Project Management Market Research

With over ** years of administrative and managerial experience across a diverse set of environments, my career began in the tourism industry, creating bespoke itineraries for international and local clients while coordinating with suppliers. I then transitioned to managing high-end luxury lodges in the Northern Sabi Sands area, honing my skills in hospitality and guest services. After relocating to Nelspruit, I was employed by the government initiative WoF (Working on Fire), supervising the Learner Database of the Kishugu Academy for Firefighters. This was where my passion for systems and processes was ignited. In 2018, I moved back to my roots in Johannesburg and embraced the opportunity to consult and work from home. I had always wanted to try my hand at consulting for different organisations from a freelance perspective and this period of my career allowed me to achieve this goal. However, missing the corporate world, I expanded into the project management space, engaging with both local and international markets, specialising in the Market Research Industry and gaining invaluable experience in both project management and market research. In 2024, I was approached with an opportunity at Morukuru Family which happily took me back into the world of reservations, another passion, and that is where I am currently employed as a Reservations Consultant. Unfortunately with the recent rains in the North-West two of the lodges along the river have been flooded and damaged and those properties have been closed for repairs / rebuild resulting in my retrenchment.

Looking at the role of coordinator I feel I would be a good fit for this role and organization as my 20 years of work experience includes:

• The DMC (destination management company) side of the industry

• The Lodge side of the industry

• The Res side of the industry

• I have years of experience in dealing with the various and multiple players within the industry such as suppliers, transfer companies, vendors, local agents, DMCs / international agents, and direct clients, etc.)

Aside from my experience in the tourism industry, I also possess the following skills, abilities and attributes:

• Experience with Microsoft Access

Introduction and Position Specific Skills

Current Remuneration

CTC = R24k pm

Benefits = Provident Fund

Nett = R20k pm

Expectation: R25k nett pm (ideally)

Availability

Negotiable – 1 April 2025

Applicant Details

Full Names: Michelle Cremer

Languages: English, Afrikaans + basic French

Nationality: South African

ID Number: 740***-*******

EE/AA Status: White Female

Current Location: Fourways

• Used Excel to generate detailed reports for Financial Manager (Kishugu)

• Passionate about working with systems and can learn new systems quickly

• Excellent communication skills - written and verbal

• Approachable and customer-centric

• Patient (I have experience with informal in-house training of staff – Kishugu as well as working with clients in different service orientations through the years)

• Project Management Experience

Software:

• MS Office Suite including advanced Excel and MS Access

• Google Drive

• ResRequest

• PANstrat

• AeroCrs

• Galileo

• Online booking platforms eg.Booking.com and Nightsbridge

• Database Administration (front end)

General skills:

• Financial and budgeting skills

• Fast accurate typing (60+ wpm)

• Hospitality & Guest Relations Supplier and Agent Relationships Management

• Project Management

• Grammar & language proficiency

• Record keeping & reporting skills

• Problem solving & crisis management

• Time Management & deadlines

• Cultural Sensitivity

• Staff supervision and morale

Matric at Florida Park High School (1991)

Certificates & Courses:

Skills Development Facilitator at FP&M SETA (2017) COTAC1 (Certificate of Travel Agents Competency) at Travel Training Institute (1995) Commerce Secretarial Certificate at West Rand Technical College (1992) IT Skills Matrix

Education

MORUKURU FAMILY (JHB)

RESERVATIONS CONSULTANT

August 2024

Current Roles and Responsibilities include:

• Reservations Consulting adhering to the booking process & reservation management

• Knowledge of product, bearing in mind upselling & promotions

• Confirmations, follow ups, invoicing

• Problem resolution

• Communication with local and originating international agents Motivation for Change: Retrenchment

Employment Summary

Relevant Experience

CONTRACT BASED AND FREELANCE WORK (JHB)

JANUARY 2018 – AUGUST 2024

Projects:

Masutane Academy Management (for SMMEs and Market Research): o Administration of Academy until its closure

o Facilitated Online Mentorship Circles

The Brand Surgeon:

o Project Management for Qualitative Market Research methods; Group-In- Venue, Group Online, Product Testing, Shop-a-longs

o Moderated IDIs

o Note taking in preparation for report writing & report visualisation o Assisted with research & report writing

Masutane Consulting:

o Spearheaded the implementation of the CRM system and developed internal procedures for staff, improving operational efficiency

o Received briefs from clients, generated cost estimates, invoicing o Team briefings, initiated the CRM project o Project Management for Qualitative Market Research methods; Group In- Venue, Group F2F, Group online, IDIs, Immersions, Friendship Circles o Supplier collaboration

Rev.com:

o Delivered high-quality "intelligent" transcription services, ensuring accuracy and context for Rev.com based in the USA

Kitrin:

o Managed practice operations for Allied Healthcare Professionals (invoicing, appointments, & medical aid claims

Thundermark/AllanGray Annual Financial Summit:

o Operation and facilitation of database ensuring data integrity, accessibility & attendees ease of use

Motivation for Change: These were all contract and freelance based roles (ranging from 4 months to 12 months or freelance project-based roles). I successfully navigated and was self-sustainable during this period – I had always wanted to try this route and had achieved my goal. I reached a point however where I needed more stability from a financial perspective and accepted the role with Morukuru Family when I was approached.

KISHUGU TRAINING ACADEMY (PTY) LTD (NELSPRUIT)

DATABASE OPERATIONS

2012 - 2017

Roles and Responsibilities include:

I was employed to work on the Database and Learner Management System (LMS) as follows:

• Database and Learner Management System (LMS)

• Database front-end user and super user (Microsoft Access)

• Staff training on database, data entry, and learner management system

• Collaborated with database developers to update system to support Business requirements

• Implemented record keeping system of learner info & courses details for easy retrieval

• Pivot Reports (excel)

• Compliance & Accreditation with relevant SETAs

Motivation for Change: I was retrenched when the company underwent a restructuring based on budget constraints, and a number of staff company-wide were retrenched as a result. ARATHUSA SAFARI LODGE (SABI SANDS PRIVATE GAME RESERVE) Co-Lodge Manager

January 2006 – January 2011

Roles and Responsibilities include:

• Co-Lodge Management with shared duties (My husband and I were the Co-management team)

• Oversaw daily lodge operations (housekeeping, dining, activities), inventory control, ensured smooth check in/out procedures, invoices & supplier payments, month end reports, relief reservations (ResRequest system)

• Upheld working relationships with suppliers, private air charter and road transfer companies Motivation for Change: The lodge did not cater for families with children and by this stage I had a 1- year- old son. My husband at the time wanted to start a photographic business in Nelspruit and so we resigned from our co-management roles and moved to Nelspruit. CAMP JABULANI (KAPAMA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE)

BACK AND FRONT OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

January 2005 – January 2006

Roles and Responsibilities include:

• Back and front office duties

Motivation for Change: My husband and I were offered a Management Couple post at Arathusa which we decided to pursue. Better prospects at this lodge and an opportunity to continue our time in the bush.

G7 PROPERTY CONSULTANTS AND MY OWN DANCE SCHOOL (2 concurrent roles) PA to Owner AND Dance Instructor

January 2003 – January 2004

Roles and Responsibilities include:

• Full PA function for the owner in a half day role.

• During this time, I also ran my own dance school as a dance instructor (part time). Motivation for Change: I had moved back to Joburg from Cape Town and worked in this half day role as well as pursuing a little dream of teaching dance. I then met my husband-to-be who had also been in the Tourism industry previously as a guide, and my plans changed as we decided to pursue a management role in the bush together.

WALTHERS TOURS (JHB) AND INTO AFRICA (Cape Town)

Group & Incentive Tour Consultant (inbound)

January 1998 – January 2003

Roles and Responsibilities include:

My first role after completing my travel agent studies was as an Inbound Tour Consultant at Walthers Tours (duties detailed below). I left this role to travel overseas in the UK (Scotland, Ireland, England). On my return, I settled in Cape Town and began working for Into Africa (same duties as per below). Both roles were as Inbound Tour Consultants.

• Upheld relationships with originating international agents / DMCs Itinerary creation, travel logistics

• Quotations

• Booking and dealing with suppliers

• Assisted & accompanied senior consultants on high-end incentive groups Motivation for Change: Into Africa: My long-term relationship ended, and I moved back to JHB where my family was based

Contact this candidate