Michelle Contreras

Responsible for developing & leading   a sales structure  -The Orlando Collection by Hilton targeting growth of the Latin America market with a focus on group sales.

 the Orlando Collection by Hilton encompasses over 5,000  guestrooms  & over 500,000 square feet of meeting space  by the hotels represented in the  portfolio.

Portfolio of hotels  is comprised by :

                           Waldorf Astoria Orlando

                           Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

                            Hilton Orlando

                            Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista

                            Buena Vista Palace

• Created a sales structure managing 2  team members to support selling as a complex to include all 5 hotels in the collection
• Developed key selling tools & strategies to support & adapt to the Latin America group market, Facilitated training for  these tools to  all the hotels in the portfolio
• Demonstrated strong leadership & negotiation skills by partnering daily with Regional VPs, Directors of Sales, Directors of Revenue management and GMs of the various properties
• Responsible for  all Marketing , Budgets,   hiring & training staff  supporting the structure
• Created key value propositions for each property which have increased RevPar for  each one of the participating hotels
• Mastered working in fast paced , high demand environment, manage large-scale targets and projects
• Launched  worldwide customer events  to introduce  the Orlando collection by Hilton

Successfully developed the International group market segment for the complex( 500 guestroom Waldorf Astoria & 1,000 Guestroom Hilton)

• Possessed Luxury Resort experience in representing the Waldorf Astoria Orlando

• Gained Pre - Opening Sales Experience as a member of the original pre-opening team
• Acquired Multi -property experience in managing two hotels simultaneously as a complex
• 
  
• Established the International group segment & secured the growth from zero dollars to two million dollars in first year of managing segment.
• Exceeded Annual Production to quota – 170% in 2009, 130% in 2010 ,140% for 2011 and 300% for 2012

Extensive knowledge in selling city wide conventions

• Produced strategic sales and marketing action plans with the objective of achieving hotel’s budgeted revenue and market share targets.
• Responsible for cultivating relationships and building rapport with internal and external customers to include Visit Houston & Hilton Sales Worldwide
• Participated in the annual forecast, budget, and marketing plan process for designated market segments
• Managed the individual business travel and Leisure Market segments and secured first high end airline crew Multi –year contract for the property

• Processed lead inquiries within the market segments assigned, responsible for prospecting, qualifying and managing opportunities from start to finish
• Executed outside sales calls and attended industry tradeshows & events in order to develop new business opportunities
• Ensured timely and thorough follow up of each individual group arrival and coordinated the introduction of the client needs at a hotel level increasing customer satisfaction and repeat sales
• Created a marketing plan focused on the Latin American Market that promoted the Hilton New Orleans Riverside & Doubletree hotel New Orleans.
• Targeted all past accounts that once had booked at our property Post Katrina to generate interest back in the city and hotel.

 Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management with Minor in International Tourism