Travel Agent Country Manager

Miriam Lucía Castignani Amaro

ELITE TRAVEL AGENT & ADMISSIONS OFFICER

CONTACT:

Mobile number: +1-346-***-****

E-mail: *******@*******.***

Spanish nationality, US Resident

Birth date: 12/13/1983

JOB OBJECTIVE:

Fulfil my responsibilities for the position and generate new business opportunities for the company using my current knowledge, networking and more than 15 years of experience in the Tourism industry from Europe, Latin American and Middle East markets to expand the brand and increase the business profitability. Main ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

● Was the Country Manager of a business group with a turnover of 14.592 million Euros in 2014 at Viajes El Corte Inglés Uruguay.

● Opened a travel agency in Uruguay from the scratch. Set up facilities, hired and managed 11 employees, prepared events and meetings with potential customers and participated with governmental entities to create brand awareness.

● In 2015, sold USD 4 million in airline tickets and travel packages with the help of four travel agents, whom I had hired and trained as the Country Manager in Uruguay, reaching the break- even point in the 4th year from the opening of the business.

● Captured 30 corporate customers in Latin America, resulting in my revenues 60/40 corporate/leisure trips.

(“Telefonica”, “Jack and Jones”, “Gato & Cuneo” law firm, “Bestseller” time-sharing company...).

● Conducted competitive analysis to decide on best product and market segments for Uruguay.

● Negotiated sales and incentive contracts, as well as special discounts with airlines, hotels, cruise companies and tour operators (American Airlines, Iberia, Air Europa, LATAM, Special Tours, MSC, Costa Cruceros, Panavision...).

● Devised and executed effective public relations campaign with radio, newspapers, and diverse advertising to build brand awareness into the new market.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

● Sep 2023 to Aug 2024; Travel Consultant II at BCD Travel, Remote from Barcelona, Spain: Customer service and support to European business travelers at T24 Emergency Department by using GDS, BCD Travel platforms, airline websites and different Workflows and data base.

- Search and confirm travel reservations for the customer in an emergency context.

- Strong understanding of a client travel policy and can consistently provide consultation to the customer

- Fulfil all requests regarding necessary regulations (TSA, passports, visas, etc.)

- Provide customer with the required industry information such as low fares, exchange costs, penalties, etc.

- Seek opportunities to review operational processes and commercial relationships with client to suggest improvement

● May 2019 to May 2021; Admissions Officer at SEK International School Qatar:

*Guide families in the admissions process to enrol their children in school.

*Provide technical school information and show facilities through school tours to families.

*Lead the re-enrolment process for the next academic year.

*Adequate the correct grade from other educational systems from different countries, based on the Ministry of Education Guidelines in Qatar.

*Upload documents and update students and applicants' profiles in Open Apply.

*Written and spoken communication with parents in English and Spanish languages.

*Use of internal platforms (Open Apply, Manage Bac, ISAMS, Office 365).

*Weekly reports with updated information with number of students, applicants, and their status.

*Communication with the Ministry of Education in Qatar, apply circulars and deadlines while using NSIS.

*Worked closely with Financial department, Coordinators, Counsellors and Head of School.

● May 2018 to March 2019: Spanish and English Tour Guide in Qatar, up to 45 customers.

● 2017 to 2018: Maternity

● 2016: Volunteer at Hamad Hospital Qatar and Mystery dinning agent

● June 2011 - December 2015; Country Manager at Viajes El Corte Ingles Uruguay:

*Reporting to the Southern Cone Regional Manager situated in Chile, I opened a branch in Uruguay's market from the scratch. Set up facilities, hired and managed a staff of 11 employees.

*Key Account Manager; Captured around 30 local and international corporate accounts from Uruguay.

*Product Manager; Conducted competitive analysis to choose the best product, suppliers and market segments clients.

*Negotiated sales contracts and discounts with airlines, hotels, cruise companies and tour-operators, achieving interesting incentives agreements and benefits for the company.

*Public Relations; Devised and executed effective public relations with radio, newspaper and visual media advertising, as well as assisted to meetings and events of different companies and organisations to build brand awareness.

*WEB Site: product loading, databases management, web quote requests, Google Adwords and part of the Social Media management.

● March 2007 - June 2011; Web Site, Corporate & Leisure Travel Agent at Viajes El Corte Inglés Argentina

● September 2003 - March 2007; Leisure Travel Agent at Viajes El Corte Inglés Spain EDUCATION:

2022 Master’s degree in Education Psychology at CEU by TECH (Spain) 2018 Tour Guide Licensed certified by Qatar Tourism Authority (Qatar) 2018 Digital Marketing Training by iab.spain

2014 Certificate Program in Business Management by ORT Uruguay (Uruguay) 2006 Degree in Administration and Tourism Management by UNED (Spain) Technical SKILLS:

Extensive hands-on experience with Amadeus GDS, SAP and all common Online reservation travel systems. Office 365, Open Apply for Admissions, Manage Bac, HTML editor. Personal SKILLS:

Team player, empathic, quick learner, adaptable, problem solving, customer service oriented, able to work under pressure, effective communication, 15 years experienced in leisure and corporate Tourism clients, strong knowledge of travel industry.

LANGUAGES:

Native Spanish and Catalan, fluent in written and spoken English. For more details, find my complete profile in Linkedin as “Miriam Castignani”.

Contact this candidate