Ashlee Watson Email & Phone Number

Sterling, Virginia, United States

Reston, Virginia, United States

Chantilly, Va

Planned all corporate meetings including the bi-annual leadership conference, executive leadership conferences, an event at the Air & Space Museum, annual holiday party, and assisted with trade show coordinationOrdered food and beverage, negotiated hotel contracts while managing the RFP process, booked air and ground travel and managed overall event budget for corporate meetings/eventsThoroughly reviewed all hotel, meals and final bills for contact accuracy and budget allocationDeveloped custom flyers, writeable forms, power point presentations and sent out company-wide correspondence as needed by executive leadershipSupported corporate recruiting manager with candidate searches, creating email templates, developing training materials for hiring managers and unique job flyers utilizing QR codesHandled corporate phone line and diffused customer complaints and escalated appropriatelyProduced training calls through setting up the Webex meeting, running the presentation, fielding questions and setting up electronic break out rooms and white boardsCreated, managed and developed content for company sharepoint site Lowered office supplies cost by 15% by building strong relationships with office supply vendors and negotiated favorable pricing and documented price comparisonManaged the anniversary milestone program and developed the a new program when the old contract expired through market research, contract negotiation and tracking feedback

Lansdowne Resort And Spa

• Manage conferences, weddings, expos, social events and golf outings ranging from 10 – 500 according to the requirements, preferences, and budgets of clients, managing and exceeding expectations.• Plan and conduct pre & post conference meetings with clients and applicable departments to ensure repeat business and client satisfaction.• Coordinate guest room reservations, meeting room requirements, billing and accounting, amenities, and additional hotel services.• Worked closely with the operational departments to ensure 100% guest satisfaction for each event. • Mastered the ability to plan and synchronize the essential details of multiple meetings and events in an efficient manner. • Research to stay current in the latest food and beverage trends to maximize revenue potential.• Develop customized menus, teambuilding, décor, entertainment, transportation, as needed.• Accurately forecast future revenue for groups while developing ideas to increase revenue in audio visual, décor, food and beverage• Manage the conference concierge staff including monthly meetings, updating policies and procedures, day-to-day supervision, payroll, scheduling, coaching and strategizing ways the desk can capture more revenue.

Lansdowne Resort And Spa

• Manage and plan all in house meetings and events including menus, blocking space, creating banquet event orders and communicate all changes as needed via the change log.• Plan small meetings and golf outings while upselling audio visual and food and beverage, managing room blocks, attrition and create banquet event orders. • Prepare all conference planning files by reviewing the contracts, updating the distribution report, beginning the meeting plan and forecasting all revenues based on the contract and previous programs.• Run, Edit and Distribute pertinent daily reports to the team including the daily events, morning and afternoon event change logs, banquet event packets and reader board event postings.• Support the conference concierge team to assist with pre-conference meetings, desk coverage as needed, and any additional client needs.• Contact for all events as needed when the conference planning manager is unavailable.• Developed strong relationships with banquets, conference floor, conference concierge, pantry, front desk, outlets and operations to help ensure strong communication and support for events. • Utilize group specification sheets to assist conference planning team with creating banquet event orders and detailing events.• Support the conference planning team and director of catering and conference services in all administrative needs.

Hyatt House Falls Church

• Responsible for booking catering functions with no room blocks attached.• Planned and detailed all meetings and events, planned menus, created banquet event orders while upselling packages and audio visual.• Managed all room blocks pickup, rooming lists, changes and cutoff dates. • Qualified all meeting and room block leads and provided information to correct sales person.• Handled all social room blocks from inquiry to actualization.• Lead BEO/Resume meetings to ensure all details for meetings, events and room blocks are accurately communicated to all departments.• Conducted site inspections, client appointments, and catering appointments.

Hyatt Place Herndon And Sheraton Herndon

•Responsible for booking catering functions for both hotels pertaining to all market segments with concentration on the social and corporate markets including corporate meetings, weddings, receptions, pharmaceuticals and social events.•Successfully plan, detail, and coordinate all corporate meeting and social events including menus, breaks, food and beverage, set up and room reservations while creatively implementing innovative set-ups, menus to book the business•Conduct hotel site inspections.•Proactively solicit new accounts to exceed revenue goals and engage in regular outside sales calls•Solicit existing account base to make extra bookings from the Account•Create all proposals, contracts, and banquet event orders for any functions.•Attend weekly BEO/Resume meetings.•Work with clients to plan functions along with onsite supervision of their execution of the function to ensure their satisfaction and repeat business.•Create quarterly promotional flyers to fill in need dates throughout the year.•Participate in sales blitzes to increase hotel exposure and prospect for future business.•Work well with other departments within the hotel to increase interdepartmental communication and provide quality service to the guests.•Prepare Bi-Weekly catering food and beverage forecast as well as quarterly action plans to strategize capturing more catering revenue. •Developed and implemented new banquet menus and wedding packages for distribution at networking or client events.

Hyatt House Sterling/Dulles Airport North

• Successfully plan, detail, and coordinate all corporate meeting and social events including menus, breaks, food and beverage, set up and room reservations while creatively implementing innovative set-ups, menus to book the business• Prepare all contracts, banquet event orders and resumes to ensure all details are accurate• Use transactional selling to quickly respond to all inquiries and qualify business to match client needs, optimizing room rental and food and beverage charges utilizing strong closing skills • Successfully handle room blocks for social and corporate groups from the initial inquiry, to negotiation, to the execution of the rooming list and all updates• Acquired operations experience throughout the hotel, including; Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, and Front Office, in order to be well rounded in servicing group events and selling the hotel effectively • Develop and maintain strong client relationships to ensure the re-booking of repeat business by having a track record of long term client relationships.• Demonstrate excellent communication skills to facilitate pertinent information to all departments through the distribution of a weekly 10-day report • Function as the on-site contact to ensure seamless execution of meetings and events and utilized quick thinking and problem solving to address difficult situations and on-site changes• Conduct site inspections, client appointments, and banquet\catering appointments • Involved in the acquisition of Hotel Sierra by Hyatt; oversaw integration of reservations system, sales process and company culture

Lansdowne Resort

• Created and adhered to group rooms checklist for each group, to resort standards. Ensured conference planner adherence to cutoff dates, and input of group rooming lists and any changes within 24 hours of receipt• Relayed information on all groups to reservations enabling the agents to properly relay information and take reservations • Participated in weekly group pick up meeting and conference review meeting with Revenue Director, Conference Services Managers, Director of Sales and Front Office Management team. • Attended all preconference meetings with well-documented file to ensure group success• Worked with Revenue Director and Front Office Manager to track pick up and daily activity of all definite groups, to ensure peak occupancy and revenue is achieved• Reviewed all contracts to ensure the accuracy of rates, dates, billing, inventory and all miscellaneous information• Created and maintained complete files on all group bookings• Handled special details, such as rates, meeting and room packages, suites, room blocking, billing, and VIP guests

Lansdowne Resort

• Received employee of the quarter award from the general manager for providing exceptional customer service• Accurately booked spa, dining, hotel and group reservations. Answered inquiries regarding packages, rates and outlets while overcoming guest objections to maximize booking conversions• Efficiently returned spa voice mail calls and made appointment confirmation calls. Respond to all incoming telephone calls within 3 rings • Document all guest complaints or problems; notify designated department/ personnel to resolve the situation; follow up to ensure completion and guest satisfaction• Assisted PBX in answering operator calls and acted in emergency situations as central communication center for hotel• Reviewed arrival reports, checking for duplicate reservations, incorrect codes and other booking errors• Maintained an up to date working knowledge of all hotel amenities, hours, special offerings as well as any meetings and events• Successfully resolved customer complaints and fulfilled special requests • Promoted and sold special packages and upgrades when appropriate

Lansdowne Resort

• Demonstrated extensive knowledge of all products and services while scheduling spa and salon appointments and suggesting upgraded services• Escorted guests to appropriate lounges while ensuring needs and expectations are met• Provided confirmation phone calls three days prior to guest arrival• Coordinated private groups of 10 people or less• Handled and processed payment for services, tips and when appropriate upsold retail products. Managed closing reports and balanced register