Aejaz Shaikh Email and Phone Number

• Elevated to the role of General Manager – Leisure (India & Middle East) from Assistant General Manager – Leisure [April 2014 to March 2015] in a short period• Driving the sales and marketing function for the key markets• Identifying emerging and new source markets for the company by studying domicile and geographical data• Developing and implementing short and long term business strategies to increase market penetration• Sales call on existing accounts in identified source markets to strengthen relationships• Identifying unique, special initiatives to reach out to non-traditional sources of leisure generating incremental business• Launched various marketing programs for the group to drive domestic B2B & B2C business from travel trade partners in India i.e. The Leela Preferred Membership program, Pre Purchase plans for leisure hotels, etc.• Nurturing our relationship for the group with international, domestic airlines that proved helpful in organizing various familiarization trips from the international & domestic markets for our hotels• Developing The Leela Getaway packages and offers for all our Leisure hotels to drive seasonal business• Drawing the domestic marketing plan, and incorporating new strategies based on demand cycles and seasonality of the business • Apart from key feeder markets, driving intensity into local markets (Tier II & III) to harness new travel trade accounts and focusing on business development to increase our market share• Launched dynamic package pricing for the Leisure hotels which was instrumental in increasing the packages & promotions segment ADR• Part of the core team responsible for corporate advertising and brand building for the group• Responsible for increasing our participation in various domestic travel trade fairs like, TTF, OTM, IITM, MITM, Global Panorama Showcase, ITM and SAATE• Represented the group multiple times at the Arabian Travel Mart (Dubai), and Middle East roadshows with Preferred Hotel Group

• Promoted as Director of Sales & Marketing from Director of Sales, within a short period• Consistently achieved ADR and RevPar leadership in primary competition set and have since dominated the market• Driving the Indian DMCs and Foreign Tour Operators to increase our market share, realigned focus on inbound FIT segment to target niche markets• Revisited geographical focus locally and internationally to drive a consistent growth in the transient, contracted travel agent, MICE & Wedding segment over the span of my tenure at The Leela Goa • Represented the group in International Trade Fairs such as Luxury Leisure, Luxury Travel Mart, and MITT (Moscow), ITB (Berlin), World Travel Mart (London), ILTM (Shanghai), and various Kempinski & Lobster (GSA) roadshows in key international markets like CIS & Europe • Directly responsible for contractual rate negotiations and sign-off on the international charter & inbound FIT segment• Blitz the feeder markets coordinating with regional & worldwide sales offices• Driving the marketing effort by focusing on special offers, promotions, educational initiatives and destination-driven marketing for the high-end leisure FIT & group markets into India with FTOs, Indian DMCs, Retail Agents, Press, and travel agent groups marketing alliances • Leveraging FTOs to maximize exposure for The Leela brand• Brand development through specific media, events and promotions in key international and domestic source markets• Assisted the General Manager – Leisure, in strategic domestic and international alliances for the hotel• Part of the leadership team• Recruitment, training and strategic planning for the resort

• Head of Sales and Marketing for the Outbound Sales Team • Responsible for driving revenues for all The Leela hotels from the Western Indian market• Responsible for creating and execution of the regional business plan, focus being on driving corporate FIT business, MICE & travel trade business from this important region• Responsible for contracting leisure business from major source markets operating out of this region for the three leisure hotels

• Joined Leela Kempinski, Mumbai as Associate Head Sales and was promoted as Director of Sales • Responsible for the entire Sales & Reservations Team of over 25 executives, which included Sales Executives, Asst. Sales Managers, Senior Sales Manager, and Assistant Revenue Manager; the responsibility also includes handling of the Reservations team• Strategizing all aspects of Revenue and Inventory Management and advising the Revenue Manager for forecasting of Demand and developing the right pricing strategy for best possible yield• Developing, implementing and monitoring the Sales and Marketing plan for rooms and F&B; maximizing revenues through strategic revenue management decisions and ensuring the support of all segments in the business mix• Distribution of Sales territory and allotment of targets. Ensuring target sales / revenue achievement by constantly monitoring and updating key performance indicators• Team Management, Hiring and Staffing, Team Motivation and Development through Balanced Score Card and KRAs• Training and Development of Management Trainees in selling skills, negotiations, up-selling, market coverage and all aspects of sales• Champion for the G Leads program for Leela Kempinski, Mumbai of Global Hotel Alliance

• Member of the Pre-Opening Sales & Marketing team• Successfully exceeded budgets and was promoted from the position of “Sales Manager” to “Associate Director Sales and Marketing” • Heading the MICE team of 8 executives and also responsible for Travel Trade Segment• Monitoring Competitors activities and assisting the Director of Marketing in overall marketing plans and sales strategy • Represented Grand Hyatt Mumbai for Hyatt Fair in Singapore and Hong Kong

• The first ever Cluster Sales Manager in Marriott responsible for handling the three specialized brands in Mumbai. i.e., J W Marriott, Mumbai, Renaissance Convention Centre Hotel, Mumbai & Marriott Executive Apartments, Mumbai. • Directly reporting to the Director of Marketing, India, the focus at JW Marriott was Business Transient, M.I.C.E at the Renaissance and Extended stay business for the Marriott Executive Apartments, Powai• Responsible for Corporate account acquisition and maximizing market penetration for South Mumbai

• Area of operation being Corporate Segment, Travel Trade and Airlines• Handled North and South Mumbai predominantly for Outbound Sales• Participated in Sales Blitz for Pune, Gujarat and Hyderabad

• Member of the Opening Team to start operations for Mumbai Regional Office.• Responsible for Acquisition, Development and Retention of Corporate Houses, Travel Trade and Airlines.• Handled South Mumbai for Outbound Sales

• Responsible for sourcing business from Key Accounts in Gurgaon & New Delhi region. • Servicing existing corporate clients, updating the client database and increasing the penetration in the segment by sourcing and servicing new clients.• Special responsibility in liasoning with the Airline segment and airport authorities resulting in generating Layover business for the hotel during the winter season