Deborah Fafard, GTP
Sr.Mgr. Corporate Travel
Plymouth,MA
Summary
Versatile and innovative global travel professional (GTP) with more than 25 years of experience. Proven collaborative leader with a dedication to streamlining operations and promoting organizational efficiency. Delivers results through optimization of tools and technologies, vendor relationships and collaboration with both internal and external teams including TMCs, risk management, communications, legal, finance/accounting, tax and human resources. Experienced in large and small corporate meeting planning inclusive of venue sourcing, contract negotiation and contracting, event planning and set up, on-site staffing and support.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Manager, Corporate Travel
Inspire Brands
04.2021 - Current
- Manage three TMCs that support U.S. and international travel processes within the global travel program.
- Monitor operational effectiveness and compliance in all aspects of travel procedures through comprehensive reporting tools, driving continuous improvement of the travel program through benchmarking, traveler feedback and industry trend analysis.
- Negotiate and monitor status of contracted discounted upfront rates with airlines, car and hotel vendors.
- Recommend and implement strategic policies, programs and partnerships for corporate travel.
- Analyze reports, records and policies to capture and report lost savings, spend, cost avoidance and policy compliance metrics.
- Manage large-scale projects such as development and roll-out of policies and travel tools/technologies.
- Leverage professional networks and industry knowledge to strengthen vendor relationships.
- Establish and maintain internal travel department page with relevant news and engagement opportunities.
Senior Manager, Travel and Meetings
Dunkin' Brands
10.2016 - 04.2021
- Managed three travel management companies that support U.S. and international travel within the global travel program.
- Analyzed, recommended and implemented strategic policies, programs and partnerships for corporate travel and meetings.
- Point planner for 4,000-person Global Convention including venue and contract vendor negotiations, agenda creation, budget creation and attendee management.
- Led a team of 4 experienced meeting planners, providing coaching and guidance on all meetings and events.
- Drove continuous improvement of both the travel and meeting programs through benchmarking, traveler feedback and industry trend analysis.
Senior Meeting Planner
Dunkin' Brands
04.2014 - 02.2016
- Managed, trained and supervised one meeting planner.
- Provided meetings hosts with thoughtful, researched alternate venue options for consideration including a range of price points.
- Negotiated and contracted with meeting venues ranging in spend from $1,000 - $300,000 including concessions on food, AV, room rental, parking and more.
- Evaluated existing plans, processes and events planning services to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Monitored and controlled event expenditures to meet budgets.
- Analyzed post event costs to identify areas of improvement and cost savings in the future.
Meeting Planner
Dunkin' Brands
04.2002 - 02.2014
- Provided meetings hosts with thoughtful, researched alternate venue options for consideration including a range of price points.
- Negotiated and contracted with meeting venues ranging in spend from $1,000 - $100,000 including concessions on food, AV, room rental, parking and more.
- Evaluated existing plans, processes and event details to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Monitored and controlled event expenditures to meet budgets.
- Analyzed post event costs to identify areas of improvement and cost savings for future events.
Skills
- Experienced Sabre GDS and Concur user
- Strategic negotiator (airlines, hotels, car rental, TMCs, meeting/events)
- Organizational Improvement
- Troubleshooting and Problem Resolution
- Excellent Verbal Communication and customer service skills
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
Accomplishments
- Achieved a strong, unified travel program by consolidating and updating multiple travel and expense policies, streamlining processes and tools and aligning with one TMC.
- Consistently recognized by management for providing superior customer service.
- Consistently recognized by management for presenting innovative and forward-thinking ideas and technologies to enhance our travel operations and user experiences.
- Recognized as key contributor and lead for several successful large global conventions for Dunkin' including sourcing, negotiating, contracting, detailing tradeshow design and meeting spaces, event agenda creation, budget creation and monitoring, staffing, point of contact for hotel, CVent, event management company and decorator (Czarnowski).
Certification
Global Travel Professional (GTP)
Affiliations
Global Business Travel Association
Timeline
Senior Manager, Corporate Travel
Inspire Brands
04.2021 - Current
Senior Manager, Travel and Meetings
Dunkin' Brands
10.2016 - 04.2021
Senior Meeting Planner
Dunkin' Brands
04.2014 - 02.2016
Meeting Planner
Dunkin' Brands
04.2002 - 02.2014