Robert VanBenschoten Jr
Jersey City,NJ
Summary
Accomplished Sales Manager offering 10 years of experience developing and maximizing sales. Diligent in building and retaining accounts by providing support and attentive service. Expertise in marketing strategies, product promotion and merchandising to achieve market penetration. Successful record of expanding network connections through persuasive brand imaging and networking.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Area Sales Manager
Hyatt Place New York City/Times Square & Hyatt Place Chelsea
New York, NY
01.2021 - Current
- Solicited and procured new accounts for hotel in order to maximize revenue streams for two properties with 1,030 rooms combined resulting in over 6,740 room nights and $1.2 million in combined group business booked for 2021-2023 in Tour & Travel, Government, and SMERF segments
- Member of Pre-Opening Sales Team for Hyatt Place Chelsea, responsible for implementing sales SOPs and systems, while actively selling property to get business on the books pre-opening
- Assisted the DOS and ADOS in weekly forecasting for Tour & Travel, Government, and SMERF segments in
- Profitsage
- Receive and process group leads from third party meeting and group planners, e.g
- Hotel Planner, CVENT, Anthony Travel, HPN Global,
- Used CRM and Revenue Management tools to track sales productivity in order to define and maximize new and existing sales opportunities and revenue potentials
- Worked with Front Desk Managers and Hotel Managers at both properties in order to create group welcome amenities and group check-in procedures for Ops staff
- Expert contract negotiator with proven experience in closing sales
- Created and maintained relationships with Tour & Travel clients and agencies in order to increase repeat bookings to provide base business in order to push ADR on need dates
- One of the primary trainers of new employees in Sales and Operations departments to educate employees on sales process; proficient in Opera, Travelclick products, Envision, Reserve systems
- Sourced wedding venues and created lasting partnerships with local religious institutions, local schools and universities in order to increase SMERF business and raise ADR for SMERF group business
- Created partnerships with event spaces in the neighborhoods of each property in order to maximize group and revenue potentials and meeting space capabilities
- Proficient in building instant and lasting connections and rapports with clients in order to secure a consistent pipeline of RFPs and sales calls
SALES MANAGER
Hyatt Place New York City/Times Square
New York, NY
11.2019 - 06.2020
- Solicited and procured new accounts for hotel in order to maximize revenue streams resulting in over 5,459 room nights and $900k in group business booked for 2020-2021 in Tour & Travel and SMERF segments
- Member of Pre-Opening Sales Team to procure group business prior to hotel opening in late 2019
- Assisted the DOS and ADOS in weekly forecasting for Tour & Travel and SMERF segments in Prophet Sage
- Receive and process group leads from third party meeting and group planners, e.g
- Hotel Planner, CVENT,
- Anthony Travel
- Tracked sales productivity in order to forecast demand in order to define and maximize new and existing sales opportunities
- Worked with Front Desk Managers and Assistant General Manager in order to create group welcome amenities and group check-in procedures
- Coordinated with Food & Beverage Team in order to create meeting offerings menu for groups and meetings in house
- Created and maintained relationships with Tour & Travel clients (Contact USA, Travel Advocates, ATP, etc.)
- Travel Solutions) in order to increase repeat bookings to provide base business in order to push ADR on need dates
- Assisted in training and supervision of Sales Coordinator and Receptionist as needed
- Sourced wedding venues and created partnerships and implemented wedding package offerings to increase shoulder night and weekend group bookings for weddings
- Global Biorisk Advisory Council certified in GBAC response in remediation and use of PPE, as well as preventative response, infection control, and contamination control measures in regard to COVID-19
DIRECTOR OF SALES
Hyatt House Parsippany
Parsippany, NJ
08.2019 - 11.2019
- Coordinate group and transient bookings to maximize profits
- Implemented Sales training program for all Sales Employees and Operations Supervisors and Managers
- Prepared reports for End of Month including KRA, Target Accounts, and Sales Call Goal Tracking
- Prepare and submit weekly Forecast to Management and General Manager
- Monitor production of top accounts and evaluate trends in market to ensure maximum productivity and profit
- Conduct weekly Sales Meetings to ensure team is producing as needed and goals are met
- Supervise, administer, and ensure timely completion of all activities in the Sales Department
- Operate within established Sales Expense Budget
- Developed market strategies through awareness of market and ability to predict revenue opportunities and set proactive strategies
- Train, coach, and support employees in department in order to ensure department cohesion and maximum productivity and revenue
- Review and analyze market data in order to drive targeted activates and increase growth with existing clients
- Track industry trends in order to keep all marketing and sales collateral and plans current
- Direct management of all corporate accounts (over 75 total) at hotel
SALES MANAGER
Hyatt House
Parsippany, NJ
04.2018 - 08.2019
- Soliciting, saturating, and managing top local and national accounts for transient & group business, becoming primary hotelier for the Evonik corporation, Plymouth Rock Assurance, and Lexus in Parsippany
- Conducted weekly Sales Blitzes to procure new corporate business in the area resulting in 13 new corporate rates at the hotel and 736 new Corporate Group Rooms year over year
- Assist General Manager and Director of Sales with weekly forecast and monthly financial calls
- Prepare reports on account production and target accounts for the Director of Sales financial calls
- Complete End of Month production programs for Management Company & Ownership
- Monitor rates and restrictions daily in order to maximize occupancy and rate
- Reworked wedding package offerings to increase wedding business for weekend and shoulder nights and added 32 wedding blocks per year
- Increased overall SMERF groups by 15% year over year adding $6 in rate
- Created and executed promotional marketing for corporate accounts in order to grow business in slow months, resulting in a 6% increase in corporate room nights during Q1 2019 and a 20% increase in Q4 2019
- Solicited assigned accounts to achieve or exceed budgeted room and banquet revenue
- Trained and mentored in the development of new members of the sales staff (e.g
- Sales Coordinator)
- Served as “Manager on Duty” during busy summer weekends, running hotel and assisting all departments in hotel to ensure guest satisfaction
- Fostered relationships with National Account Travel Agents in order to become preferred local hotelier for extended stay guests booked by American Express Global Business Travel
SALES COORDINATOR
Hyatt House
Parsippany, NJ
05.2017 - 04.2018
- Solicited SMERF groups to cover shoulder night and weekend business, increasing SMERF business by 4% and $7 in rate
- Curator of all meeting space in house
- Sole coordinator between each department in order to ensure successful groups and events
- Created new organizational materials (13 Day packet) in order to inform staff of events and groups in house and implemented daily department checks to ensure up-to-date communications for groups and events
- Hosted weekly managers meeting to inform all management and department heads about blocks, meetings, and events at the hotel
- Implemented and managed VIR program for incoming long-term guests
Guest Services Representative/Front Office Manager
Hyatt-House Parsippany
Parsippany, NJ
01.2016 - 05.2017
- Primary contact for all guests during busiest hours at the Front Desk
- Implemented organizational strategies in order to streamline check-in process
- Created questionnaire and subsequent spreadsheet to maximize opportunities for the Sales Department to solicit business uncovered at the Front Desk
- Implemented “Guest of the Day” program and “Company of the Month” with hotel rewards to increase guest satisfaction and customer retention
Food & Beverage Lead/Manager
Hyatt-House Parsippany
Parsippany, NJ
02.2012 - 12.2016
- Oversaw and implemented installation, training, and setup of Hyatt Brand H Bar in October 2013
- Responsible for training bartenders, servers, and management staff as to bar procedures, Micros systems, and bartending
- Sole manager responsible for all liquor and beer orders for hotel property
- Responsible for creating weekly and daily drink specials to move merchandise and increase profits and weekly sales quotas at H Bar
- Responsible for managing F&B budget for H Bar and daily complimentary breakfast service
- Certified Bartender
Education
BACHELOR OF ARTS - Psychology
The Catholic University of America
05.2010
Skills
- Sales Statistics Analysis (Travel Click, etc)
- Relationship Building
- Sales Program Coordination
- Interdepartmental Collaboration
- Budgeting and Expenditures
- Staff Training and Development
- Knowledge of Hyatt systems (RMT, Opera, PRIO, Envision, etc)
- Complex Negotiations
Additional Information
References available upon request.
Timeline
Area Sales Manager
Hyatt Place New York City/Times Square & Hyatt Place Chelsea
01.2021 - Current
SALES MANAGER
Hyatt Place New York City/Times Square
11.2019 - 06.2020
DIRECTOR OF SALES
Hyatt House Parsippany
08.2019 - 11.2019
SALES MANAGER
Hyatt House
04.2018 - 08.2019
SALES COORDINATOR
Hyatt House
05.2017 - 04.2018
Guest Services Representative/Front Office Manager
Hyatt-House Parsippany
01.2016 - 05.2017
Food & Beverage Lead/Manager
Hyatt-House Parsippany
02.2012 - 12.2016
BACHELOR OF ARTS - Psychology
The Catholic University of America
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