KRISTEN E. ALLEN
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
An energetic, dedicated, self-motivated Travel Coordinator/Consultant and Administrative Assistant/ Customer Service Representative with strong communication skills, high level emotional intelligence and integrity, excellent organizational and analytical, empathetic, and creative skills who excels at an in-depth knowledge of customer service. Ability to answer a high volume of incoming calls while managing inquiries from clients and colleagues. Able to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced office environment. Always eager to take on new challenges and tasks. Utilizes exceptional computer skills to provide accurate, efficient, and timely administrative support. Enthusiastic professional offering a strong work ethic, positive attitude and superb communication and people skills. Works both independently and as a collaborator with an innate drive to provide exceptional customer service to “get the job done”. Flexible and hardworking with a strong drive to succeed.
HIGHLIGHTS
Handles both inbound/outbound calls
Strong customer service
Travel arrangements
Meeting support and planning
Event planning/coordination
Creative troubleshooter
Detail orientated and precise
Strong organizational skills
Database management
Friendly and courteous demeanor
High level of professionalism
Ability to build rapport with clients
Time management
Microsoft Office proficient
Accurate documentation skills
Business writing and proposals
Self-directed and initiative-taking
Dedicated team player
Articulate, patient and well-spoken
Filing and archiving
Maintains confidentiality
Strong written/verbal communication skills
Precise documentation of all customer records
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Motivation Consultants, Inc. - Libertyville, IL 02/2018 to 08/2019
10/2006 to 03/2014
Travel Coordinator-Consultant / Sales Marketing Coordinator-Consultant
Travel Program and Sales Marketing Coordinator-Consultant for incentive marketing travel company. Full coordination of large group incentive, leisure travel vacations for multiple clients simultaneously. Ability to sell and organize, custom travel programs, tours, and cruises worldwide. Responsible for all personalized travel arrangements regarding hotel/resort, cruise and cabin arrangements, flights and transfers, group welcome and farewell dinner evenings, group and individual excursions, specific special arrangements, and all custom travel requests and requirements.
Communicated with all guests for travel programs confirming all airline tickets, room/cabin reservations, and ground services to ensure a successful program from beginning to end.
Initiated, created, and confirmed all reservations. Booked heavy domestic and international travel. Successfully planned and executed large incentive, group onsite corporate/business meetings, lunches, dinners, and special events for groups of 50-150+ clients.
Main objective and focus, providing custom-tailored incentive travel program to meet the exact needs of all clients and engaging full customer service at the highest level.
Liaised hotel and destination management companies to register and assign rooms/cabins to guests of luxury hotels, resorts, and cruise lines.
Recommended top dining and entertainment options for guests in the surrounding areas close to destinations, and booked accordingly to the client’s specific, tailored, or immediate needs.
Answered a high volume of customer emails and incoming phone calls, as well as conducting inbound and outbound customer service calls with customers.
Multi-tasked and keyed in customer information into the system while speaking with them.
Composed and drafted all outgoing correspondence and reports for various customers, clients, and management.
Investigated and resolved customer inquiries and complaints in a prompt and empathetic manner.
Quickly assessed customer needs and providing sound solutions with a high-level of customer service.
Documenting details of all calls and customer interactions, managing through multiple systems, programs, and screens simultaneously.
Verified individual and group payment information accuracy and completion information on all guest accounts.
Performed general and customer specific accounting/bookkeeping functions including billing, invoicing, inventory management, scheduling and purchasing of products.
Served as the main liaison between clients’ customers, management, and their sales team.
Collaborated with designers and editorial team on marketing materials. Created effective messaging using language, graphics, and marketing collateral. Designed market collateral incorporating our client's data analysis to help them better understand their customers and salespeople, promote and evaluate their ad campaigns, personalize content, create content strategies and develop personalized direct marketing products, and more. Proofed and approved production and printing drafts of promotional materials before sending them to print.
Completed monthly status reports and monthly mailings to keep client's customers informed of their achievement toward their travel incentive goals.
Produced monthly reports using advanced Excel spreadsheet functions. Compiled quarterly budget reports, financial spreadsheets, and organizational charts to improve office organization.
SKILLS / QUALIFICATIONS
Handles high volume of inbound/outbound calls while simultaneously engaging with the caller
Comfortable empathizing and remaining patient with difficult callers
Ability to creatively solve problems and alleviate conflicts
Technical ability and agility to navigate systems, learn and use web-based tools, troubleshoot and test
Ability to multitask, manage and prioritize time
Effective communication skills, including active listening and clear articulation
Possessing a polite and friendly demeanor while instinctively relating to customers’ moods and preferences and adapting to diverse personalities
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher)
Familiarity with Corel Draw, Corel Photo Paint, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator CS2
Database management, filing and data archiving, word processing
Ability to manage multiple tasks without compromise to quality or productivity
Flexibility with other team members within the office, as well as within the client, customer partnership
Planning/Forecasting based on the customer’s requirements
Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment including sensitivity to cultural differences and diplomacy
Works efficiently both independently and with other team members to achieve positive results
EDUCATION / ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Obtained Real Estate License Coldwell Banker School of Real Estate – Vernon Hills, IL
College of Lake County – Grayslake, IL
Mundelein High School – Mundelein, IL
References available upon request
200 LOWELL PL, VERNON HILLS, IL 60061l (c) 847-***-**** ***************@*****.***
699 GOODHOPE ESTES SCHOOL RD, EUBANK KY 847 (C) 847-***-**** ***************@*****.***
699 Good hope Estes School Rd, Eubank KY 847 (c) 847-***-**** ***************@*****.***
699 Goodhope Estes School Rd, Eubank KY 847 (c) 847-***-**** ***************@*****.***
699 Goodhope Estes School Rd, Eubank KY 847 (c) 847-***-**** ***************@*****.***