Event Planner & Event Sales

SANDRA S. LIUZZI

**** ******* *****, ***** ****, MD 21771 P: 908-***-**** E: ******.*.******@*****.*** PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Radisson Hotel/ Crowne Plaza, Rockville, MD July 2015- Present Catering Sales Manager

Responds in a timely manner to incoming group/catering business sales opportunities.

Detail events to include all food and beverage, set up and audio visual needs. Ask appropriate questions of the clients and make suggestions to ensure the details meet the group and the hotel’s needs.

Create contracts, Banquet Event Orders and other related booking documentation as required. Manage and maintain client account files. Submits changes and requests based on client needs.

Builds and maintains strong client relationships

Develops catering business and executes tactical sales plans strategy.

Prospect and qualify new business and negotiate guest room rates, meeting room rentals, function space and/or hotel services within the approved booking guidelines, and produce and/or review all sales contracts, rate agreements and/or banquet/catering event orders.

Facilitate services agreed upon by the sales office and prospective clients and produces monthly sales-related reports and sales forecast.

Arrange and conduct special events, site inspections and off-site presentations for potential clients and attend and represent hotel at tradeshows and conventions

Develops timeline and vendor logistics for every social/meeting event including supervising the set-up and ensuring the banquet order for each event to make sure banquet order is accurately executed.

Works with the Food and Beverage Director to develop customized menus and ensures the pricing is producing a healthy profit margin.

NYX Entertainment Inc., Rockville, MD Dec. 2004 – July 2015 Office Manager/Sales Coordinator/Event Planner

Managed production and planning for over 500 events including Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Weddings and Corporate events in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia markets

Oversaw the lead generation, prospecting and signing of various personal and corporate accounts responsible for generating 47% of company-wide revenue

Directed the event production lifecycle including contract negotiation, invoicing, timeline development, equipment procurement, merchant oversight, stakeholder management, logistics and operations

Supervised all vendor management activities that include contract negotiation, hiring as well as training them on corporate policies and business best practices for all sub-contractors

Implemented and executed marketing strategies that included attendance at vendor showcases to prospect for new clients, print advertising campaigns, social media and referral programs

Conducted assessment meetings with potential clients to determine budgets, timelines, scope and to determine their production needs and provide them with accurate quotes

Collaborated with the CEO and Production Manager during weekly meetings to develop process, operations, client services and selling strategies to grow bottom line revenue

Developed client relationships by managing the client database and developing client files that include prior contracts and correspondence

Maintained all general office operations including filing, phone calls, supplies and general administrative duties.

Leveraged industry contacts to negotiate contracts with vendors for “Month of” and “Full-on” event planning services that resulted in reduced client cost of an average of 10% Avendra (Joint Venture; Marriott, Hyatt, ClubCorp), Rockville, MD Apr. 2000 – July 2004 Customer Service/Procurement Specialist

Managed corporate account relations and procurement with various suppliers and hotel chain department managers for various hotel brands including Marriot, Hyatt and ClubCorp

Acted as an intermediary between various hotels and multiple suppliers that provided food, furniture, bedding and other materials to hotels nationally

Collaborated with hotel department head to ensure that their procurement needs were met by frequently communicating with suppliers to execute supply ordering

Conducted survey calls to gather data on the organization performance for analysis by business leaders

HMI Travel Inc., Herndon, VA Mar. 1998 – Mar. 2000 Travel Consultant

Supervised an evening staff of 5, while personally managing 95 client accounts by handling their ticketing, reservations, customer service and issue resolution

Trained travel agents from different agencies on how to book reservations using Worldspan Software

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

2008 – 2014 Co-organizer and event planner for a Meetup.com women’s social group with 250 members

EDUCATION

Dowling College, Oakdale, NY

Coursework completed in Marketing and Communications TECHNICAL SKILLS

STS Hotel Management Software, Microsoft Office; Excel, Word, Social Media, Avendra Relationship Management, Opera Software

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