TRACEY GAVIN
The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel
Redondo Beach,CA
29
years of professional experience
To be a part of a company that will benefit from my initiative, capabilities and contributions ultimately qualifying for advancement and increased decision-making responsibilities.
Catering sales professional with a robust background in developing and executing successful sales strategies to drive growth and client engagement. Known for reliability and adaptability in dynamic environments, fostering strong team collaboration. Expertise in event planning and customer relationship management.
Work History
Director of Catering Sales
11 Years 7 Months- Manage a team of (3) Catering Sales Managers, (1) Sales and Catering Representative and (1) Catering Assistant.
- Achieved rank of #7 in JDP for 2016 through targeted sales strategies.
- Developed yearly budgets for 2015, 2016, and 2017, aligning financial goals with catering sales strategies.
- Prepared month end reports and conducted monthly forecasting for revenue, covers, and average check.
- Managed combined food, beverage and room rental revenues of $6.4 Million in 2015 and $6.5 Million in 2016.
- Managed High End Meetings and Events.
- Create SOPs for Catering Meetings and Special Events.
- Create and implement Marketing Plan for Social Catering for Hotel.
- Coordinated logistics and details for high-end meetings and events, enhancing guest experiences.
Associate Director of Catering Sales
3 Years 9 Months- Achieved personal sales goals consistently throughout the year.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with high-end social market clients, including weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, non-profit galas, red carpet events, award shows, and corporate meetings.
- Continuously prospect to build and service new accounts and clients by conducting sales calls, client entertainment and site inspections.
- Assist the Director of Catering with interviewing, hiring, training and development of Catering and Conference Services.
- Team with standards and procedures set by the Beverly Hills Hotel & the Dorchester Collection.
- Leading by example to create an engaged work environment, nurturing talent and being an ambassador of the hotel's vision, values and culture.
- Oversee quarterly action plans and follow up with team members to ensure timely completion.
- Encourage and mentor team members to ‘grow’ into the next position.
- Provide timely and accurate follow-up to calls and/or emails from clients, vendors and colleagues to ensure confidence and respect for their needs.
- Oversaw the operations and evaluation of catering, banquet, beverage, and culinary departments.
- Takes ownership in event planning with client from first call/email until the event concludes. This includes but is not limited to sending customized proposals and cost estimates, site tour of hotel and function space, developing menus and agendas, drafting event contract, generating detailed banquet event orders (BEO), generating detailed floorplans and ensuring all information is clearly communicated to all hotel personnel associated with event.
- Responsible for creating a schedule and securing financial deposits in a timely manner to ensure the event is paid in full prior to start of the event.
- Managed multiple functions, ensuring personalized attention and service for each client to create successful and memorable experiences.
- Maintain composure and control in high pressure or unexpected stressful situations while evaluating and providing solutions in a timely manner.
- Demonstrated leadership skills by guiding team to excel in 3rd Quarter 2022.
Catering Sales Manager
4 Years 11 Months- Developed and implemented strategic marketing plans to increase brand visibility and revenue.
- Oversaw staff recruitment, training, and performance management to maintain high service standards.
- Coordinated cross-departmental collaboration to streamline operations and improve efficiency.
- Analyzed market trends to inform decision-making for service offerings and pricing strategies.
- Managed budgets effectively, ensuring alignment with financial goals and resource allocation.
- Fostered relationships with key stakeholders to enhance partnerships and business opportunities.
- Spearheaded community engagement initiatives, strengthening brand reputation within local markets.
- Fostered a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging staff to share innovative ideas and providing resources for professional development.
- Prioritized tasks and allocated resources appropriately to keep teams focused and productive.
- Assisted senior leadership in managing all aspects of operations.
- Managed cross-functional teams for multiple large-scale projects, successfully completing each on time and within budget constraints.
- Trained and developed department leaders and management staff for specific projects and ongoing operational needs.
- Mentored junior staff members, providing guidance on professional development opportunities and career progression paths within the company.
- Established strong relationships with key industry partners, creating mutually beneficial opportunities for growth and collaboration.
- Oversaw annual budget planning processes, ensuring financial goals were met while maintaining optimal resource allocation across departments.
- Implemented data-driven decision-making strategies, leading to more informed business choices and positive outcomes.
- Reduced operational costs by identifying inefficiencies and implementing cost-saving measures in various departments.
- Successfully managed budgets and allocated resources to maximize productivity and profitability.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Developed detailed plans based on broad guidance and direction.
- Controlled resources and assets for department activities to comply with industry standards and government regulations.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
- Maintained professional demeanor by staying calm when addressing unhappy or angry customers.
- Reduced waste and pursued revenue development strategies to keep department aligned with sales and profit targets.
Assistant Director of Catering Sales
1 Year 10 Months- Achieved personal sales targets for food, beverage, and rental revenue consistently each month, quarter, and year.
- Developed strong relationships with existing clients and effectively solicited new sales prospects for catering services and banquet space.
- Develops list of prospective local clients through sales calls, sales blitzes, referrals or inquiries.
- Discusses catering requirements, calculates costs, negotiates price and prepares sales proposals, suggests menu modifications in response to customer needs, and up sell services and resources to clients whenever possible.
- Maintained ongoing contact with active accounts to promote repeat business and engaged with former accounts to identify needs for additional catering services.
- Promoted catering services and banquet facilities through direct client contact, maximizing food and beverage revenues and meeting room rental.
- Establishes client base of organizations, associations, social and corporate businesses through direct outside and inside sales effort.
- Clearly communicates details of events to client and hotel departments.
- Accurately forecasts individual booking revenues and cancellations; accurately tracks consumption on all bookings.
- Assists the client in menu planning; coordinates food, beverage, meeting room set-up, and other services as requested by the client; assures that all requirements are communicated and completed to the clients specifications.
- Achieved consistent attendance based on scheduling needs aligned with Fairmont Standards.
- Achieved high personal grooming standards by following the dress code and wearing a nametag during work hours.
- Completed all necessary documentation and correspondence for catering programs to ensure successful execution. – Develop menus and agendas, insure BEOs are issued, and complete all pertinent correspondence with outside vendors.
- Managed financial logistics for catered events to facilitate timely payments and client satisfaction. – Establish payment methods for catered functions.
- Participated in key meetings to provide insights and updates in the absence of the Director of Catering. in place of DOC when unavailable.
- Management and support of the administrative staff: Oversee the administrative support staff to ensure that workload is evenly distributed. Encourage and mentor to ‘grow’ into the next position.
- Oversee Quarterly Action Plans and follow up with each team member to ensure timely completion.
- Forecasting – Assist the DOC in the weekly and monthly catering food, beverage and room rental forecast.
- Month End Report – Assist the DOC in the completion of the monthly pace report.
- Leader of the 3rd Quarter - 2014
Senior Catering Sales Manager
2 Years 1 Month- Represented Director of Catering in meetings to maintain continuity and address key business discussions.
- Attended weekly catering sales meetings, daily Banquet Event Order meetings, and monthly department meetings.
- Participated in monthly staff meetings to enhance communication and collaboration.
- Oversaw administrative support staff, ensuring equitable workload distribution and fostering professional development for team advancement.
- Oversee Quarterly Action Plans and follow up with each team member to ensure timely completion.
- Assisted Director of Catering with weekly and monthly forecasts for catering food, beverage, and room rental to inform strategic planning.
- Month End Report – Assist the Director of Catering in the completion of the monthly pace report.
Catering Sales Manager
4 Years 11 Months- Developed and expanded social, wedding, and corporate catering market through strategic collaboration with group and business travel sales teams, maximizing revenue potential.
- Proactively working with client to plan menus, assist with room blocks, and other event requests to ensure client objectives are met and hotel revenue opportunities are maximized.
- Executed timely follow-ups with clients and hotel staff to improve guest satisfaction during events.
- Providing timely and accurate follow up for clients and hotel staff to ensure maximum guest satisfaction at all events.
- Managed multiple functions while providing personalized attention and service to each client, ensuring successful event execution.
- Built strong relationships with established corporations, hospitals, and John Hancock to enhance client loyalty and engagement.
Catering Sales Manager
4 Years 5 Months- Collaborated with Director of Catering in selling and planning upscale weddings and catered events at the resort.
- Sought innovative strategies to enhance catering revenues and overall profitability for the resort.
- Contributed to development of professional media kit for distribution to clients during site visits.
- Assisted in the creation of the new professional media kit to be mailed and given to clients during sites of the resorts.
Reservations Manager
7 Months- Met and exceeded the Inn’s budgeted goals in regards to average daily rate and occupancy percentages, while ensuring that every guest’s individual expectations are also met and exceeded.
- Generated and tracked weekly room forecasts, assisting departments with staffing and cost control.
- Provided ongoing sales training program for reservations sales agents, enhancing their skills and performance.
- Generate and track weekly room forecast, to assist all departments with staffing and cost control.
- Applied effective yield management and developed marketing ideas for packages and promotions, driving guest interest.
- Used effective yield management and created marketing ideas for packages and promotions.
Front Office Supervisor
3 Years 5 Months- Monitor front office staff to ensure guests receive prompt, cordial attention and personal recognition. Ensure guests are greeted upon arrival. Respond appropriately to guest complaints. Make appropriate service recovery gestures in order to ensure total guest satisfaction.
- Assist in managing the day –to-day activities of the front office staff, monitoring performance and recommending or initiating corrective action.
- Extensive Knowledge of property management system.
- Assist in maintaining procedures for security of money, guest security, hotel accounting, credit control, handling of financial transactions, and emergency procedures. Check billing instructions and guest credit for compliance with hotel credit policy.
- Oversaw front office staff activities, monitored their performance, and initiated necessary corrective actions.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
Skills
Catering brand strategy
Revenue generation
Catering sales optimization
Menu development
Event planning proficiency
Contract negotiation
Organizational proficiency
Time management
Detail orientation
Multitasking
Problem-solving
Staff training and development
Customer loyalty programs
Administrative skills
Communication
Prioritization skills
Composed under pressure
Timeline
Associate Director of Catering Sales
The Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows
09.2022 - 06.2026Read More
Catering Sales Manager
The Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows
10.2017 - 09.2022Read More
Director of Catering Sales
The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel
01.2015 - CurrentRead More
Assistant Director of Catering Sales
The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel
02.2013 - 12.2014Read More
Senior Catering Sales Manager
The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel
01.2011 - 02.2013Read More
Catering Sales Manager
The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel
02.2006 - 01.2011Read More
Catering Sales Manager
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club
06.2001 - 11.2005Read More
Reservations Manager
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club
04.2000 - 11.2000Read More
Front Office Supervisor
Front Office Supervisor
06.1997 - 11.2000Read More
Bridgewater State College
Bachelor of Science from Business Management
Read More