Sales Management

IDAN KEREN

** *** ** **** ********, West New York, NJ 07093

516-***-**** • ********@*****.***

SENIOR MEETING PLANNER

Strategic organizer and leader with a successful background orchestrating a wide range of corporate events attended by guests and participants globally. Accomplished planner of meetings and events with a reputation for expertly controlling budgets, negotiating with vendors and coordinating teams to ensure the cost effective implementation of material and human resources. Efficient communicator and relationship builder with a history of success servicing clients of diverse international backgrounds and within various industries. Proficient in English and Hebrew with knowledge of Spanish.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Event Planning • Team Building • Staff Coordination • Performance Evaluations • Meetings / Conventions

Budget Development / Control • Rate / Contract Negotiations • Vendor Relations • Communication • Presentations

Creative Solutions • Process Improvement • Client Relations • Travel Arrangements / Itineraries

Networking • Marketing • Research • Payroll Management • Accommodations • Banquets

Tours / Excursions • Hospitality • Guest Services / Entertainment

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

OKT GLOBAL TRAVEL, MEETING AND CONVENTION, Plainview, New York • 2006-Present

Reputable provider of corporate event planning and travel management services.

Meeting and Convention Director

Primary leadership force of meeting and corporate planning services worldwide with a strong commitment to effectively addressing the needs of a highly diverse client base. Serve as key liaison with vendors, negotiating catering, transportation, audiovisual services, entertainment, F&B, contracts, and additional requests with a strong focus on set budget. Work collaboratively with client staff and vendors, functioning as primary contact and handling communications with all parties including event participants. Provide overall management of group travel arrangements / accommodations, and daily itineraries. Support efforts in event marketing, research, budgeting, payroll control, and strategic planning. Handle review and correction of venue and vendor invoices to ensure accuracy.

• Impacted corporate revenue through client base growth, capturing superior levels of client satisfaction, retention, and referrals. Maintained a 9-year average client relationship in an industry with 3-year average.

• Successfully secured cost-effective deals with key vendors by forging and cultivating mutually-beneficial and highly professional relationships, resulting in an impressive network of business contacts worldwide.

• Delivered average of 5%-10% per client in event budgets through strategic negotiations and elimination of penalties achieved through strategic allocation of client resources and needs.

• Ensured vendor compliance with agreements and terms through expert development, negotiation, and adjustment of contracts as well as enforcement of policies / procedures.

• Played instrumental role in successful organization of training seminars, customer events, conferences, exhibitions, tours, excursions, and sales / business meetings among other types of events for up to 1,000 participants.

• Improved administrative functions related to events with the design and introduction of new proposal formats as well as invoicing system.

On-Site Projects:

• Mayor of Jerusalem’s Birthday Celebration, Manhattan, NY 11 / 09 (3-day event)

• Israel Opera Society’s “Opera Week and Touring,” Santa Fe, NM 08 / 09 (8-day event)

• RADVISION 2007 Incentive Family Retreat, Cape Cod, MA 10 / 07 (4-day event)

• 25th Anniversary for NFAA, Miami’s Bayfront Park, FL 01 / 06 (7-day event)

• Providence Festival of the Vine, Providence, RI 09 / 03 (1-day event)

IDAN KEREN

516-***-**** • ********@*****.***

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ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

JOHNSON & WALES INN, Seekonk, Massachusetts

Hotel Internship / Teaching Assistant

Functioned as Maitre D’ of major events attended by more than 1,000 guests. Organized and supported banqueting functions for weddings, religious celebrations, and corporate dinners among others. Coordinated the training and performance of a group of 20+ interns. Administered and sometimes led operations within front desk, banquet, housekeeping, accounting, group sales, restaurant, and maintenance platforms.

RADISSON HOTEL PROVIDENCE HARBOR, Providence, Rhode Island

Front Desk Agent

Managed customer services and reservations for individuals and groups. Generate revenue reports, processed check-outs / check-ins, performed concierge operations, and organized transportation and meal reservations.

EDUCATION / TRAINING

Master of Business Administration

Long Island University, Long Island, New York

Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management

Johnson & Wales University, Providence, Rhode Island

Certification in Meeting Management (CMM)

Dallas, Texas

Dale Carnegie Training Sales Advantage, “How to Cold Call and Build New Customers”

AFFILIATION

Meeting Professionals International (MPI)

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