Summary
Overview
Work History
Skills
Languages
Certification
Accomplishments
References
Education
Work Availability
Work Preference
Interests
Websites
Timeline
BusinessDevelopmentManager
MARIA JIMENA VARELA AINZA

MARIA JIMENA VARELA AINZA

EL CENTRO,CA

Summary

Dedicated and adaptable professional with a proactive attitude and the ability to learn quickly. Strong work ethic and effective communication skills. Eager to contribute to a dynamic team and support organizational goals.

Overview

25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
7
7
years of post-secondary education

Work History

Co-Founder

QueenBiz
El Centro, California
08.2023 - Current
  • Spearheaded the creation and development of a company dedicated to empowering women to take ownership of their lives, reinvent themselves, and build their dream businesses and lifestyles.
  • Designed and delivered training programs focused on personal development, mindset transformation, and business strategies tailored to women entrepreneurs.
  • Led workshops, masterminds, and coaching sessions to help clients identify their goals, overcome limiting beliefs, and achieve sustainable growth.
  • Developed and implemented strategic initiatives to expand QueenBiz’s reach and impact, including social media campaigns, community-building efforts, and collaborative partnerships.
  • Managed operations, program development, and client engagement, ensuring a high-quality experience aligned with QueenBiz’s mission and values.
  • Fostered a community of like-minded women, creating a supportive environment that encourages collaboration, learning, and personal growth.
  • Collaborated with company partners to develop and actualize strategic plans to advance company's mission and objectives and promote revenue, profitability and growth.
  • Advanced business through multiple transition periods to maximize efficiency, profitability, and scalability with future demands.
  • Monitored business trend forecasts and adjusted budgets and operational plans to maximize growth and opportunities.
  • Hired new managers to drive sustainable business growth.

Area Director of Operations

Hersha Hospitality Management LP
El Centro, CA
02.2022 - 08.2023
  • Responsible for assisting the RDO in working directly with the Hotel operational teams for an assigned group of Hotels within the Marriott portfolio
  • Primary point of contact for hotels' operation disciplines incorporating, Food and Beverage and Rooms Operations
  • Lead efforts to improve operational performance by assessing economic factors, understanding demographic trends, enhancing the brand, leveraging relationships, and enhancing guest satisfaction through a variety of tools, while ensuring strict expense control to yield positive results and growth
  • Assisting with the hiring of key managers and hotel Executive Committee members, as well as collaborate with various corporate leaders on Sales, Marketing, F&B and Revenue
  • Create budgets and review monthly and quarterly forecast for each property
  • Weekly ownership calls to assess the financials and overall hotel's performance
  • Worked closely with the Director of Sales and Marketing for the West Coast to develop revenue generating strategies for property; identifies new business leads, develops tailored sales approach, and actively pursues leads with Sales and Marketing team.

PORTFOLIO EXPERIENCED MANAGER-MEXICO & CENTRAL AMERICA- INSPIRATO

10.2021 - 02.2022
  • Manage special projects & assignments requested or delegated by Senior Manager and Vice President of Destination Experience
  • Interview, hire, train, manage, coach, and create a successful destination delivery team including concierge, planning, and housekeeping services
  • Ensure consistency in the field with exceptional service delivery and adherence to policies and processes
  • Evaluate opportunities and create destination specific member experiences
  • Track, analyze and create effective action plans to address survey scores and member feedback for destination service
  • Assist with creative ideas and resolutions for member challenges that may impact the member's vacation
  • Rotate within the Manager on Duty program and serve as back-up to fellow team members
  • Actively participate in cross-functional portfolio team, working with the team to deliver a full destination experience profitably- Service, Asset, Accommodation and Value
  • Lead training sessions for Denver based teams on the destination, and destination staff on Department and company initiatives
  • Approve destination team expenses: member folios, expense reports
  • Manage monthly spending with Destination team in housekeeping, consumables, amenities, and replenishment OS&E on behalf of the portfolio team, working with Portfolio Managers for budget guidance
  • Formulate plans to relay cost saving ideas and efficiencies throughout the destinations.

AREA GENERAL MANAGER-TOWNEPLACE & FAIRFIELD MARRIOTT HOTELS EL CENTRO, CA

03.2009 - 10.2021
  • Interview, select, train, schedule, coach, and support associates
  • Tour property daily
  • Cost control, property condition, cleanliness, quality of product
  • Supervise business plan, marketing plan, create annual budget, financial reports, forecasting that clearly, explain operations effectively
  • Collaborate with revenue management to analyze trends and implement changes to maximize revenue
  • Maintain positive rapport with associates and customers and communicate regularly with public and staff, corporate office, and owners
  • Handle associate issues appropriately and follow company procedures
  • ICIMS usage for E-Verify and recruiting
  • In charge of interviewing, onboarding and training in all areas
  • Update CA law posters, MSDS and OSHA requirements
  • Ensure safety practices and procedures are followed and proper emergency and security procedures are maintained
  • Travel to attend corporate meetings, sales trips and serve on committees
  • Monitor quality assurance scores and guest feedback
  • Create specific, measurable, achievable and realistic action plans to drive culture of guest service and remedy guest deficiencies accordingly
  • Oversee sales department operations and regularly participate on sales calls and client's visits
  • Participate In local social events and networks with members of the community
  • Provide exceptional customer service to all hotel guests
  • Perform Marriott QA requirements and ensure all supervisors perform quality assurance for their areas of responsibility
  • Know and satisfy the needs for owners, Management Company, and hotel brand
  • Manage revenue (housekeeping, rooms, food and beverage, engineering, and other departments)
  • Ensure profitability and maintain a strong working relationship with all leaders
  • Along with the Sales team, create local and national marketing plans and pricing strategies and know market segments
  • Work closely with key accounts executives and business base
  • Ensure all policies, procedures, federal, state and local; ordinances regarding personnel, security, cash handling, guest relations and safety are followed
  • Ensure that the property and inventory are always in best conditions
  • Develop annual budget and capital expenditure plans
  • Achieve budgeted revenue and profit goals, balancing cost with guest satisfaction
  • Comply with all corporate accounting procedures, including daily, monthly reports to corporate and ownership
  • Ensure property hiring and all associate practices comply with company and legal requirements
  • Training and directing new hires and supervisors as needed
  • Monitor performance develops and guides associates in career path
  • Implement Brand culture among associates and guide them to achieve set goals
  • Become involve in the community and government affairs
  • Conduct performance evaluations for all employees.

HR. ASSISTANT MANAGER- SHERATON SAN DIEGO HOTEL & MARINA

12.2006 - 03.2008
  • Assisting HR team with recruitment, onboarding, interviewing, issuing contracts, disciplinary action including separation
  • Supporting internal and external inquiries and requests related to HR including benefits
  • Compiling with maintaining employee paper, digital and electronic employee record, leave of absence, FMLA, OSHA requirements, MSDS, payroll and compensation
  • Assisting in planning events and meetings
  • Entering data in computer base
  • Writing and submitting reports including HR activities such as HR newspaper
  • Continuing learning the latest HR best practices to improve workplace efficiency.

RESTAURANT MANAGER- GEORGE'S ON FIFTH

07.2001 - 10.2006
  • Ensuring incoming staff complies with company policy
  • Training staff to follow restaurant procedures
  • Maintaining safety and food quality standards
  • Keeping customers happy and handling complaints
  • Organizing schedules
  • Keeping track of employees' hours
  • Recording payroll data
  • Ordering food, linens and other supplies while staying within budget limitations
  • Supervising daily shift operations
  • Ensuring all end of day cash outs are correctly completed
  • Coordinating daily front- and back-of-house restaurant operations
  • Controlling operational costs and identifying ways to cut waste
  • Appraising staff performance
  • Interviewing/recruiting new employees
  • Interacting with guests to get feedback on product quality and service levels.

F & B INTERNSHIP

03.2000 - 06.2001

Skills

  • Organization
  • Customer Relations
  • Problem Resolution
  • Planning
  • Team building
  • Training & Development
  • Collaboration
  • Computer Skills

Languages

English
Full Professional
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual

Certification

  • HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL CERTIFICATE- ENTREPRENEURSHIP ESSENTIALS 2020
  • BACHELOR OF PSYCHOLOGY-SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY-2011-2014
  • ATENEO-BUENOS AIRES-HOTEL MANAGEMENT- 1996-1999

Accomplishments

  • Hotel of the Year - 2014 Intermountain Management
  • Gold Hotel- Customer Service- 2016 Marriott International
  • Gold Hotel- Leadership- 2018 Marriott International

References

References available upon request.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Hospitality Management

Ateneo
Buenos Aires
03.1996 - 10.1999

Bachelor of Arts - Phycology

San Diego State University
San Diego, CA
01.2011 - 10.2014

Work Availability

monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
swipe to browse

Work Preference

Work Type

Full Time

Work Location

RemoteHybrid

Important To Me

Career advancementPersonal development programsPaid time offStock Options / Equity / Profit SharingTeam Building / Company RetreatsWork-life balanceHealthcare benefits4-day work weekCompany CultureWork from home optionPaid sick leave401k matchFlexible work hours

Interests

Travel

Languages

Culture

Mindfulness

Timeline

Co-Founder

QueenBiz
08.2023 - Current

Area Director of Operations

Hersha Hospitality Management LP
02.2022 - 08.2023

PORTFOLIO EXPERIENCED MANAGER-MEXICO & CENTRAL AMERICA- INSPIRATO

10.2021 - 02.2022

Bachelor of Arts - Phycology

San Diego State University
01.2011 - 10.2014

AREA GENERAL MANAGER-TOWNEPLACE & FAIRFIELD MARRIOTT HOTELS EL CENTRO, CA

03.2009 - 10.2021

HR. ASSISTANT MANAGER- SHERATON SAN DIEGO HOTEL & MARINA

12.2006 - 03.2008

RESTAURANT MANAGER- GEORGE'S ON FIFTH

07.2001 - 10.2006

F & B INTERNSHIP

03.2000 - 06.2001

Bachelor of Science - Hospitality Management

Ateneo
03.1996 - 10.1999

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
MARIA JIMENA VARELA AINZA