Jestan Sands
Atlanta,MI
Summary
Hotel Senior Executive with 15 years’ experience leading teams in driving
organizational growth and revenue. Skilled at developing and implementing
comprehensive training programs for staff members to ensure the highest-
levels of service are delivered consistently. Advanced technical skills
including proficient use of most hotel operating and CRM software.
Overview
1824
1824
years of professional experience
Work History
General Manager
Homewood Suites By Hilton
11.2023 - Current
- Increased overall company efficiency by streamlining operations and implementing innovative managerial strategies.
- Developed and executed strategic plans for business growth and expansion, resulting in increased market share.
- Implemented effective cost-saving measures to reduce overhead expenses without compromising quality or service.
- Directed comprehensive sales efforts to exceed revenue targets consistently while maintaining customer satisfaction levels.
- Managed budget development, forecasting, and financial reporting processes to track progress towards organizational objectives accurately.
- Maximized efficiency by coaching and mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, company procedures, and technology systems.
- Increased Employee Engagement by 75%
- Increase GSS scores by 45% in first quarter and achieved profit to budget month over month while reducing labor
- Maintained ADR of $125 and implemented new strategies for creative revenue driving in absence of DOS.
- Executive Team Leader
- Maximized operational excellence mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, and company procedures.
- Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue and effectively targeting new markets.
General Manager
Nygard SLIMS
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Consult with sales, media and marketing representatives to obtain information on product or service and discuss style and length of advertising copy
- Directing Pre-Opening of New Flagship Store with reporting to CEO of company and President of Retail Brand
- Managed all local Public Relations/Marketing for Nygård Slims
- Managed Overall Store operations and ordering and budgeting
- Manage Construction Team on all aspects of design execution from pre- opening to grand opening
- Manage all aspects of Retail Sales and staff of 2 managers and 8 retail associates
- Lead Record breaking revenues of over $40K in excess to monthly budget for first year and leading as #1 Store in The Americas
- Plan, develop, or implement warehouse safety and security programs and activities.
Executive Assistant Manager Operations (AGM)
SuperClubs Breezes, Bahamas
08.2013 - 12.2014
- Managed daily operations for smooth functioning of the hotel, ensuring high-quality standards in all departments.
- Fostered a positive work environment by promoting teamwork, open communication, and continuous employee development opportunities.
- Enhanced food and beverage offerings by collaborating with culinary teams on menu development, presentation standards, and pricing strategies.
- Maximized revenue generation through strategic room pricing, inventory management, and upselling techniques at the front desk.
- Conducted regular performance evaluations for staff members to encourage professional growth and identify areas for improvement.
- Ensured compliance with industry regulations as well as health and safety guidelines within all aspects of hotel operations.
- Senior Leader for Hotel Operations Departments.
- Improved Food Cost from 45% - 32% and decreased liquor cost to 28% from 65% in first 6 months.
Director of Operations
Ritz Carlton Abaco
06.2010 - 07.2013
- Member of the Executive Team of senior leaders
- Efficiently maintained three budgets and five business units
- Wrote budget and period end critiques
- Handled member complaints and resolved any concerns to increase member satisfaction by 16.7%
- Completed annual performance reviews/appraisals for management staff
- Detailed Training for Housekeeping Division with Direct Leadership over department
- Implemented new Laundry Facility and services while training team on services thereby adding additional revenue driving stream to resort
- Managed a Housekeeping staff of 65+ employees- (2 Lead Supervisors 8
- Floor Supervisors, 1 Laundry Manager , 1 Laundry Supervisor)
- Managed all aspects and implement additional morning and evening turndown service of Housekeeping Department and ensured Brand standards were maintained
- Recorded and administered Hourly Performance Reviews for supervisors and Managers in Rooms Division
- Inspected and Maintained high standards of cleanliness in 9 Public Space
- Areas
- Trained and Re-certified staff on Brand Standards and Standard Operating
- Procedures
- Handled all accountability of staff and progressive discipline
- Approved and ordered supplies and maintained par levels for department
- Efficiently wrote schedules based on business demands
- Represented department in all group Pre-Conference Meetings for
- Housekeeping Department
- Efficiently worked with Sales team to ensure that all group guests requests/needs were proactively anticipated and executed
- Daily Payroll and Attendance management and tracking
- Daily logging of Guest Incidents
- Internal incidents and work orders for the department in for action and correction with team during morning lead lineups
- Handled guest complaints and provided efficient problem resolution
- Decreased Housekeeping defects from 44% to 12 % in 6 months
- Managing Profitability
- Reviews and audits expenses
- Managing Revenue Goals
- Works with Rooms team to develop an operational strategy that is aligned with the brand's business strategy and leads its execution
- Monitors Rooms operations sales performance against budget
- Coached and supported operations team to effectively manage occupancy and rate
- Wages and controllable expenses
- Compares budgeted wages to actual wages
- Coaching direct reports to address problem areas and holding team accountable for results
- Act in place of General Manager in absence
- Recreation/Spa/Retai Housekeeping (Residences)
- The Abaco Club on Winding Bay, a Ritz
- Abaco , THE
Operations Manager
Carlton Managed Property
06.201 - 07.2011
- Recreation/Spa/Rooms and Retail/ Housekeeping (Residences)
- Lead and manage and direct all aspects of three departments including
- Recreation and Spa its outlets
- Overall Spa Division and Retail Outlets
- Develop and implement strategies to improve Members and Home
- Owners Satisfaction with special management of all Housekeeping details for Members
- Responsible for daily operations of the spa while driving revenue profitability of excess to $100K annually to projected budget
- Increased member-guests and employee engagement scores by 42% inand increased to 84% in year 2013
- Developed and managed the departmental budgets to ensure budget goals were met and superseded with critiqued for period end reporting to corporate
- Maintain Brand Standards in Ritz Carlton Residences with Regards to pre-arrival and all Housekeeping standards
- Responsible for overall satisfaction score increase from 85% to 92% in 3 months and maintained average of 96% for Residences Cleanliness with
- Attention to Detail
- Purchasing and inventory control for all departments
- Forecasted revenue for payroll and maintained brand standards
- Yearly departmental budgeting and forecasting
- Develop strategies and execute activities to drive and continually improve customer employee and owner loyalty
- Overall Satisfaction with concierge scores improved from 50.7% to5% increase of 21% from 2010 to 2012
- Only Destination Club to Achieve Mystique Compliance of 100% with
- Ritz Carlton Destination Club profiles in 2011
- Trained and managed staff of over twenty on a daily basis
- Efficiently certified employees in Member Experience Concierge
- Certifications- Levels 1-4
- Facilitated Mystique Certifications of all Mystique users
- Completed annual performance reviews/appraisals for member/guest service staff
- Managed 3 restaurants (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) 300 occupancy
- Forecasted revenue payroll and maintained brand standards
- Improved Food Cost with overall leadership of departmental budget for back of house culinary team and front of house staff from 35% to a consistent 32-33% average in years 2011 and 2012
- Corporate Exposure in Task Force Training for all Rooms Division
- Summer 2012 with First Class Recognition from Ritz Calrton Company
- President Hurve Humler
- Lead and manage and direct all aspects of the Food and Beverage/Kids
- Camp/Retail Shop/Equestrian and Spa Program while driving revenue and overall profitability
Operations Supervisor
The Abaco Club
02.2009 - 06.2010
- On Winding Bay, a Ritz
- Responsible for overall increased revenues in Spa of over 100K annually to proposed budget with complete overhaul from private members spa to
- Ritz Carlton Brand compliant in regards to staff training and product/service availability
- Represent Property on Company monthly Spa and Recreation and Food and Beverage and Rooms calls with Corporate leaders present to ensure brands are compliant and supported and able to implement and share best practices
- Management of the departmental budgets to ensure budget goals are met superseded and critiqued for period end reporting to corporate
- Labor Management scheduling forecasting and control andYearly departmental budgeting and forecasting
- Direct assisting to the Director of Operations in all daily operations of the club
- Experience Architect (Lifestyles Coordinator) responsible for the increase of activities on the property and the engagement of members/guests
- Managed 3 restaurants (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) 300 occupancy
- Forecasted revenue payroll and maintained brand standards
- Improved Food Cost with overall leadership of departmental budget for back of house culinary team and front of house staff from 52% to 35% in year 2010
- Managing Boating Department and private excursions in an effort to increase productivity and revenue
- Cut revenue losses in Bikes and Boats departments by 42% annually and merge to private referral with corporate standards meeting Ritz Carlton's for our members and guest saving property an average of $500K+ annually in loss of revenue
- Property Jonas expert (micros system) for programming and maintenance of property POS systems and menu designs/updates
- Overall Luxury property management (Mega compound 50 guest accommodation private resort of Peter Nygard)
- Managed all aspect of personal stays for Mr
- Nygard and guests as well as
- Rental Resort Guest on 10 night minimum stay
- Create and implement Brand Standards for Nygard Cay Beach Resort and train team while managing with inspections and OSAT scores for consistency in service delivery
- Managed Housekeeping Team and all aspects of event planning and meal planning for guest from pre arrival to actual stay and post follow up stay reporting for resort guest
- Manage and create Lifestyle stays for exclusive resort gusest
- Handle all aspects of Beach Living and Food and Beverage team
- Directed and managed all conference and catering requests for private rentals and guest of the Resort
- Implementation of Housekeeping standards and processes Created GO
- GREEN Housekeeping Program for Nygard Cay Resort
- Direct all aspects of management including Rooms
Food and Beverage Director / Overall Property Manager
Nygard Cay, Beach Resort
06.2008 - 01.2009
- Household and F&B
- Host meetings to wrap up rental experience and manage through improving on any mistakes made by creative management and training staff on guest relations and customer care
- Managed all local Public Relations/Marketing for Nygård Cay Beach
- Resort
- (NCBR)
- Responsibilities included direct reporting to Resort Manager and ensuring the smooth operations of the resort through coverage in all operation departments
- Ensure events were managed and ran with Brand standards and guest satisfaction
- Manage all Front Office Housekeeping, Beach and Kids Club staff and ensure daily programs were executed and promoted to in house guest
- Extensive Training in Housekeeping with Attention to Brand Standards and Overall Detail to Superior Cleanliness
- Managed Housekeeping Staff of 80 + attendants and 8 Supervisors with 2
- Assistant Managers
- Responsible for ensuring all guests complaints are handled in a timely and satisfactory manner and that the overall quality of the resort and its reputation is withheld
- Forecasted revenue and assist with new streams of revenue adding an additional $60K in Rooms revenue annually
- Manage payroll and maintained brand standards for Rooms Division in absence of departmental managers
- Night Manager Weekly Relief including overall management of hotel at night shift with responsibility for night Audit and verification of food and beverage and rooms audit
- Supported the hotel executives in planning implementing and evaluating the quality of products and services given to internal and external customers
- Lead managed and directed the rooms' division operations including front office, housekeeping, laundry, guest services, valet/garage, Spa and Salon and Kids Camp
Resort Assistant Manager
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
06.2007 - 06.2008
- Increased guest satisfaction by implementing innovative customer service initiatives and staff training programs.
- Enhanced the hotel''s online presence through targeted marketing campaigns and social media engagement.
- Developed strong partnerships with local businesses to create exclusive offers and packages for hotel guests.
- Oversaw all aspects of event planning, from contract negotiation to day-of coordination, resulting in successful events and satisfied clients.
- Conducted regular staff performance evaluations, identifying areas for improvement and providing constructive feedback.
- Coordinated renovations projects, minimizing disruptions to guests while improving the overall aesthetic of the property.
- Maintained strict adherence to budgetary guidelines while allocating resources effectively across departments.
- Directed All Rooms Departments
- Improved GSS scores by 20% in first 3 months
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Oakwood University
Huntsville, Alabama2001
Bachelor of Science - Biological Sciences
Northern Caribbean University
1998
Mechanical & Tech - Engineering, Engineering
Technical Cadet Corp Bahamas
Technical Cadets Corp Engineering - undefined
1996
Certification in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering - undefined
Skills
- People Management
- Budget and Forecast
- Audit and Training
- Food and Beverage
- MS Office
- Opera
Timeline
General Manager
Homewood Suites By Hilton
11.2023 - Current
General Manager
Nygard SLIMS
01.2015 - 01.2016
Executive Assistant Manager Operations (AGM)
SuperClubs Breezes, Bahamas
08.2013 - 12.2014
Director of Operations
Ritz Carlton Abaco
06.2010 - 07.2013
Operations Supervisor
The Abaco Club
02.2009 - 06.2010
Food and Beverage Director / Overall Property Manager
Nygard Cay, Beach Resort
06.2008 - 01.2009
Resort Assistant Manager
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
06.2007 - 06.2008
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Oakwood University
Bachelor of Science - Biological Sciences
Northern Caribbean University
Mechanical & Tech - Engineering, Engineering
Technical Cadet Corp Bahamas
Technical Cadets Corp Engineering - undefined
Certification in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering - undefined
Operations Manager
Carlton Managed Property
06.201 - 07.2011