JULIE A. HEDLUND
Chicago,IL
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Advisor Parnterships - Central Region
UJV - Ultimate Jet Vacations
08.2024 - Current
- Strategically nurture relationships with luxury travel advisors, agencies and consortia focusing on reengaging and deepening connections with existing clients to drive loyalty, repeat business, and high-value growth opportunities within the region, using data driven client base efficiently and effectively.
- Design and execute initiatives that maximize the impact of clients interactions, balancing new business development with proactive engagement of established partnerships.
- Represent UJV at select industry events, trade shows and familiarization trips, serving as a trusted brand ambassador and gathering insights to strengthen the company's market position.
- Conduct ongoing market research and competitive analysis to identify trends, emerging opportunities, and evolving client needs.
- Translate market and client insights into actionable strategies that drive engagement, client retention and revenue growth.
- Maintain accountability for the profitability of the assigned region's P&L, aligning spending and engagement decisions with revenue objectives.
- Focus efforts on initiatives that drive revenue growth, client retention and overall regional profitability, leveraging strategic rate than constant in-person engagement.
- Partner with Destination Specialists to ensure a seamless client experience from first engagement to repeat travel, sharing insights to enhance client satisfaction and retention.
- Work closely with Marketing to inform campaigns, support webinars and advisor engagement events (including promotion, follow-up, and attendee interaction) and amplify UJV's presence though social media and other facing initiatives.
Director of Sales, Midwest
TL Portfolio
05.2022 - 10.2023
- Identified and prospected travel agencies and tour operators with sales potential for TL Portfolio clients
- Trained and developed a tight relationship with the market to aggregate value for TL Portfolio clients
- Created and managed a powerful client database within Sales Force
- Created and implemented promotions and initiatives to help render ROI to TL Portfolio clients
- Helped and supported TL clients’ sales teams to develop relationship and conduct sales calls
- Created and presented monthly sales reports using Sales Forces as per TL Portfolio standards
- Managed clients (hotels or DMCs) with direct accountability for sales production
- Planned, created and executed TL Portfolio events
- Ensured successful implementation of developed sales strategies
- Conducted weekly conference calls with the sales team
- Monitored production and evaluated trends in the market
- Reviewed and created relevant sales collateral for the market
Midwest Regional Sales Director
Velas Resorts
09.2017 - 04.2022
- Sales, Marketing & Promotional activities for Midwest Market
- Collaborated to establish effective relationships with all key consortia’s, tour operators, wholesalers and tourism boards
- Generated leads through cold calling, face-to-face meetings, social media and networking with prospective and existing clients
- Organized successful sales trips, presentations and Velas Resorts branded events with key accounts
- Hosted successful FAM trips with ROI to all 6 Velas resorts by qualifying luxury advisors
- Actively participated in luxury industry trade shows, conferences, and events
- Increased sales and revenue for the brand within the leisure, MICE, and destination wedding segments.
Global Sr. Sales Manager
Rocco Forte Hotels
10.2012 - 01.2015
- Established and launched Midwest Sales Office and enhanced brand recognition of Rocco Forte Hotels
- Liaised & cooperated with the New York Global Sales Office to achieve $3,000,000 total revenue from Global Key Accounts and C&I revenues of $500,000 generated annually from the Midwest
- Identified, established and maintained relationships with key decision makers
- Generated leads through cold calling, face-to-face meetings and networking with prospective and existing clients
- Participated in local professional organizations within key industries specific to the Midwest territory
- Processed and followed up on all leads received via Midwest travel agents, meeting planners and corporate travel managers
- Created and distributed sales materials and presentation collateral for individual hotels and the brand as appropriate for each specific sales appointment
- Successfully contributed to the planning, organization and implementation of industry trade shows, Rocco Forte Showcases, sales blitzes, educational trips and promotional events
- Maintained a quarterly target list and worked on producing business and expanding that list
- Completed weekly plans and quarterly action steps and reviewed with each Director of Sales.
Corporate Sales Manager
The Leading Hotels Of The World, Ltd.
05.2007 - 09.2012
- Managed RFP process as well as total account management for Midwest corporate accounts
- Ensured RFPs are launched and returned to the corporate client in a timely manner
- Managed rate audits and production reports
- Attended bid meetings
- Followed up on customer initiatives, sales processes and account reviews
- Promoted hotels for inclusion in corporate RFPs
- Planned and attended industry events on behalf of LHW
- Actively prospected for new business
- Increased consumed revenue in 2011 from corporate negotiated accounts from region by $750,000
- Increased allocated IATA production in 2011 from region by over $650,000.
Sales Manager, Midwest
Kempinski Hotels & Resorts
01.2003 - 05.2007
- Established and launched Midwest Sales Office and enhanced brand recognition of Kempinski Hotels in all vital market segments
- Solicited, negotiated and maintained top Midwest corporate accounts
- Liaised & cooperated with the New York International Sales Office to achieve total sales target of $6,000,000 in group revenues with a projected $2,000,000 of this amount generated from the Midwest Sales Office
- Established maximum possible visibility with a travel plan that called for regular sales visits in Chicago and the suburbs and all key Midwestern cities
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with tourist offices and airline partners in order to organize and escort educational trips to Kempinski properties.
Skills
- Customer Focused
- Achieving Sales Results
- Sales Training and Leadership
- Key Account Targeting
- Relationship Building
- Luxury Hotel & DMC Market
- Self Sufficient and Resourceful
- Verbal and written communication
- Well Traveled
PROFILE
An experienced and results oriented sales and marketing professional
with a proven history of effective leadership in the luxury hospitality
industry. I am dedicated to being part of a team who strives to not only
achieve but exceed objectives. As a creative, passionate and an out-of-the
box thinker, I continue to challenge myself to identify new ways to
motivate those around me and achieve success, while providing the finest
in customer service.
EDUCATION & INTERNSHIPS
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
Bachelor of Science in Restaurant, Hotel & Institutional Management - May 1992
Honors: Dean’s List for Academic Honors, Member of National College Honor Scholarship Society
Walt Disney World Company, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Spring 1989 and Fall 1991
Nationally selected from over 200 universities to be a participant in the living, working and learning experiences of the Walt Disney World College Program
PROFICIENCIES
- Microsoft Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Outlook
- Google Workspace
- Front
- SalesForce
- Hubspot
- Cvent
- Social Media Platforms
Timeline
Director of Advisor Parnterships - Central Region
UJV - Ultimate Jet Vacations
08.2024 - Current
Director of Sales, Midwest
TL Portfolio
05.2022 - 10.2023
Midwest Regional Sales Director
Velas Resorts
09.2017 - 04.2022
Global Sr. Sales Manager
Rocco Forte Hotels
10.2012 - 01.2015
Corporate Sales Manager
The Leading Hotels Of The World, Ltd.
05.2007 - 09.2012
Sales Manager, Midwest
Kempinski Hotels & Resorts
01.2003 - 05.2007