Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Related Volunteer Experience
Accomplishments
Certification
References
Timeline
Generic

Helisa Smith

Columbia

Summary

Dynamic sales leader with a proven track record at Homewood Suites, driving revenue growth through innovative marketing strategies and exceptional customer relationship management. Skilled in team leadership and sales coaching, I successfully increased market penetration by 150%, fostering strong client partnerships and enhancing brand integrity.

Overview

17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Director of Sales

Homewood Suites
Columbia
06.2018 - Current
  • Company Overview: 150 rooms and 2,050 ft of Banquet Space
  • Manage all sales and marketing along with event service activities. Scope of accountability includes strategic planning, competitive analysis, market positioning, new business development, new product introduction, staff training and development, building strategic partnerships, and building/maintaining client relationships.
  • Improve sales policies and practices. Define the sales cycle, created accurate job descriptions and developed standards for customer relationship management.
  • Increase revenues and produce new revenue streams by expanding and restructuring market territories.
  • Wage effective yearly marketing campaigns, increasing sales annually while improving the popularity and integrity for our brand though increasing market penetration by 150% and overall revenues.
  • Redevelop Public Relations strategy and secure new accounts and business relationships.
  • Prepare Month End reporting to Ownership, quarterly Incentive Plan, Marketing Plan, and Budget.
  • Train, coach and mentor sales people to consistently exceed personal and departmental sales goals.
  • 150 rooms and 2,050 ft of Banquet Space

Director of Sales

LaQuinta Inn & Suites
Capitol Heights
05.2016 - 06.2018
  • Company Overview: 173 rooms and 1,500ft of Banquet Space
  • Manage all sales and marketing along with event service activities. Scope of accountability includes strategic planning, competitive analysis, market positioning, new business development, new product introduction, staff training and development, building strategic partnerships, and building/maintaining client relationships.
  • Improve sales policies and practices. Define the sales cycle, created accurate job descriptions and developed standards for customer relationship management.
  • Increase revenues and produce new revenue streams by expanding and restructuring market territories.
  • Wage effective yearly marketing campaigns, increasing sales annually while improving the popularity and integrity for our brand though increasing market penetration by 150% and overall revenues.
  • Redevelop Public Relations strategy and secure new accounts and business relationships.
  • Prepare Month End reporting to Ownership, quarterly Incentive Plan, Marketing Plan, and Budget.
  • Train, coach and mentor sales people to consistently exceed personal and departmental sales goals.
  • Integrate acquisitions and grow sales of acquired businesses between 25-38%.
  • Created successful selling marketing strategies and campaigns to cross-sell products and services leading to additional annual revenue from existing clients and guest.
  • Developed sales and customer service strategy, conducted needs analysis and developed training courses for sales people and clients increasing client engagement by 30%.
  • 173 rooms and 1,500ft of Banquet Space

DOS / Operations Manager 519

Hampton Inn Hotel
Laurel
03.2015 - 05.2016
  • Company Overview: 80 rooms and 500ft Meeting space
  • Increased market share through the implementation of sales action plan, including but not limited to: telephone/direct-mail solicitation, Organizational and Coordination of Luncheons and Seminars, (40 events yearly) and partnerships.
  • Lead Daily Business Review and weekly Tentative Review process. Attend weekly meetings including Revenue Strategy, Marketing, Pick Up and Operations.
  • Developed and implemented Marketing and Revenue Tactics including but not limited to the following: Hotel booking guidelines, marketing plan, Hotel sales team deployment, future group revenue targets, website, sales collateral, GSO communication, policies and procedures.
  • Developed and trained a strong Sales/Catering Sales Team that understood and adhered to positive growth within markets and built the marketing plan for the hotel to include sales targets based on market analysis.
  • Conducted weekly revenue meetings to ensure that hotel generated productive meetings and/or room bookings. In addition to making sure that hotel was positioned correctly within the market.
  • Processed month end reports and forecasting reports for Corporate Office.
  • Scheduled and Coordinated Meetings, Parties and Banquets and maintained and Developed Prospect and Client Database while Monitoring and analyzing sales results.
  • Prepare contracts for the hotel in accordance with current business and price conditions.
  • Monitor offers, options and discounts for repeat bookings for groups, congresses and seminars in close cooperation with the Group Coordinator.
  • Organize comprehensive information to existing and potential customers with regards to the product range offered by the hotel, with the aid of the relevant sales resources and sales channels.
  • 80 rooms and 500ft Meeting space

Night Auditor

Hampton Inn Hotel
College Park
06.2008 - 03.2016
  • Company Overview: 80 rooms
  • Made reservations over the phone and in person and ensured all aspects of the room reservation procedure are followed, including bookings, confirmations and cancellation policies.
  • Verified revenue from all sources is accurately balanced and followed up on any discrepancies.
  • Prepared bills and receipts for all in house guests and direct billing accounts.
  • Compiled and ran statistical reports for all departments and transferred information to our Accounting department. Produced daily reports that helped the company increase profit and reduce costs.
  • Increased the hotel's annual revenue by more than five percent.
  • Managed and maintained hotel during the overnight shift: Handled all guests upon arrival and provided a pleasant and professional check-in process while ensuring overall guest.
  • Provided excellent conflict resolution for guest and employees and processed guest requests, assigned rooms and directed changes in cancelations pertaining to check-ins/check-outs.
  • Used various computer applications to launch and complete the auditing process.
  • 80 rooms

Education

Business Management - Business Management

University of Phoenix
true
01-2012

Skills

  • Customer Service
  • Sales strategy
  • Customer relationship management
  • Event planning
  • Revenue forecasting
  • Competitive analysis
  • Team leadership
  • Sales team motivation
  • Marketing campaign analysis
  • Sales process optimization
  • Sales leadership and training
  • Sales coaching
  • Sales team training
  • Revenue growth
  • Key account targeting
  • Market trend analysis
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Leadership
  • Goal-oriented
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Computer Skills
  • Windows 2010
  • Microsoft MAC
  • Outlook Mail
  • Microsoft Word
  • PowerPoint
  • Excel
  • Data Entry
  • Front Desk Reception
  • Switchboard
  • Strategic Planning
  • Key Account Development
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Problem Solving
  • Audit Reporting
  • Communication Skills
  • Organization Skills
  • Time Management
  • Crisis Management
  • Task Management
  • Personnel Management
  • Initiative
  • Guest Service

Related Volunteer Experience

  • Volunteer Administrator, Bridges Housing of Stability, 3 years, Assisted with building projects.
  • Volunteer, Reid Temple AME Church, Assisted with Food Drives.
  • Volunteered/Fundraiser for the Multiple Sclerosis Association

Accomplishments

  • Hotel of the year award 2019
  • Hotel Revenue Optimization Professional of the year 2022 and 2023

Certification

  • Hilton Certified Director of Sales
  • Certified in Hilton GRO system, R&I, OnQ and PEP
  • Certified In CPR and First Aid
  • ServSafe Certified
  • TIPS Certified

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Director of Sales

Homewood Suites
06.2018 - Current

Director of Sales

LaQuinta Inn & Suites
05.2016 - 06.2018

DOS / Operations Manager 519

Hampton Inn Hotel
03.2015 - 05.2016

Night Auditor

Hampton Inn Hotel
06.2008 - 03.2016

Business Management - Business Management

University of Phoenix

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Helisa Smith