Jennifer Pendexter
Freeport,ME
Summary
Accomplished Sales Manager offering high performance leading development and implementation of superior sales strategy. Proven track record of identifying and creating profitable business opportunities, qualifying authentic prospects and cultivating strong partnerships. Demonstrated expertise in team leadership and development.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
AREA SALES MANAGER
Colwen Hotels
Portland, ME
11.2023 - Current
- Analyzed sales data to determine areas of improvement for the organization.
- Organized promotional events such as trade shows, conferences and exhibitions.
- Identified new business opportunities within the region through networking activities.
- Maintained relationships with existing clients to ensure their satisfaction with products and services offered.
- Assisted in creating marketing materials including brochures, catalogs, flyers and other advertising media.
- Generated weekly, monthly, quarterly reports on sales volume, revenue growth and competitive landscape.
- Established strong working relationships with vendors and suppliers for obtaining quality products at competitive prices.
- Developed and implemented strategic sales plans to accommodate corporate goals.
- Established productive and professional relationships with key personnel in assigned customer accounts.
- Represented company at trade association meetings to promote products and services.
- Led sales planning, development and account management to grow existing accounts and establish new sales accounts.
AREA DIRECTOR OF SALES
Giri Hotel Management
Freeport, ME
09.2023 - 11.2023
- Created comprehensive reports detailing monthly sales activity, forecasting future needs and identifying areas for improvement.
- Performed ongoing analysis of pricing structures and customer feedback to optimize profitability.
- Worked closely with executive leadership teams from various departments across the organization.
- Engaged in high-level negotiations with clients regarding contracts, pricing models.
- Fostered strong relationships with key industry contacts in order to expand business opportunities.
- Maintained detailed records of customer interactions including notes on account history, preferences, complaints and compliments.
- Developed and implemented strategic sales plans to accommodate corporate goals.
- Monitored sales team performance and provided effective training to help each reach targets.
- Penetrated new markets by investigating competitor products, services and trends.
- Led, coached and developed employees to achieve sales goals.
- Represented company at trade association meetings to promote products and services.
- Identified prospects to foster growth for new business partnerships to build pipelines.
- Resolved customer complaints regarding sales and service.
- Supported sales team members to drive growth and development.
- Built sales forecasts and schedules to reflect desired productivity targets.
DIRECTOR OF CATERING & EVENTS
Harraseeket Inn
04.2022 - 09.2023
- Qualified and detailed events ranging from 2 guests to 200 guests, in multiple event spaces
- Provided site inspections and coordinated detail meetings between clients and in-house management for event related topics
- Coached and trained new Event staff including Event Managers, providing standard operating procedures, and training material
- Creatively sold the hotel during various offsite events, and through emails
- Facilitated weekly BEO meetings, and attended weekly management meetings, and weekly revenue calls
- Created new catering menus, coordinating with Executive Chef and Banquet Chef
- Created specialty menus for Broad Arrow Tavern and Holidays
- Built Group Blocks, and managed individual event financials in RoomMaster/InnQuest
- Created e-proposals, and new updated contracts for property
- Created on-site catering budgets and spreadsheets for property
- Grew wedding market business for Inn by more than 50%
- Creatively increased catering & events revenue by 20% over prior year.
GUEST SERVICES MANAGER
Hilton Garden Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront
03.2020 - 04.2022
- Lead a team of 17 front office & valet team members to accomplish the daily tasks of ensuring smooth check in and check out processes for all guests
- Trained all team members on multiple platforms that are used daily
- Trained all team members to give exceptional customer service to all guests, with a wide variety of requests
- In charge of maintaining and ensuring proper COVID19 processes were completed daily
- Worked directly with the General Manager to hire new team members following company policies on interviewing and onboarding
- Worked directly with other department heads to ensure smooth operations within the hotel
- Wrote weekly schedules, working with both team member and operation needs
- In charge of ordering all operation supplies for the Front Office, as well as stock for our pantry.
SALES MANAGER
Hilton Garden Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront
01.2014 - 03.2020
- Worked directly with the Director of Sales to ensure group rooms & catering revenue goals are completed
- Worked with Operations Team to create Marketing Plans with Director of Sales and General Manager
- Coached and trained new Banquet Staff to ensure all meetings & catering events were completed with the highest level of detail and service
- Built group blocks using Hilton's PMS system
- Traveled for Hilton mandated trainings and conferences
- Participated in weekly manager's meetings, weekly revenue conference calls, and facilitated weekly BEO meetings
- Worked with Director of Sales, General Manager, Hotel Leadership Team, and Corporate Support Team to create a visionary, yearly marketing plan
- Creatively promoted the hotel with the Director of Sales through various sales calls, and blitzes
- Established relationships with corporate clientele in the Greater Portland market
- Created new menus, working directly with the Executive Chef
- Creatively executed site inspections and solicitations.
SALES COORDINATOR
Hilton Garden Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Worked in Delphi to build contracts, proposals, and BEOs
- Worked in OnQ to ensure detailed rooming lists were completed and sent to clients for confirmation
- Worked with Director of Sales to ensure details of upcoming meetings were met and ready weekly
- Greeted meeting contacts to ensure their meeting needs were met and exceeded
- Took monthly inventory of banquet supplies, and placed orders as needed
- Facilitated BEO meetings with the Director of Sales, Executive Chef, and Banquet Team
- Worked with Front Office Manager to ensure billing was set up and correct for incoming group rooms.
GUEST SERVICE AGENT
Hilton Garden Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront
07.2009 - 01.2013
- Worked with Front Office Team to ensure completions of daily tasks and checklists
- Checked guests in and out of OnQ system efficiently
- Answered a multi-line switchboard, ensuring to multi-task to take care of each guest in a timely manner
- Made reservations using a template, gathering information including credit cards
- Maintained a drawer of cash, taking in money, and dropping deposits
- Worked with hotel staff to ensure guest requests were met in an appropriate amount of time
- Worked with Sales Team to accommodate groups and group requests.
GSA, VAN DRIVER, KITCHEN, HOUSEKEEPER
Hilton Garden Inn Portland Airport
07.2005 - 07.2009
- Worked in multiple departments to fill in where needed
- Checked guests in and out in a timely manner using Hilton Worldwide's OnQ reservation system
- Answered multi-line switchboard, and transferred calls accordingly
- Responsible for credit card payments for in-house reservations daily
- Shuttled guests in company van to area attractions safely, and timely, with the utmost service
- Responsible for public area cleanliness
- Cooked breakfast and dinner for 40 seat dining room
- Served breakfast and room service
- Responsible for cleaning 20 guest rooms daily.
Education
Liberal Studies with Concentration in K-8 Education -
Southern Maine Community College
02.2012
General Studies -
Yarmouth High School
02.2004
Early Childhood Education -
Portland Arts & Technology High School
02.2003
Skills
- Event Coordination
- Sales Team Development
- Proposal Development
- Revenue Generation
- Contract Negotiation
- Corporate Event Knowledge
- Wedding & Social Event Coordination
- Strategic Planning
- Market Trend Analysis
- Customer Service
- Account Management
- New Business Development
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Networking Events
- Sales Plan Implementation
- Relationship Building
- Budgeting and Expenditures
- Inventory Management
Certification
- Hilton RISE Small Meetings Certified
- Hilton Corporate Meeting Planner Certification equivalent
Experience With Olympia Hotel Management Sales
6 years
Knowledge Of Microsoft Word Programs
Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Word Programs such as Excel, Word, and Power Point
Catering Sales Revenue Growth
Grew catering sales revenue more than 15% over prior year in 2015, and an additional 6% in 2016
Award Nominee
Olympia Sales Victoria Leighton Award Nominee
Training
- OnQ and R&I trained
- Hilton GRO trained
- Salesforce & Delphi.fdc trained
Experience At Hilton Hotels
15+ years
Awards
- Recognized twice for Employee of the Month for exceptional reliability, leadership, and creativity
- Recognized as a "Sales Star" for being part of the 2015 HGI Merit Award Sales Team
- Recognized as 2016 Outstanding Leadership Manager's Award of Excellence
Timeline
AREA SALES MANAGER
Colwen Hotels
11.2023 - Current
AREA DIRECTOR OF SALES
Giri Hotel Management
09.2023 - 11.2023
DIRECTOR OF CATERING & EVENTS
Harraseeket Inn
04.2022 - 09.2023
GUEST SERVICES MANAGER
Hilton Garden Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront
03.2020 - 04.2022
SALES MANAGER
Hilton Garden Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront
01.2014 - 03.2020
SALES COORDINATOR
Hilton Garden Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront
01.2013 - 01.2014
GUEST SERVICE AGENT
Hilton Garden Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront
07.2009 - 01.2013
GSA, VAN DRIVER, KITCHEN, HOUSEKEEPER
Hilton Garden Inn Portland Airport
07.2005 - 07.2009
Liberal Studies with Concentration in K-8 Education -
Southern Maine Community College
General Studies -
Yarmouth High School
Early Childhood Education -
Portland Arts & Technology High School
- Hilton RISE Small Meetings Certified
- Hilton Corporate Meeting Planner Certification equivalent
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