Plans and assisted in the writing of the Annual Marketing plan and budget
- Participated in revenue management meetings and consistently maintained a high ADR
- Produced two videos used to market the hotel’s proximity to the headquarters of two major oil and gas North American headquarters
- Awarded Manager of the Quarter for the 3rd Quarter of 2011, and 4th Quarter 2016
- Participated in local Texas Business Travel Association Public Relations committee
- Partnered with national and international hotels to market and sell the Doubletree by Hilton Houston Downtown in their markets
- Crisis Management during Hurricane Ike
- Liaison with the Housekeeping Department thanking them for their efforts into helping the hotel to maintain an increased actual market share above the fair market share
- Networked with Food and Beverage Servers to get insight into the need, wants and preferences of current and repeat business transient travelers
- Participated in Trade Shows and Industry Events to promote the hotel
- Planned Corporate wide client event for an international energy company’s travel team for 9 years
- Coordinated Sales Blitzes and Outside Sales Schedule.
Non-Corporate Group Manager
Embassy Suites by the Galleria
2007.05 - 2007.10
- Booked non-corporate groups for 150 room property
- Conducted site tours and outside solicitation efforts.
- Established strong relationships with key clients, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and retention rates.
Corporate Group Sales Manager
Marriott West Loop
2004.07 - 2007.05
- Responsible for Corporate Group Market
- Consistently exceeded sales goals
- Task Force: Alexandria, VA; Holiday Inn & Radisson
- 4-month assignment replacing a Business Transient Manager/Corporate Group Manager while hotel was being sold and transitioning management companies
- Task Force: Las, Vegas, NV; Renaissance Hotel
- 2-month assignment doing business development for a newly opened 600 room hotel
- Uncovered $1.4 million of group business
- Ranked 4th out of 250+ group sales managers in total revenue booked for 2005.
- Analyzed market trends and competitor activity to identify potential growth areas for corporate group sales.
- Managed accounts to retain existing relationships and grow share of business.
Education
Business Administration - Marketing -
University of Houston
Houston, TX01.1987
Skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Outstanding negotiating skills
- Ability to generate sales leads and close the sale
- Excellent guest relation skills
- Ability to work in a high energy and demanding work environment
- Strong interpersonal skills needed to cultivate customer relations
- Ability to understand foreign and diverse culture and customs
- Ability to stay calm and focused during a crisis
- Proficient in Sales Force, Delphi, Lanyon and Sabre
- Complex Problem-Solving
- Verbal and written communication
- Time Management
- Team Leadership
Timeline
Sr. Transient Manager
Doubletree Suites by Hilton Houston by the Galleria
2019.05 - Current
Director of Sales
Doubletree by Hilton Houston Hobby Airport
2018.04 - 2019.03
Sr. Sales Manager – Business Transient Manager
Doubletree by Hilton Houston Downtown
2007.10 - 2018.04
Non-Corporate Group Manager
Embassy Suites by the Galleria
2007.05 - 2007.10
Corporate Group Sales Manager
Marriott West Loop
2004.07 - 2007.05
Business Administration - Marketing -
University of Houston
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