Cindy Ekonomou

561-***-**** • West Palm Beach • advhfd@r.postjobfree.com

Ethical, loyal, hospitable, hard working leader.

Work Experience

HIPPOCRATES WELLNESS - West Palm Beach, FL Director of Sales

May 2022 to Present

Recruited by international management company to restructure and develop the sales department. Overseeing program specialists staff, generating sales revenue, reports and data tasks, managing accounts, writing new policies, aligning with marketing campaign, creating motivational strategies and sales packages, handling guest issues, attending campus events, participating in manager’s meetings. Leading the team to reach targets and goals each month toward a $14 million annual goal.

ANCHORAGE PROPERTIES - Sanibel Island, FL

Regional General Manager

Feb 2021 to May 2022 - (Move to WPB)

Oversaw the operations of waterfront estate, 3 old florida style inns, yacht and a full service gas station for the owner. Managed all hiring, scheduling, maintenance, ads, supplies, repairs to the grounds and buildings, HR, daily communication with all property managers, problem solving, decision making, booking channel management for reservations, providing stats to accountant, daily reports, paying bills, renovations and special projects. Additionally, acting as liaison for owner with all legal, corporate & external communication. Under my direction, 2 properties performed higher than previous years numbers in both occupancy and adr. 3rd hotel was operating while undergoing dock construction and renovations of rooms, which was also under my direction.

LATITUDE 26 - Fort Myers Beach, FL

General Manager

May 2020 to Feb 2021 - (Covid temp work)

Contract work during Covid -19 to open a 32 room fully renovated hotel for new owners. Hiring staff, writing s.o.p.s, ordering products for housekeeping and breakfast dining area. Also in charge of, training front and back of house, taking reservations, shopping for supplies, front desk, room inspections, communication with employees, owners and guests. Manning front desk operations and acting general manager and spokesperson for owners.

SHANGRI-LA SPRINGS - Bonita Springs, FL

Director of Sales

March 2019 to April 2020 - (Covid closure)

Directing all aspects of events, weddings, galas, meetings and room sales for chic historic boutique resort & spa, including the collection and tracking of all stats and payments. Managing sales staff and overseeing every wedding and event. Working closely with the hotel’s PR company and new branding. Additionally, redesigning rate structures, agreements, community classes and departmental procedures. Also, spearheading monthly art nights and themed holiday events generating revenue for the property.

BURROUGHS HOME & GARDENS - Fort Myers, FL

Director of Special Events

2016 to March 2019

Recruited to manage all event sales for historic estate achieving over $200K in rental fees and $340K in Food and Beverage revenue for catering partners annually. Achieving over 75 events booked in 2018, best year on record. Sales efforts include follow up with all lead avenues, tours of the venue, client communication, collection of all monies, rehearsals, day of coordination with vendors, reporting and invoicing. Additional responsibilities acting as bridal and catering liaison, group history tours and maintaining active social media accounts.

ABBEY DELRAY, DELRAY BEACH

Director of Sales & Marketing

2013 to 2016

Oversee the sales and development of a luxury senior living community in Delray Beach. Train and motivate sales team to achieve occupancy goals, manage sales and marketing budget, as well as oversee planning & implementing of all marketing and outreach events. Attend Regional and National training conferences, restructured an Ambassadors program for new residents, implemented an annual advertising campaign, revamped the new resident orientation program. As an Executive team leader, duties included various community outreach, speaking, networking and working with a board of directors. Achieved highest team sales goals, increasing occupancy rate by 30 percent.

PALM BEACH COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Director of Destination Services

2008 to 2012

Managing the County's Tourism Service's Department, handling all donor/revenue generating member relations, as well as incoming group and conference needs. Overseeing all departmental responsibilities: annual budget, member relations & referral curriculum, citywide transportation for multi hotel conventions, county VIP site inspections and countywide quarterly familiarization tours for meeting planners and media. Executive committee member collaborating in goals to reach annual bed tax revenue for operations. In addition, spearheading various special events, executing client agendas, planning networking receptions, operating the PBC Diplomat Program, an executive level corporate organization for high level executives from the local community.

BRAZILIAN COURT, PALM BEACH ISLAND

Director of Sales and Marketing

2005 to 2008

Led this luxury 5 Star hotel through total refurbishment and condo/hotel remarketing, while maintaining a client base from NE elite corporate, NY fashion market and high society leisure. Worked closely with Leading Hotels of the World and Historic Hotels of America for leads and cooperative sales missions. Developed sales strategies, annual sales budget and marketing plan. Met regularly with Hotel Ownership and Hotel Management as Executive Committee Member. Exceeded all sales goals, executed high profile events while maintaining daily follow through with luxury market clients.

THE GULFSTREAM HOTEL

Director of Sales and Marketing

2001 to 2005

Directed all facets of the sales department, while consistently raising the bar with both rates and occupancy. Single handedly increased annual group revenue more than 500% in 4 years and successfully landed 2 airline goal accounts that brought an annual base revenue of over $250,000. 2005 also included adding the Catering Department to Sales and total revenue succeeded all years prior while saving in cost.

CANOPY PALMS RESORT

Director of Marketing

1999 to 2004 - (Sold)

Oversaw Sales Department for 135-room Boutique Beach Resort on Singer Island. Directed entire sales efforts for a successful team that consistently produced 15% or more room night quotas over competitors. Successfully landed volume base accounts that generated over 30% of overall hotel occupancy. Coordinated all creative, layout and writing for unique marketing campaigns while still actively working key accounts and the Tour & Travel Market.

DOUBLETREE GUEST SUITES

Regional Director of Tour & Travel

1996 to 1999

Promotion assigned by new ownership to dramatically affect base accounts for DoubleTree Oceanfront and to fill low occupancy periods for DoubleTree Galleria. Position quickly produced positive results for boosting occupancy to sister property while maintaining the tremendous success of the international program for the Galleria location.

Director of Sales & Marketing 1992 to 1996 - (Promotion) Directed all facets of sales and marketing activities of a 230, 4 Star, all-suite hotel. Managed a $715,000 budget while still responsible for 17,500 Tour & Travel room night quota. 1955 personal sales quota was achieved with a positive variance of 103%. Worked over 150 active files, supervised staff, executed all reporting functions and developed action plans to obtain monthly sales quotas.

Assistant Director of Sales March 1992 to November 1992 - (Promotion) Worked over 200 active Tour and Travel files while continuing to develop new International markets. Attended influential worldwide trade shows and sales missions. Exceeded wholesale statistics by bringing in over 18,000 F.I.T. room nights in 1992 on a budgeted goal of 14,247. Assisted the director with reports, marketing, and other managerial duties.

Senior Sales Manager February 1991 to March 1992 - (Promotion) Recruited by Doubletree to handle International and Domestic Tour and Travel Market including F.I.T. programs, groups, travel agencies, and motor coach business. Concentrated on developing the tourism wholesale segment and successfully increased F.I.T. reservations by 77% and beat personal sales budget by 146%.

EMBASSY SUITES HOTEL

Senior Sales Manager

1989 to 1991 Assisted the Director of Sales with marketing and management. Introduced property to the European market by recruiting tour wholesalers to include our hotel in worldwide brochures. Successfully landed major international accounts in Sweden, Germany, England & Latin America. Increased overseas F.I.T. and group business by promoting the "Suite Life" across the US and Europe via telemarketing, sales missions and notable tradeshows.

Corporate Sales Manager 1988 to 1989 - (Promotion) Canvassed local and national territories for new corporate accounts. Nurtured existing clients with meetings and suite requests. Directly involved with the conception and completion of new marketing campaigns to increase hotel occupancy. Cultivated new market segments while writing and advertising with various advertising assignments. Organized the popular Summer Night's Program.

CHURCH STREET STATION Corporate Convention Sales 1983 to 1988

Implemented aggressive marketing campaigns and coordinated special events for national corporations and conventions. Attended Meeting Planner and Association Trade Shows nationwide. Delivered sales presentations at tradeshows, airline reservation centers, bus operators, hotel guest services and major associations. Escorted the media and international film crews through the state's 4th largest tourist attraction acting as park spokesperson. Developed a coupon program with rent-a-cars, hotel and tourist Information centers. Designed a 1,500 word tour guide manual. Assisted with the writing, producing and voiceovers for local radio commercials.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Communications

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA - Orlando, FL

August 1985

Associate of Arts

BREVARD COLLEGE - Brevard, NC

June 1982

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