JOHN BENAVIDES
Austin,TX
Summary
High-energy Hospitality Manager with experience in strategic planning, operations, building dynamic teams, and profit improvement. Accomplished and dedicated professional with a career reflecting high quality performance in boosting organization profitability and performance. Proven track record of exceptional customer service skills, while driving company culture of hospitality and engagement to position business as the obvious choice.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Food and Beverage Operations Manager
Renaissance Hotel Austin, Texas
Austin, TX
09.2021 - 05.2023
- I was recruited as Food and Beverage Operations Manager. In the first year I was promoted to Senior Operations Manager. The Food and Beverage Department exceeded leadership proformance goals and all key drivers exceeded benchmark company averages. We went from a low ranking to a top performer at number 13 for the region. The goal that stood out the most was Customer Service Scores we maintained a 80% and higher percentage. My responsibilities included the following:
- Renovation of all outlet operations, which included the reopening of the Concierge Club, Room Service, Coffee Shop, Tequila Bar, & the full service Restaurant, Bar & Poolside service. Implementation of all Brand Standards throughout the outlets. I was responsible for training all the Assistant Managers on the day to day activities and operations of the Food & Beverage department. This included the development of departmental strategies and goals. I exceeded budget revenues and financial forecasts. Employees of our department were consistently awarded and recognized for their customer service.
Food Service Director
Great Western Dining Services, Inc, McLennan Community College, Hill College.
Waco, TX
12.2019 - 09.2021
- Unit Director for Great Western Dining at McLennan Community College / Hill College.
- Retention of client relationship and Service contract for all dining concepts at McLennan Community College. Which included the full-service Cafeteria and two retails outlets with Starbucks coffee. A full catering operation which exceeded over $1 Million in revenue per year. Holiday events to include up to 1000 guests. Daily caterings from 50 – 350 guests. Monthly presidential board dinners. Initiated the startup of all concession stands for athletic events. Implemented a strategic plan to control costs. This plan achieved the profits goals for the company.
General Manager
Tony Roma's Ribs, Steaks and Seafood
McAllen, TX
12.2014 - 12.2019
- Drove sales to over $2,500,000.00 by successfully cultivating local school relationships and targeting student fundraiser campaigns.
- Also raised the bar and service level of our catering operation.
- Catering revenue now represents 25% of gross revenue.
- Organized and planned large events for 3000 guests.
- Recruited and developed a lead team, that contained Prime Cost at 60% of Gross Revenue.
- Delivered exceptional client experiences with hands-on leadership of front-line associates and area managers.
- Received the World’s Best Service Award and became United States Training Store.
- Empowered staff members to contribute to continuous improvement, quality, and growth of company.
- Finalized all staff interviews to attract, develop, and retain talent to ensure that people with the right skills and motivations to meet business needs are in the right place at the right time.
- First Manager to present cost variance reports at monthly financial meetings.
- Operate highest profit unit in the company.
Food and Beverage Director
McAllen Country Club
McAllen, TX
11.2012 - 11.2014
- Food and Beverage director and over 15 years of service industry professional experience, Worked with Executive Chef, Catering Manager, supervised kitchen personnel in planning food preparation of up to 600 meals per day, large-scale establishment.
- Organized and served up to four Ball Rooms Events at one time, while also managing the fine dining restaurant.
- All of which serve to enhance and influence the overall Member and Guest experience while maintaining compliance with Country Club Practices, cost projections, and mission statement.
- Menu maintenance, menu engineering, event management, and service team product orientation and roll-out training.
- Reduced food and liquor cost 7%.
- Founded first soup table side Flambé' Cart for Club Dinner Dining.
Food and Beverage Director
Renaissance Marriott Hotel
McAllen, Texas
12.2009 - 10.2012
- Food and Beverage Director.
- Directed and aligned successful execution of all food and beverage operations for the hotel, supervised all property food and beverage operations, and controlled Food and Beverage Cost while driving guest satisfaction.
- Worked directly with General Manager developed a business strategy to Increase Catering Revenue.
- Engineered an affiliation with a local event planner who needed a social venue for events.
- The hotel would provide the Ball Room and Kitchen and the planner would book our services.
- This increased our catering revenue by 12% a year.
- Developed strategic initiatives, that improved the financial model of food and beverage department.
- Created budget forecast with business strategies, included new menu for the restaurant, new food catering menu and alcohol program for catering events.
- Improved the food cost by 4% and Liquor cost by 5%.
General Manager
Tower Club
McAllen, Texas
11.2004 - 11.2009
- The Tower Club, Club Core Property, one of eight high rise clubs, which sold part a bundle deal in 2002, After it sold to new sponsors, club still had a five-year obligation to its life members.
- Board of Directors from Club Core remained, and they Contracted my consulting services, for one year.
- First task was to assess the current situation and devised a plan to organize and reinvest in training the staff to carry out the improved front of the house service plan.
- We also created new menu for the members and club.
- While these initiatives were working.
- The new sponsors, board of directors, were evaluating the current position of the club in the community.
- I proposed to get a Market Study done for the Club.
- I proposed the following, I would contact the MBA Dean at the University and see if they would appoint some MBA students to do the Market Research Study.
- The university agreed and we got it done.
- After this I was awarded a five-year contract as General Manager.
- I will do what is necessary for the Company to Succeed.
Restaurant Manager
04.1999 - 11.2003
Associate Manager
Luby's Cafeteria
San Antonio, Texas
- Hired as the number three Manager, in less than 12 months promoted, broke all the Operating Profit Records for the 50-year-old company.
- Formed Action Team, that Include my Regional V.P., District Manager, and all Lead position employees in unit.
- Achieved profit never seen in the company 40% from a 4.5-million-dollar unit.
- Appointed Mentor and Coach for Unit Managers in Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.
- Served Corporate Committees to help Human Resource create Pay scale ranges for unit employees.
- Invited by Head Corporate Office to serve as a member in the Food Development and Research Committee.
- District Manager Position training started.
Education
Restaurant Management
Del Mar College
Corpus Christi, TXAccounting
Austin Community College
Austin, TXSkills
- Multi-operation hospitality management
- Data collection and analysis, Profit and Loss Analysis
- Growth Strategies
- High Volume Experience
- Managing diverse large workforce
- Menu Engineering
- Team Building / Training /Supervision
- Extensive Dining, Banquet, and Catering knowledge
- Front and Back of House Operations
- Safety/Sanitation/Quality Control/Kitchen Preventative Maintenance
Affiliations
- ServSafe National Certification
- Marriott Beverage and Food Training and Certification
- All Star Training Club Core of America
- Brinker International Accounting Certification
- Restaurant Operations Excellence Award
- Marriott Envision Circle Leadership Training
Additional Information
- Activities and Honors , Chamber Commerce Board Committee International Food Festival First Place Award, Most Congenial Chef Award Tampa Bay, Luby's Cafeteria Food Development Committee, Tony Roma's World Best Service Award. Texas Restaurant Association Scholarship Recipient.
Timeline
Senior Food and Beverage Operations Manager
Renaissance Hotel Austin, Texas
09.2021 - 05.2023
Food Service Director
Great Western Dining Services, Inc, McLennan Community College, Hill College.
12.2019 - 09.2021
General Manager
Tony Roma's Ribs, Steaks and Seafood
12.2014 - 12.2019
Food and Beverage Director
McAllen Country Club
11.2012 - 11.2014
Food and Beverage Director
Renaissance Marriott Hotel
12.2009 - 10.2012
General Manager
Tower Club
11.2004 - 11.2009
Restaurant Manager
04.1999 - 11.2003
Associate Manager
Luby's Cafeteria
Restaurant Management
Del Mar College
Accounting
Austin Community College
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