Aravind Murthy
***********@*****.*** C: 416-***-****
Highly talented & accomplished Business Development Professional with 10 years experience in Client relations, Sales & Marketing, Service management, Operations and Process Implementation with combined skills of excellent negotiations and team achievement
Several years of Sales and BDM experience • Highly familiar with pre & post sales support
Adept at building and maintaining relationships • Excellent presentation and communication skills
Strong background in supporting key clients • Outstanding technical and analytical attitude
Skilled at developing business opportunities • Organized sales and operational skills
Qualification Profile
Results oriented Sales Professional with exposure to business development, marketing, strategic planning, client relationship management and customer service.
Ability to leverage skills & capability to participate in Hotel & Resort Sales activities.
Proven success leading business development efforts, expanding customer base and increasing revenue potential within organizations.
Skilled in improving customer retention levels within highly competitive markets.
Exceptional leadership abilities concerning team initiatives.
Professional Background
Sales
Participated in sales functions within the Corporate & MICE Markets.
Lead business development and marketing efforts which expanded the customer base and introduced products into key markets.
Conducted market research, identified emerging market trends and introduced marketing strategies.
Created trade show materials, attended trade shows and promoted products.
Contributed to implementation of promotional programs that optimized revenue levels even in saturated markets
Opened sales markets in regions like Middle East, Europe (UK / Germany / Spain), Africa.
Customer Service
Played a pivotal role in increasing retention as well as satisfaction rates.
Handled CRM functions which included promoting and enduring relationships with diverse clientele.
Proven track record in establishing business in emerging markets.
Cultivated positive relationships with existing customers and referral business.
Education
Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration
Bachelors in Hotel Management
1996 – 1999
Trade Wings Institute of Management
Diploma in Travel, Tourism and Airline Management
1995 – 1996
Professional Experience
Head - Sales & Operations Oct 2011 – Apr 2012
Panache Investments Uganda Limited
Club Venom / The Bier Works / VIBGYOR
(Micro-Brewery / Nightclub / Convention Centre / Food Court / Kids Entertainment)
Oversaw the budgeting, operations and sales for the entire new business unit
Launched new concept of micro-brewery in the country with previously unknown product line
Developed business sources with various accounts like UN, NGO's, HNI's, Government Agencies, Corporates, Trade and Travel Boards
Generated positive cash flow sources for the new business to achieve break even within the first 18months of operations
Planned, set-up and executed a unique hospitality project, the first of its kind in the Country (Kampala, Uganda, East Africa)
Backbone for the Board of Directors in procurement of the Micro-Brewery from Hungary, Raw Materials from Belgium, Furniture & Fittings from Asia
Set-up Standard Operating Procedures & Menu’s for Food & Beverage Management
General Manager – Hospitality, Special Events & Operations August 2008 - September 2011
State Cricket Association
(A premium Club within the premise of the M. Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium with a magnificent capacity of 39 Rooms, 8 Suites, 10 Dormitories, 6 Party Halls – Capacity 1000, Dining Capacity – 400, Subscribed Members – 5500, Stadium Capacity – 41500 Spectators)
Drove Stadium Events & Special occasion sales
Made sales force budgets & successfully managed them through cricket events, regular club operations
Designing the services standards for the different departments such as Accommodation, Food and Beverage, Room Service, Banquets, Bar and Restaurant
Directed Stadium team of 55 – Club House & 30 – Stadium Staff for regular operations and 1000 outsourced vendors in food & beverage sales at the time of special events
Launched fully integrated marketing & sales strategies for pricing cricket event tickets as per the popularity of the fixture
Interface, communicate and liaise on regular basis with a select consumer audience or Travel Trade personnel’s, Bureaucrats, Corporate houses and some National and International Event Management Companies for the use and organizing of events and therefore the uses of the club premises and facilities such as the Stadium, Bar, Restaurant, Party Halls, Rooms, Suites and Dormitories
Ensure that a healthy professional relationship is maintained with the local governing bodies like Police, Fire Safety, Health, Food & Beverage Departments at all times to maximize due diligence & security both during match & non-match days
Plan and coordinate important visits of VVIP’s such as BCCI Officials, Visiting Dignitaries, Corporate Houses, Celebrities during International Cricket Matches conducted at the Cricket Stadium and therefore the use of the club services and facilities
Part of the organizing committee for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Indian Premier League - International T-20 Cricket 2008 / 2009 / 2010, Champions League T-20 2009 / 2010
Area Sales Manager – Corporate & MICE March 2007 – May 2008
Rotana - Hotels, Suites & Resorts
(Area Sales Responsibilities to oversee and manage Corporate & MICE Sales in 13 new hotels in Dubai, Sharjah & Fujairah)
Developing New & Servicing the Top 20 Corporate Accounts based out of Dubai Internet City
Developing MICE & Events by servicing High Potential Destination Management Companies
Assisting the Area Director - Sales & Marketing for setting up the Area MICE Department & Function
Devising the Area MICE Pricing Strategy & Rate Structures in liaison with the Area Director - Sales & Marketing
Part of the Core Team for devising processes and set up of Delphi Multi Property System for Area Rotana - Dubai & Northern Emirates
Devising the pre opening MICE Sales & Pricing Strategy in liaison with the Area Director - Sales & Marketing for Media Rotana / Rose Rotana & Amwaj Rotana scheduled to open by January 2008 in Dubai
Sales Manager – Corporates & MICE April 2003 - May 2006
Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa & The Grosvenor House West Marina Beach
Grew & maintained Corporate & MICE Accounts achieving & over achieving sales budgets and revenues from local & international reservations & special events businesses that included Client Company, Airline, Travel and Tourism and Special Events
Conducted client need assessments & hotel tours for potential accounts to ascertain special event requirements including corporate meetings, holiday galas, weddings and related affairs, co-ordinating all through including room reservations, floor planning's, catering services, entertainment and sales contracts
Served as Manager-On-Duty in-charge of problem resolutions concerning account management, guest services, reservations, billing discrepancies, payment authourizations, night cash & guest issues
Received rapid promotions into positions of increased responsibility leading to transformation from Corporate Sales Manager to Manager MICE (Cluster)
Joined Grosvenor House at the start-up as Manager MICE responsible for broad aspects of hotel management operations for 217 Rooms and 205 Apartments accommodations to include 5 conference spaces and the world famous “Buddha Bar” and a range of speciality restaurants
Interfaced with the Front Desk Manager's / Director of Rooms / Director of Revenue / Director F&B / Director Soft Services to ensure open lines of communications & problem resolutions
Managed 67 groups to the tune of approx. 11.5 million dirham for fiscal year 2003-2004 across the various departments including housing, club, banquets etc.
Managed 49 groups to date to the tune of 8.5 million dirham for 2004-2005, with a further 35 groups for the rest of the year
Part of the core team for all in house Groups & Events for the IMF/World Bank Conference – Dubai 2003
Part of the core team for devising processes and set up of Delphi Multi Property System for The Grosvenor House West Marina Beach Dubai.
Represented & showcased both hotels at various trade shows worldwide: World Travel Market (WTM 2003), Confex 2004 & 2005 (Earls Court, London, UK), IMEX 2004 & 2005 (Messe, Frankfurt, Germany), EIBTM 2004 (Barcelona, Spain), Le Meridien Road shows (Manchester & London)
Lead by example for Department Document & Process scrutiny for securing ISO Certification
Office Manager Aug 2001 – Dec 2002
GE Consumer Products
Responsible for the set-up & completion of the new Facility from design stage to completion
Assisted in developing the 35,500 sq.ft facilities project in a record time of 44 Days
Managed the facility to seat 300 engineers with a Building Maintenance Team of 7 Electrical Engineers, Housekeeping Team of 9 & Security Staff of 15
On Site Leader for the Emergency Response Team (ERT)
Conducted and supervised various drills for Fire, First-Aid & Safety
Member of the Environment Health & Safety team
Liaised with various Government Departments viz., STPI, Customs, Shops & Establishments, ESI, Police Station/s, KEB, BSNL, offices of the Notaries etc, in order to facilitate the approval of various trade licenses
Responsible for the set up and function of various systems and procedures for the smooth functioning of the department
Corporate Sales Consultant May 1999 – July 2000
KLM / Northwest Airlines
Developed business through various Corporate Houses and serviced and maintained these accounts
Signing of deals for travel, customer service and feedback and confirmation of seats.
Liaison between the travel coordinator of the corporate houses and the in-house travel agent
Developed sales from outstation markets like Belgaum, Hubli and Mysore
COMPUTER & LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
MS Office • Fidelio / Opera / Delphi
English, Hindi
INDUSTRIAL TRAININGS
MindTree Consulting Pvt. Ltd March - August 2001
(Administration & Facilities)
KLM Industrial Training in Dubai June – August 1998
(Flight Operations / Sales & Marketing)
ITC Sheraton Hotel & Suites June - July, 1997
(F&B Service / Front-Office)