Lauren E. Okonkwo

Washington, DC

adnwrl@r.postjobfree.com 508-***-****

Sales Leader & Account Manager

Director of Catering

Luxury hotel sales leader with over 10 years of experience in developing and leading a highly successful sales team while consistently achieving and outpacing sales goals and performance measurables. Experienced in securing new accounts and maintaining existing accounts. Leads in executing sales and marketing strategies to maximize the profitability of the hotel and customer satisfaction. Ability to problem solve and collaborate to increase revenue, profit, and brand awareness.

Business Development

Key Account Management

Budget Planning & Forecasting

Customer Service

Contract Negotiating

Talent Acquisition

Wedding Specialist

Event Operations

Marketing

Education

Gordon College, Wenham MA

Bachelor of Communication Arts, Media Studies Concentration - May 2008 Field Hockey Team & Class President 2004-2008

Professional Experience

W, Washington, D.C.

Director of Catering, February 2020 – Present

Leader of the Quarter – June 2021

January – June 2021 – Achieved 120% of goal

Catering Sales leader of newly 55M Renovated 295 Room, 11,621 sq ft meeting space Hotel with 10M Catering Budget. Manages properties reactive and proactive catering sales efforts. Shares responsibility for achieving revenue goals, guest and associate satisfaction and the financial performance of the department. Implement’s brand’s service strategy and applicable brand initiatives in all aspects of the sales process. Provides day to day leadership to team of on property sales associates.

Executive engagement with asset owner team presenting weekly reporting and updates.

Manages catering sales efforts, solicits local catering business, develops, and manages revenue, budget, and forecasting reports.

Assists with selling, implementation, and follow-through of catering promotions and marketing initiatives.

Implements the brands service strategy and applicable brand initiative in all aspects of the sales process.

Executes exemplary customer service to drive customer satisfaction and loyalty by assisting the customer and monitoring their satisfaction in the sales process, event planning and execution.

Partners with hotel operation team to ensure guest satisfaction and maximize revenue production.

Manages and directs on property catering sales managers to achieve hotel revenue goals by targeting current and high value accounts in the market and implementing effective catering sales deployment strategies to grow market share.

Develops, retains, and motivates successful team of sales executives and assists with HR with new talent acquisition in the market.

Lauren E. Okonkwo

Sets goals and expectations for direct reports using leadership performance process and holds team accountable for successful results.

Understands the overall market, competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, economic trends, supply, and demand to sell effectively.

Entertain key accounts, conduct, and support site inspections with new and existing clients.

Participates and leads daily service basics of the brand. The Ritz-Carton, Washington, DC

The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown, Director of Catering, January 2018 – January 2020 The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown, Senior Catering Sales Manager, May 2012 – December 2017 The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, Catering Sales Manager, February 2011 – May 2012 Over 9 years of experience with The Ritz-Carlton selling and crafting unforgettable event experiences. Developing my career from sales manager to sales leader where I led a team through leadership and ownerships transitions while exceeding hotel revenue goals.

Achieved 100% ESS scores for 2018 & 2019 for the sales department

Achieved over 100% of catering revenue goal year after year.

Managed catering sales efforts, revenue, budget, and forecasting reports.

Assisted with implementation, and follow-through of catering promotions and marketing initiatives.

Executed exemplary customer service to drive customer satisfaction and loyalty by assisting the customer and monitoring their satisfaction in the sales process, event planning and execution.

Partnered with hotel operation team to ensure guest satisfaction and maximize revenue production.

Managed and directed on property sales team to achieve hotel revenue goals by targeting current and high value accounts in the market and implementing effective catering sales deployment strategies to grow market share.

Developed, retained, and motivated successful team of on property sales executives.

Set goals and expectations for direct reports using leadership performance process and held team accountable for successful results.

Entertained key accounts, conduct, and support site inspections with new and existing clients.

Participated and led daily Ritz-Carlton service basics, line-ups, and initiatives. Co Co Sala

Event Manager, June 2009 – February 2011

Actively sold and solicited business for private dining experiences and restaurant buy-outs

Onsite event management for all private events including menu planning, operations, and billing.

Implemented and maintained marketing initiatives, off-site promotional events and showcases. SmithBucklin, Washington D.C.

Convention & Tradeshow Associate, September 2008 – June 2009

Managed convention and tradeshow registrations for over 10 associations.

Created, maintained, and presented reports for registration pace and progress.

Onsite management of event registration, set-up, staffing and logistics.

Balanced and maintained positive working relationships with multiple internal and external clients. References Available Upon Request

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