Regional Director Baltimore City

KARA DIGIACOMO

917-***-**** Millersville, MD ***08 ****.*********@*****.***

SALES

Sales Management, Team Leadership, New Business Development Recognized throughout career for being a visionary sales leader in the hospitality industry leveraging in-depth knowledge of the marketplace and the competitor landscape to significantly increase revenue. Solid organizational, communication, and relationship building skills. Adept at bridging cultural gaps to complete business interests, developing accounts from inception to close, and conveying complex product concepts in a simple and compelling manner. Expertise in all sales processes, general marketing, executive-level management, staff training, and domestic/international business development. Bringing 14+ years of experience in Hospitality sales, textile and event equipment sales and planning & business development.

KEY STRENGTHS

Strategic Business Development Customer Loyalty

HACCP Certified Brand Marketing

Account Management Relationship Building

Team Leadership Marketing Plan Development

Business/Revenue Growth Strategic Planning

Hotel Sales Superior Customer Service

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

Tri State Linen Services May 2019 – Present

Vice President of Business Development

Directly accountable for all sales and marketing for the Company. Which includes linen and terry rentals and laundry services, party supply rentals including table décor, china, flatware, chairs, dancefloors, and lighting.

Have added over $250,000 in contracts during my first 4 months with the company.

Develop complete party settings for clients, including room appearance, lighting, table displays, and set up and theme.

Solicit and approve all RFP’s and contracts for clients which include but not limited to Pro Sports franchises, US Government, for and five star hotels and casinos in the mid-Atlantic region from Pennsylvania to Virginia, large scale catering facilities, wedding planners and private residential customers.

Attend industry events and local community meetings to network the company.

Developed showroom at company headquarters and frequently hold events at the plant to introduce our customers to the operations team and facility.

Work closely with local CVB’s, religious organizations and schools throughout Anne Arundel and Prince George’s county to solicit local business and introduce company to the local community. Red Lion Hotels September 2015 – November 2018

Director of Sales

Supervise and direct all activities/responsibilities for the sales department – Baltimore, MD

Solicit Top Level LNR accounts and regional/national group accounts

Organize transportation and work with valet service for corporate and Government groups.

Control the hotel’s group revenue maximization program outlined in the hotel’s marketing/financial plan

Lead weekly sales and monthly departmental meetings

Held accountable for the business transient sales performance for both properties.

Prepare monthly sales activity report which included the following: summary of room night revenue booked during current month and year to date totals, summary of food & beverage and meeting room rental revenue booked during current month and year to date totals, percentage by market segment of room nights booked during current month and year to date totals, review of business generated by sales managers during previous month, review of past month’s sales manager action plans and market share analysis of competition

Compiled, developed and implemented hotel marketing/financial plan

Developed strategic advertising goals in conjunction with food & beverage department

Presented on behalf of the RL collection to travel managers, agencies and call centers.

Member of the Baltimore City CVB, Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Partnership

Cultivated, developed and maintained all relationships with travel managers for each account.

Presidents Elite Circle achieving over 189% of my sales goals minimally every year. Real Hospitality Group May 2014 - January 2015

Regional Director of Sales/Marketing

Negotiated rates and RFP submission for all global and local business transient accounts for all assigned portfolio (6) properties.

Familiarization with multiple brand sales policies and selling techniques with an emphasis on maximizing occupancy, Average Daily Rate (ADR) revenue maximization & catering revenues.

Analyzed weekly group sales reports for booking conversions year over year and future group/catering pace

Monitored production of all high level accounts, evaluated trends within the market and ensured that the sales team was held accountable for accounts within their respective territories

Was held accountable for the business transient, group and catering sales performance for all assigned portfolio (6) properties.

Attended at all major corporate trade shows and agency trade fairs.

Presented on behalf of the collection to travel managers, agencies and call centers.

Cultivated, developed and maintained all relationships with travel managers for each account Black Pearl Solutions 2011 - 2012

Regional Director of Sales - North America

Facilitates the RFP Process with all client hotels on site personnel. Includes Solicitation, RFP Completion, Negotiations and rate loading.

Make product presentations to top travel agents, corporate travel departments on behalf of member hotels. Includes both on-site sales presentations, representation at trade shows and association events.

Sell membership services on behalf of Black Pearl Solutions to hotels in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Develop business and marketing plans for member hotels.

Negotiate rates for our Largest Client, Marco Polo Hotels for all 9 Properties in Asia. KD Luxury Destinations 2009 – 2011

President / Owner

A Full Service Travel Company and Hotel Representation Firm

Represent four and five star properties globally at major tradeshows, perform direct sales calls, provide reservation center, and GDS representation.

Organize road shows and events with high end corporate and leisure travel managers and clients.

Develop business and marketing plans for member hotels.

Handle all travel arrangements for major entertainment executives and celebrities.

Handle corporate travel for both group and transient bookings.

Book destination weddings from the Americas to the Caribbean. H&A Clarke, Inc., Newtown, CT 2008 – 2009

Vice President of Sales

Assumes full responsibility for overseeing annual sales, travelling both domestically and internationally to establish new business, prepare all sales proposals, coordinate sales displays, and develop marketing materials.

Maintained existing accounts while continuing to generate new business by implementing effective sales proposals and marketing strategies

Sold linens, towels, robes and other textile products exclusively to four and five star hotels and institutions.

Successfully acquired $500K in linen/terry new business revenue during tenure. Lissadell / Aquarelle Towels LTD, Carrickmacross, Ireland 2006 – 2008 Vice President of Sales for the Americas and Caribbean

Directly accountable for yearly sales total of 2 million dollars.

Responsible for ensuring proper, movable par levels at an offsite U.S. warehouse with initial distribution from Europe.

Travelled both domestically and internationally to grow market share in my region.

Held directly accountable for maintaining existing accounts while continuing to add a minimum of 4 new accounts monthly.

Successfully added over 1 million dollars of new accounts in my region since 2006.

Prepared weekly sales and call reports for European office.

Prepared all proposals, invoices and delivery schedules for all accounts.

Coordinated sales displays and attend all major trade shows both domestically and internationally.

Responsible for developing and executing new sales initiatives and marketing materials. Charming Hotels of the World, NY, NY 2003 – 2006

Director of Business Development and Sales for the Americas

Sold membership services to deluxe hotels in Canada, North and South America and the Caribbean.

Developed business and marketing plans for member hotels.

Coordinated and direct road shows.

Supervised and mentor 6 support and sales staff.

Maintained ongoing relationship and rapport with clients.

Increased membership from 2 to over 62 in just over a year with zero dropout rate.

Signed majority of clients for trade show.

Acquired Melrose Hotel Chain through business development activities.

Signed American Express One to work with existing properties such as Bloomberg, Pfizer, Jeffries, Goldman Sachs, and Merck Pharmaceuticals.

Paramount-Ian Schrager Hotels, NY, NY 2002 – 2003

Sales Manager

Increased sales by obtaining new accounts, servicing existing accounts and converting competitor accounts.

Obtained Astra Zeneca account resulting in annual transient room revenue of $1M.

Developed marketing strategies and assisted with design of marketing materials.

Handled major corporations, FIT, international and educational organizations, pharmaceutical and hi-tech markets.

Gave sales presentations to executive level personnel and travel agents.

Maintained long term relationships by conducting extensive follow up and providing excellent customer service.

Supervised and trained 2 staff members.

EDUCATION HISTORY

Johnson and Wales, Providence, Rhode Island

Bachelor of Science

TECHNICAL SKILLS

All IHG systems, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, MS PowerPoint, SAP WordPerfect, NSI Host, Delphi, Daylight, Synexis, Pegasus, Opera, STS REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

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