Customer Service Adjunct Professor

Denise Weaver-Vandersall

**** ******* ****** • FRANKLIN, TN 37067 (513) 623- 1257 •

*************@*****.***

SUMMARY

Passionate hotelier with operational expertise in both branded and independent hotels. I am known as a leader not just for my financial acumen but my ability to inspire and train team members, resolve conflicts, and keep the team focused on the goals, all while delivering enterprise growth and stability for the operation and the ownership. My specialty is creating a culture that motivates all staff and provides the tools and training to make it all come together. I have personally directed the opening of new hotels ranging from 117 - 641 rooms, and transformed a financially troubled 147 room hotel into a profitable premier city hotel in Cincinnati, OH.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Halifax Hospitality NASHVILLE, TN

Opening General Manager

10/2019 to Present

Planning and leading all aspects of the opening of the new 118 room Residence Inn in Franklin.

Mint House, LLC NASHVILLE, TN

Opening General Manager

2018 - 2019

Creating and rethinking the traditional hotel model utilizing a heavy technology

based platform. Starting with 25 units and growing to 130, I led the development of all systems and controls for 6 independent AirBNB properties in Nashville.

Ascent Hospitality BIRMINGHAM, AL

Opening General Manager and Food and Beverage Consultant

2016-2017

•Serving as a project and operations manager and liaison between hotel ownership and Marriott International to develop the design, renovation, and opening of the Elyton Hotel, an Autograph Collection Hotel in Downtown Birmingham.

The Hutton Hotel NASHVILLE, TN

General Manager 2014 – 2015

•Created an operating culture that assured consistent guest experiences by fine tuning operations

•Managed the performance of the hotel’s ever evolving performance reviews as well as financial reports

•Exceeded financial plans by achieving a 45% operating profit from the historical 28%

•Ensured ongoing training for all associates and increased Leading Hotel of the World performance reviews as well as Trip Advisor

The Cincinnatian Hotel CINCINNATI, OH

Managing Director 1996-2013

•Successfully directed Cincinnati’s premier boutique luxury hotel, along with its four-diamond fine dining affiliate, The Palace Restaurant

•Guided the hotel and restaurant operation from a point of bankruptcy to a position of profitability and financial accountability, increasing annual revenue by 250%. Revitalized and promoted The Cincinnatian Hotel and Palace Restaurant to an award-winning hotel that is a member of Preferred Hotel Group, winner of Conde Nast’s coveted Gold List ranking and Best-Business Hotel award, and recipient of the 4-Star Forbes Travel rating and American Automobile Association’s 4-diamond rating

•Branded and created much of the hotel’s professional correspondence and public image, including all sales and marketing strategies and all customer service programs and literature

•Embraced the consistently changing environment and enhanced social media, OTA’s and GDS formats

•Designed and engineered a $6 million renovation that included public spaces, guest rooms and a main kitchen

•Directed sales and marketing, rooms, and food and beverage departments in addition to 160+ employees on a daily basis, yielding a 20% decline in labor costs and increased efficiency

•Efficiently directed two independent hotels in addition to The Cincinnatian Hotel, totaling 500 rooms and 350 employees

Teaching Experience - Adjunct Professor at University of Cincinnati, Carl Lindner School of Business CINCINNATI, OH

Business School, Hospitality Department 2009 - 2013

•2011 Hospitality Information Systems/E-Commerce

•2010 Hospitality Information Systems/E-Commerce

•2010 Introduction to Customer Service

•2009 Hospitality Facilities Management and Design

•2009 Hospitality Information System/E-Commerce

•2009 Purchasing and Cost Control

SKILL SET

•LEADERSHIP – Focused on motivating and maintaining high worker morale and productivity, emphasize leading by example and showing encouragement, thrive in difficult situations and able to put others at ease

•STARTUPS/OPENINGS/TURNAROUNDS

•CRISIS MANAGEMENT

•CREATING A HOSPITALITY BUSINESS CULTURE – Adherence to Brand Objectives

ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS

•PHILANTHROPY – A strong advocate for giving back to the community. Organized an annual fundraising event that has raised over 2 million dollars for the Hospice of Cincinnati over the past 20 years. Undertook the challenge of participating in RAGBRAI, a bicycle ride across the state of Iowa to raise money for Reach Out and Read of New York City, an organization that works closely with pediatricians to enhance the literacy rate in children.

•INTERIOR DESIGN – Skilled at redesigning a space to make it feel more spacious and user friendly. A PowerPoint presentation of personally designed hotel rooms and spaces is available upon request

•Member of the University of Cincinnati Advisory Board for the Hospitality Department

•Former Board member of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Cincinnati Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Hospice of Cincinnati

EDUCATION

Dickinson College CARLISLE, PA

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Political Science and Philosophy

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