April J. Key Email & Phone Number

Amsterdam, North Holland, Nl

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Forest Hill, Maryland, Us

Windsor, Berkshire, Gb

Equipped with product management expertise, I define and direct execution of the connectivity strategy and roadmap in support of the overall Distribution and Global Sales strategies. My leadership capacities have allowed me to train and mentor a team of global product managers to connect and support connected partner relationships. In addition, I drive development of new distribution capabilities within IHG and the broader industry. Using strong analytical skills, I direct the iterative development of automated solutions to reduce manual processes with key OTA partners to support the timely delivery of offers.Key Achievements: ► Led the execution and development of the global rollout of technology solutions in collaboration with stakeholders and diverse strategy, development, and commercial teams to streamline the distribution of IHG rates and inventory to wholesale distributors and increase channel rate parity by 10%+ ► Elected as a Board member of HEDNA (Hotel Electronic Distribution Networking Association), championing the Connectivity Domain. Chairing connectivity working groups and participating in the development of industry standards in technical systems communication (XML/JSON/Payments/Content).► Chaired AHLA’s Attribute Modeling for the Distribution Ecosystem (MADE) workgroup, publishing a white paper on Attribute Based Shopping in the hotel space https://www.ahla.com/events/attribute-modeling-distribution-ecosystem.

Windsor, Berkshire, Gb

As a B2B Product Manager, I have managed the delivery of the third-party roadmap. While serving as SME for distribution operations and connectivity, I determined opportunities to improve IHG systems (GRS, HCM, etc.) in support of the distribution strategy. Having strong communication skills, I coordinated with technology teams to define, monitor, and analyze metrics that informed partner success, connectivity, and overall platform performance. Moreover, I spearheaded the full product lifecycle of the B2B web service platform, including conceptualizing new capabilities, authoring message specifications, designing business operations, and supporting processes. Functioning as a product owner role, I prioritized the work of the Agile development team and monitored user acceptance testing and rollout of new capabilities. Apart from this, I fostered sound relationships with key distribution and technology partners to drive the development of new capabilities and processes that supported overall strategy and increased revenue in third-party channels Expedia and Booking.com.Key Achievements:► Developed and implemented a Smart Products API-based solution to automate the management of room and rate offerings to key OTA partners, improving speed to market for offers, from 5-10 business days to 12 hours.► Drove strategic migration of IHG-Expedia’s connectivity, increasing IHG’s booking success by 4% YOY► Provided technical oversight for IHG's proprietary Webservices platform that generated more than $7B+ in revenue annually.

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Windsor, Berkshire, Gb

Key stakeholder and subject matter expert for integration and connectivity. Defined the execution strategy and plan for the B2B Webservices platform. Collaborated with internal and external partners to understand and anticipate their needs and translate them into product requirements for the development team. Developing the product road map based on the Product team’s vision. Maintained the product backlog. Prioritized team tasks and deliverables.Oversaw design and development. Monitored team progress. Communicated timely updates to stakeholders. Participating in Agile (Scrum) ceremonies.

Windsor, Berkshire, Gb

Responsible for IHG-Expedia connectivity. Managed end-to-end integration processes related to shopping, booking and content delivery. Worked in partnership with Business Development to set strategic goals, develop a roadmap, and execute connectivity-related projects. Elicited and documented requirements. Interfacing with technology teams to communicate and translate requirements. Developed documentation, operational processes, and standards. Connected with internal teams to manage cross-functional efforts and deliver solutions. Point of escalation for all technology and connectivity-related issues. Trained support agents.

Windsor, Berkshire, Gb

Executed against the Distribution strategy as defined by IHG leadership. Evaluated current business processes and identified potential areas for improvement. Conducted research and analysis on issues, including technical errors and process failures. Supported CRS, PMS, and Third-Party connectivity. Recommending technology enhancements and processes to address open issues or enhance technology. Developed presentations and content. Collaborated with internal teams to monitor partner success and identify new opportunities.

Newport Beach, Ca, Us

Newport Beach, Ca, Us

Master Of Business Administration - Mba, Specialization In Fintech

Bachelor’S Of Science In Information Systems, Concentration It Project Management