Marilou Castro
Edison,NJ
Summary
A growth-focused business development executive with extensive knowledge of leading a team of sales and marketing professionals who will drive revenue growth and who can handle multiple projects and still achieve the highest level of productivity and degree of accuracy in this dynamic and competitive market. Highly proficient in identifying business challenges and delivering innovative solutions to achieve goals set by the organization. Demonstrated organizational skills and strong collaboration with all levels of corporate clients and business partners. Excellent in using independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to impact company success.
Seeking to acquire a position utilizing knowledge from thirty-five years of trackable sales and marketing experience in Hospitality, Pharmaceutical Sales, and Room Wholesale- International and Domestic Markets. To seek and maintain a full-time position that offers professional challenges utilizing interpersonal skills, excellent time management, and problem-solving skills.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work History
Corporate Director of Sales and Revenue Management
Friendwell Group of Companies – Friendwell Management, USA
New Jersey
07.2019 - 12.2021
- Managed twenty-four sales managers that generated over $75M annually
- Leading Sales Department through a strategic re-alignment and culture shift that focuses on growing RevPAR while building stronger relationships in the market with the brand and shifting share from the set.
- Provides leadership, driving revenue generation while meeting corporate ownership objectives
- Assists with sales strategies to maximize overall property goals for rate, occupancy, and RGI growth
- Ensures the Director of Sales in each property is proactively selling and deploying to maximize revenue
- Dynamic analysis of revenue optimization efforts for all market segments, including OTA sales & weekly performance, to maximize sales revenue for all properties in the portfolio
- Work collaboratively with all disciplines: Operations, Accounting, e-commerce, Marketing, Human Resources, and Revenue Management.
- Celebrates sales successes by recognizing assigned hotels' top sales performers
- Developing Sales Managers to be next in line Director of Sales, training, and coaching
- Weekly meeting with Account Managers- OTA on behalf of the entire hotel portfolio
- Analyze Pricing Strategies, Dynamic pricing
- Maintains successful performance by increasing revenues and managing the bottom line with upper management and ownership.
Vice President- North America/ Sales and Contracting/ Business Development
Amerilink International Corp | AICHOTELS.COM
New Jersey
04.2013 - 06.2019
- Manage all departments in the US - Sales, Operations, Business Development, and Customer Service.
- B2B and B2C marketing of room wholesale
- Identified and cultivated new business opportunities that resulted in a revenue of $4M for a single account.
- Responsible for account management of over 1500 hotel contract accounts with a targeted focus on inventories for Wholesale/FIT
- Develop companies' Dynamic Connectivity with Major Hotel Chains
- Manage, train, and develop hotel account contractors throughout North America
- Negotiating contracts, terms, policies, and pricing strategies
- Conduct meetings with upper-level corporate management and ownership
- Develop and increase volume production for North America and China
- Manages all pricing and inventory management for the B2B dynamic platform
- Attending all significant conventions for the Travel and Tourism Industry
- Planning and execution of all companies' Sales Strategies
- Work closely with our operation team in the US and China to create a better customer experience
- Run an aggressive contracting team, achieve planned goals
- Oversee the development and execution of company strategies through marketing and distribution.
Vice President Operations
Amerilink International Corp. AICHOTELS.COM
New Jersey
01.2012 - 04.2013
- Training and development of new managers
- Provide customer intelligence in evaluating market and trends, leading to customer service and sales strategy changes to meet and exceed customer expectations.
- Implement a seamless turnover of line staffing and regular training of supervisors to managers by encouraging staff to grow their potential and be leaders.
- Monitor compelling resolution of guest issues.
Opening General Manager – Area Director -IHG Hotel
MBA Hotel Management
New Jersey
01.2000 - 12.2011
- Orchestrated a swift opening and product development
- Hire, train, and develop a dynamic team
- Yield Management, forecasting, and budget preparation
- Participated in networking events with local chambers and corporations, securing a revenue of 150% of the monthly budget.
- Assists with sales strategies to maximize overall property goals for rate, occupancy, and RGI growth
- Solicit and maintain accounts in various business segments
- Secured the top-ranking position in Occupancy and RevPar.
General Manager
Prime Hospitality Corporation
New Jersey
04.1994 - 12.1999
- Plans, direct and coordinate all aspects of the hotel property, including staffing, operations, and customer satisfaction
- Oversee property operating costs, budgets, and forecasts
- Ensure community involvement by visiting community partners such as the Visitor Bureau, convention centers
- Work collaboratively with all disciplines; Operations, Accounting, eCommerce, Marketing, Human Resources, and Revenue Management
- Celebrates sales successes by recognizing the assigned hotel's top sales performers.
Area Manager- Pharmaceutical Sales
Zuellig Pharma Corporation
Makati, Philippines
01.1985 - 09.1993
- My career as a Territory Manager for a Multi-National Pharmaceutical Company was a great start in the mid-1980s
- Implemented guidelines and trained new hire candidates for Medical Representative Positions in various operations fields, eventually becoming industry leaders
- Managed, implemented, and developed sales strategies and better ways of collaborating with companies' goals and marketing pharmaceutical products
- Developed and maintained a strong business relationship with medical practitioners, hospital staff, and pharmacists
- Organized and planned meetings with professional speakers and attended conventions and medical symposiums
- Successfully trained new field medical representatives during the first crucial year in the field, visiting medical groups and hospitals
- Provide scientific information and clinical data to medical professionals while assisting with professional programs, in-service training, and product knowledge to clinicians
- As a leader, our team achieved excellence in sales and marketing, was awarded multiple highest sales productions, and maintained the highest overall team performance in the company.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry/Pre-Med Track - Chemistry
College of The Holy Spirit
Philippines05.1984
Skills
- Pharmaceutical Sales
- Business Development
- Yield Management
- Sales Negotiation
- Revenue Analysis
- Hotel Management - Sales Leadership
- Cost Reduction
- Strategic Partnerships
- Investor Relations
- Workforce Planning
- Revenue Growth
- Organizational Leadership
Websites
Pronouns
She/Her
Timeline
Corporate Director of Sales and Revenue Management
Friendwell Group of Companies – Friendwell Management, USA
07.2019 - 12.2021
Vice President- North America/ Sales and Contracting/ Business Development
Amerilink International Corp | AICHOTELS.COM
04.2013 - 06.2019
Vice President Operations
Amerilink International Corp. AICHOTELS.COM
01.2012 - 04.2013
Opening General Manager – Area Director -IHG Hotel
MBA Hotel Management
01.2000 - 12.2011
General Manager
Prime Hospitality Corporation
04.1994 - 12.1999
Area Manager- Pharmaceutical Sales
Zuellig Pharma Corporation
01.1985 - 09.1993
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry/Pre-Med Track - Chemistry
College of The Holy Spirit